Gyn making me wait until 30 weeks to hear heartbeat!!!

Redhotz55 · July 2014

So I'm a FTM from FL living abroad in Germany. I'm currently 16 weeks and just had a routine appt today. So far, including today, my Dr has performed transvaginal ultrasounds at every appointment. He said that today was a little early to confirm the gender, which is totally fine; I get it. I don't want him to say anything gender wise if he's not sure. But when I asked about hearing the heartbeat, he tried to tell me that I have to wait until 30 weeks to hear it!!! Something about a fetus heart being too small until then to produce a heartbeat strong enough to get picked up by the doppler. What kind of ridiculous BS is that???? Is every single book, magazine, website and app I've read just wrong and it's true that I have to wait until 30 weeks?? This feels like cruel and unusual punishment! Baby is healthy and I have no reason to have any concerns, which I know is what I should be focusing on. But seriously, I just want to hear my LO!!!

PrimRoseMama · July 2014

So buy one & use it at home?

TheOtherJacobsons · July 2014

That is BS. I'd find another OB or demand he do it. I have heard the HB on the doppler every visit except for my 16 week visit where they had to a transvaginal US because they could not hear the HB due to the position of my uterus that early on.

staugustinewedding · July 2014

That is BS. Go online and buy an at home fetal doppler and you can listen to it whenever you want! I have this one and it's awesome!

staugustinewedding · July 2014

https://www.fetaldoppler.net/sonoline-b-pink.html sorry it didnt post

lct2008 · July 2014

Maybe he was talking about hearing the heartbeat by stethoscope<- is that even the right word? sorry my brain is fogging.
But I know it's not till right around then when baby's heart can be heard by that. Maybe they don't have actual dopplers and that was what he was referencing.

Cat&S · July 2014

My OB has found LO's heartbeat with the Doppler easily since 12 weeks. I also heard it at our dating transvaginal u/s at 8.5 weeks. And the regular u/s at 16 weeks and 20 weeks. Something is odd at your OB's.

SissiS · July 2014

@Redhotz55
In Germany it is not common practice to listen to the heartbeat with an doppler. But around 30 weeks CTG (Cardiotocography) is added to appointments - to listen to the heartbeat and detect contractions. Maybe that's what your Dr meant?

CreativeD1 · July 2014

I just had an appointment yesterday where the Dr. heard LO's heartbeat via doppler and I am 13 weeks. She had no issues and found the HB right away. I would agree with PP's and suggest you purchase your own doppler if that is of interest and importance to you. Good luck!

momthatlifts · July 2014

That's weird. Just buy one online. You should definitely be able to pick one up at 16 weeks

path75 · July 2014

At my 14 week appt they couldnt detect a heartbeat but did a regular u/s not transvaginal. I don't know but I wouldn't want to have a transvaginal ultrasound that often if a regular u/s will work.

LaBellaVida · July 2014

I'm just over here lurking. I had my baby in Germany a few years back. I heard the heartbeat every single time. In fact, every appointment I had a 4D ultrasound!

My appointments went like this.
I'd go 45 min prior to my actual appointment. Every time I'd have to go to L&D and they'd have me pee in cup. They'd then hook me up to fetal monitors and monitor the baby for 30 min. I'd go down stairs to my actual appointment with the fetal printout I'd get up stairs. I'd have a cervical exam, and blood drawn. Then the Dr. Would listen to the heart and preform 4d ultrasound.

I wasn't high risk at all. It was common practice.

However, different clinics do different things.
I think it's weird to not hear the heartbeat until 30 weeks, but if that's common practice at that clinic, it is what it is. At least you saw baby on the ultrasound!

gmeyer1019 · July 2014

My OB does u/s every appointment, that's just her, but I saw heartbeat at 6 weeks when we confirmed pregnancy and heard it loud and clear at 12 weeks and again at 14, so I can't imagine why you can't hear it yet

Serunatu · July 2014

I got to hear the heart beat at 10 weeks, loud and clear.

simpsonaly · July 2014

I saw the heart beating 8 weeks and heard it at 12 weeks. That doesn't make sense to have to wait that long.....

dmdiaz86 · July 2014

There are websites where you can rent dopplers. If you want to hear the heart beat (which I don't blame you, it's beautiful) you can do that. It's very odd he said that, I heard mine at 14 weeks with my family doc!

summererobinson · July 2014

Just buy one off ebay for $30 then. I guess there it may be different

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Gyn making me wait until 30 weeks to hear heartbeat!!!

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