Doppler

BrittianyM · October 2014

Sorry ladies but I am really freaking out. I was not able to find my LO's heartbeat last night or this morning. I was able to hear the LO's heartbeat this past Saturday and Sunday but not now. This has me really worried and I don't know how to calm myself down.

I had a good ultrasound Monday morning but it seemed to me that the LO's heartbeat went down. On prior ultrasounds the heartbeat was 168 and Monday it was 162. I know thats not alot of difference but It shouldn't be going down this early right? I think the main difference is all the previous ultrasounds I was a little nervous where are this time I was not. So maybe that had something to do with it.

Sorry for the crazies.

classicstar28 · October 2014

At 10 weeks, it can still be very tricky to find the hb with the doppler. There is still a lot of room to hide out in there. My doctor didn't even try to find it until 12 weeks and even then she made sure that I was aware that it doesn't always work. My LO HATES the doppler with a passion and she always runs away from it. Even yesterday, at nearly 38 weeks the nurse had to chase her down to get it which took several minutes. I never got a home doppler because I knew it would just make me crazy, but I know other ladies here who do have a home doppler have had similar experiences and may have more advice on how to manage the anxiety.

As for the heart rate, it can vary a lot. My doctor doesn't even give me an exact number. I just get told it's in the 140s, 160s, etc. As long as it isn't too slow or too fast, it's fine.

dragonfly1809 · October 2014

I couldn't find baby's heartbeat regularly until at least 18 weeks. My doctor strong advises against using the doppler at home - says it causes more anxiety than good.
10 weeks is still really early - even by doctor office doper standards.

Can your doctor get you in? Midwife? Somewhere you can go for a peek?

Also remember those heart rates vary as baby grows ..a few numbers difference, especially when still in a normal range, isn't something to worry about (of course - everything is something to worry about, but you know what I mean) xo..

jess123456 · October 2014

Hugs to you. I had a doctor's appointment at 10 weeks and even my doctor couldn't find my son's heartbeat so she had me have a quick ultrasound and all was fine. At 10 weeks baby is still so small and it's so easy for them to hide. Most ladies on this board I know don't listen to the Doppler until well after 12 or 13 weeks for this very reason.

As for dopplers, the heart rate can range a lot even from minute to minute. My son's heartrate has ranged from the 140's - 150's and even higher when he was earlier on. If you are concerned, a call into the doctor for a quick check could help ease your mind.

BrittianyM · October 2014

Thank you ladies! My doctor doesn't want me to use the doppler so if I call in about that I am pretty sure they won't see me. I just need to remain calm and postive.

Courtney1741 · October 2014

My Dr recommended that I not touch the Doppler until at least 12 weeks. She however is in support of them but asked that I bring mine in so that she can show me where to find baby (at 12 weeks). ((hugs)) I know how bad PgAL brain can suck sometimes!!

pblge · October 2014

They're are also tips out there that you could try for better success. Have an empty bladder. Elevate your hips with a pillow. Try at a different time of the day. (Others?) Like you, I found it easily a couple of times, then failed to a couple of times. The Doppler is hard to use, even for professionals, so you have to be reassured by the times you find it, and unconcerned by the times you don't! I also don't like to go searching for more than about five minutes at a time, as I start to get super stressed by failure.

ToriGirl2014 · October 2014

Try to be rational about this ...

Good science says dopplers won't consistently pick up a HB this early, even the professional ones like your OB uses.

FWIW, micro-analyzing the difference between a 168 and a 162 HB is not healthy nor is it based in good science. What you describe is not necessarily a heart rate that is "going down" - there's a range that's healthy. There's also a rate of error on the doppler. I've had at least a dozen ultrasounds and I bet you not two of those HBs are the same, even when they were just a week apart. You will drive yourself insane if you keep thinking that you know better than your OB and if you're measuring LO's health based upon a made-up standard.

tigerlily2015 · October 2014

I'm sorry about your anxiety. For what it's worth, my very experienced doctor could not even find my baby's heartbeat with her Doppler at 10w1d. I had to get an ultrasound and everything was fine. My doctor explained that the heart is so small at 10 weeks that it is hard to find. I think it can also be difficult to find if the baby is moving. Stay strong and positive!

KJsbabe · October 2014

162 is a perfectly normal HB. When the HB first starts it's fast, usually around 170. As baby grows it's normal for it to slow down a bit and usually settles in around 150. I had an u/s at 9w and my boy's HB was 154, and has been 140-150 ever since. He is healthy and still growing strong at 25w.

nohalo21 · October 2014

I started using my Doppler at 10 weeks and there were days that I just could not find her. Keep in mind the size of the baby versus how much space is in there. There are many variables that may cause you not to detect it. I know it adds some stress. Maybe try again in a few days. At that time, I had to go real low, like borderline with my hairline to her hear.

BackstreetPixie · October 2014

My doc has tried to find the hb with the doppler 3 times (at 10, 11, and 12 weeks) and it never worked. She would switch to thw portable ultrasound machine and we saw peep and the hb just fine. It freaks me out every single time. I have never had the doppler work. Hope that eases your mind a little.

i will not be getting one of my own as i feel it would freak me out more.

BrittianyM · October 2014

Thank you all! I was able to find the heartbeat last night.

snegde Great idea! I actually did give my DH the doppler last night and told him to lock it up and only give it to me once a week.

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