No dice with Doppler yet

Lola2o1 · July 2015

9w4d and nothing yet. Its driving me nuts. I know they say 12 weeks is when you can pick up theheartbeat, but I read some people could hear at 8 weeks. Also, I don't even know where to look really?

Fullerj21 · July 2015

With my first, I couldn't hear the HB on my Doppler until after 10 weeks. I also had an anterior placenta. Hang in there and keep trying.

DrillSergeantCat · July 2015

@Irenna1112 I went to the OB Wednesday and the nurse couldn't find the heartbeat and believe me she was digging to find it. The doctor came in and it took her a while to find, so don't be discouraged you might just be a bit early.

ETA - I'm 10w3d

SgtLou2 · July 2015

With my daughter, we couldn't hear her HB on the Doppler until after 12 weeks!! She was hanging out in the back of my uterus. My current baby is located high and forward in my uterus. At my appt this week (11w2d), you could barely hear the HB on the Doppler. Stressful and frustrating to not be able to hear the HB, but next appt for you, I bet it will be loud and clear!

Twindling · July 2015

I just barley can hear mine on the Doppler. I'm 11w3d. I had the best luck right above my panty line.

I have a Sonoline B, FWIW.

AdventureMama · July 2015

I have read that doctors generally don't recommend home doppler machines because it's SO hard to get a HB, especially that early and with no formal training, so it freaks mamas out unnecessarily. I wouldn't worry, it's still early and your baby is teeny!

E3A7AGGIE · July 2015

I have to have DH do it when we try because he is more patient and I feel like has a better perspective on the angle and stuff. We found baby around 8.5 weeks, and again about 9.5. It took about 7-10 minutes, depending. The first time baby was about an inch above my pubic bone. The next time maybe a tad higher. It's definitely a patience game, and depending on a lot of things, can be difficult to find. The nurse at my appt this week even took a few minutes, and baby was 'running' from the doppler. She had a hard time keeping it on baby long enough to even get a good reading. Keep trying, it'll happen! GL!

mamapainter22 · July 2015

I just had my 12 week appointment and my doctor couldn't find the heartbeat. I'm tall and fairly thin. She ran me back to the ultrasound machine to find a busy, happy little baby. I almost bought a doppler but I knew that if I did I would obsess over finding the HB and it would drive me crazy!!

robinj716 · July 2015

I couldn't find my baby's HB early either. I found the heartbeat with my Doppler on exactly day 12. It was very low- pretty much right above the pubic hair line. Another poster said put a pillow under your butt/lower back and I did that and it helped.

Edit- not day 12, WEEK 12!!

PaniaO · July 2015

It takes me 20+ minutes every time I try to find it. My tips are: #1 have a full bladder, and #2 listen for the placenta first so you can focus on the area immediately around that squish squish sound. My bub is usually toward the left and was right above the hairline at 9.5 weeks. The squish squish of the placenta sounds the same as the artery on the side at that latitude, too, so be aware not to go too far to the left or right. Oh, and be sure you're laying down flat with legs down, not bent. Good luck and don't give up if you really want to find it. It's worth the time it takes! Also, try taking a break and coming back cause it could be swimming around

Knottie22779748 · July 2015

I just bought a Sonoline B on Amazon and it definitely takes patience. i've had line with mid-line to the left a bit. I also watched a few youtube videos to see what others did - one AHA moment for me was to slant the probe down towards your pubic bone/uterus and the technique is less about picking up and moving the wand and more about making slight adjustments to the wand location.

Hope it helps!

KaaaaaatieRN · July 2015

I found it first with a medical grade Doppler at work at 7w5d, then again with my SonolineB at 8w and 8w1d. I couldn't find it at 8w2d and almost had a meltdown because every time I checked baby was in the same spot. I haven't really been checking since, though I did look last night and found it pretty quickly.

It works best for me with an empty bladder, laying flat with my head on a pillow, using plenty of jelly, pressing in about 2 cm with the probe about half an inch above my hair line (I'm 9w tomorrow) and angling the probe toward the pubic bone. I started in the middle and moved very slightly toward the left and found baby. Last night when I checked was the first time I found it and baby immediately moved so I lost it. Now that baby is moving around, it may be more difficult to find.

Good luck and try not to obsess too much (easier said than done). It has made me go a little crazy with worry a time or two.

RRC216 · July 2015

I had a u/s at 8 weeks. Got to hear and see the heartbeat. Are you at least seeing that there is a heart beating? If so, I wouldn't worry so much. You'll eventually hear it. Don't stress! Are you using your own doppler? Or is this at the doctors? I hear using one on yourself is tricky!

DaisyTortilla · July 2015

With all 3 of my pregnancies I have been able to hear before 10 weeks. This time around I was 8w 5d, but it took patience to find it. The day after, I went to the OB and they had trouble finding, I had to guide them. Lol. I have read that drinking apple juice helps a bit.

jellybellybean3 · July 2015

I officially found the heartbeat at 9 weeks 1 day but let me tell you it took A TON of searching. I put a lot of effort into it. Some things that surprised me: how low it was. Like I literally pushed under my pubic bone. And it was so quiet. My Doppler managed to pick it up number wise (175) but if I hadn't had the sound cranked and on my ear I wouldn't have heard it because it was much quieter than all the other noises, and in the background if that makes sense. Once you get it you will know, it sounds way different than all the other sounds. I'm 9 weeks 5 days today and found it again for the second time. The last few days I had no success again which had me irrational and turned me into a crazy person. These machines are dangerous

jellybellybean3 · July 2015

Oops apparently I talk to much. Anyways, these machines are dangerous! They mess with your mind...Look low and stay close to the pubic bone.

Edit: why does it keep deleting the rest of my post? I give up. You get the point. don't stress!!

RRC216 · July 2015

What brand do you ladies get?? I'd love to get one. But probably use it as I'm further along. I don't want to freak out if I don't find it.

jellybellybean3 · July 2015

Mine is a Hi-Bebe. I bought it a few years ago and have found the heartbeat quite early with all 3 of my pregnancies. I did quite a bit of research so I knew it was a good one.. Back then anyways. I also hear a lot about Sonoline which I haven't used but have been told they are great!

PaniaO · July 2015

CicchettiFamily said:
What brand do you ladies get?? I'd love to get one. But probably use it as I'm further along. I don't want to freak out if I don't find it.

Mine is a Sonoline. It worked early on (9+4 I think), but, yes, it required some serious patience. I promised myself I wouldn't panic because I knew I might not find it, and, surprisingly, that was enough to keep me from panicking. ETA it has seriously prevented freaking out much much more than it's caused any.

bpsproule · July 2015

At 10 weeks and 1 day, even my midwife couldn't find baby on doppler. Ended up being that baby was just hiding and moving around too much

mtkbaby · July 2015

I was able to find my baby's heartbeat at 10 weeks. I got the Doppler at 7 weeks and I knew that was too early to try, but I tried once a week until 10 weeks when it finally worked!

It takes a lot of patience and it's crazy how when you do find it just the slightest movement will make you lose it again. I watched some YouTube videos that were helpful and showed me a technique to move the wand around in a circle slowly and then move just a bit and do it again. Good luck!

DaisyTortilla · July 2015

CicchettiFamily said:
What brand do you ladies get?? I'd love to get one. But probably use it as I'm further along. I don't want to freak out if I don't find it.

I have a sonoline b. Also I use headphones and that helps a ton! Just don't put them on in the beginning because you'll go deaf, it's really loud when you move the wand around fast. I start with low volume then increase when I barely move around.

txbrideinblue · July 2015

If you can't find it, always try checking lower. People are often surprised at how low the baby is because your uterus hasn't expanded enough up and out yet.

Don't get stressed though.

Lola2o1 · July 2015

Thanks for the responses ladies! I have a sonoline b. We heard a healthy hb at docs at 6 weeks. Next apt is this Thurs. How far down? Like pubic area? Full or empty stomach matter? I'm so bloated I wonder if that's making it harder? Its driving me batty!

Lola2o1 · July 2015

Also- there is so many noises going on in there.. Idk what is what! Lol #mombrain

RN0107 · July 2015

With my first I didn't find a HB with the Doppler until 13 weeks, my second 11 weeks and this one at exactly 9 weeks.
Verrrry far down. Right above your pubic bone and then sort of angle the wand down too. It takes patience. Try not to freak yourself out!

RRC216 · July 2015

Just ordered my Doppler! Got a sonoline b! So excited!!!

PaniaO · July 2015

lrenna1112 said:
Also- there is so many noises going on in there.. Idk what is what! Lol #mombrain

It's the fast rhythm. There are slow beats (like it might show 60-70-80 bpm) but the baby will be like 130-160 range. It's much different.

I also want to echo the point about checking verrry low, and angling downward. Press light pressure around there, like two/three inches below the hip bone where it points inward, in an area of a few inches total left to right. An inch above the pubic bone (the mound-like bone that is underneath your hairy area). Like literally AT the hairline.

Fullerj21 · July 2015

Listen for a noise that is comparable to a galloping horse. That's what the HB reminds me of. Good luck.

urbsbabe · July 2015

I have a sonoline b. We've used it a couple of times after the Dr heard the heartbeat at 11 weeks. I'm 12w1d right now. If I hadn't paid attention at the appointment - I would have never found it. It's on my right maybe an inch above my pubic bone - super low. Also have to press down pretty good. Good luck!

jellybellybean3 · July 2015

Yes I couldn't believe how far down it was. Like the others said, I had to angle downwards (it almost felt like I was pushing/aiming under the pubic bone). Just wanted to add if you are unsure of the sound you are looking for YouTube "baby's heartbeat on Doppler at 10 weeks" or something along those lines. Tons of helpful videos and recordings of what it sounds like!

Adyer7 · July 2015

Found heartbeat today at 10 wks. I watched a couple of you tube videos with the same doppler I have and it helped a lot.

Timmysgal02 · July 2015

I just ordered my sonoline b too, very excited! All these tips have been so helpful!!

February242016 · July 2015

I have the Sonoline Fetal Doppler and I was so excited to find baby's heartbeat and got myself all worked up and worried when I couldn't find it at 9+3 then couldn't find it again at 9+5. I don't have another u/s until the 17th of August and I started stressing and expecting the worst. Finally today at 9+6 I found it! What I am trying to get at is don't stress yourself out, baby is in there, just their heart is so tiny and they have so much room to move around (All is a repeat of what ladies have said). Take a deep breath and try again in a day or so

lovekat614 · July 2015

I finally found baby's heartbeat today at 10wks! I've been trying to find baby all week and today I was determined! I also have the Sonoline B as well, definitely takes a lot of patience!

Timmysgal02 · July 2015

I am 10 weeks, 2 days, and still have not found the heartbeat, but it's all good. My placenta is way up high for 10 weeks. I can hear the placenta and my heartbeat and all the swishing super clear around my belly button, which makes sense because I've been showing super early, it's my 4th. I know the heartbeat is there somewhere hiding, and I'll hear it soon

jordans_wife · July 2015

My ob couldn't get me at 10w. I have a retroverted uterus tho. I'm hoping she can at about 15w this next time.

ldmarchalleck · July 2015

Scary story:

I had an ER visit 7.21 due to severe abdominal pain. TWO nurses couldn't find a heartbeat (talk about SCARED.) One OB from the office I go to had to come down, and I was 12 weeks. I ended up having an emergency appendectomy, and this LO was SO stubborn with finding a heartbeat after surgery too...talk about PANIC attack. These things take time, I'm sure everything is okay.

PaniaO · July 2015

Timmysgal02 said:
I am 10 weeks, 2 days, and still have not found the heartbeat, but it's all good. My placenta is way up high for 10 weeks. I can hear the placenta and my heartbeat and all the swishing super clear around my belly button, which makes sense because I've been showing super early, it's my 4th. I know the heartbeat is there somewhere hiding, and I'll hear it soon

I strongly suggest you look lower... It's definitely not at your navel.

mrswalters12 · August 2015

I have been able to pick up strongly since 8 weeks, but it helps to know what exactly the different sounds are. This is my 7th pregnancy - 4 healthy LO's and 2 prior losses, so I am able to distinguish the different sounds very quickly. Baby will likely be slightly above pubic bone. Start in line with your belly button, but lower obviously. Baby will likely be either slightly right or left of that point. It will be much faster than anything else you will pick up. Some compare it to the sound of a train engine or a galloping horse. It may be helpful to look up YouTube videos. You will pick up your own blood flow and the sound of the placenta, but when you hear the baby HB you will not mistake it for the others. Try not to stress just yet. Our bodies and babies are all different. Relax and be patient.

Lola2o1 · August 2015

I found it today! Only for a few seconds but I did! I got so excited & moved it accidentally. Got impatient and couldnt find again, but that's ok there's always tomorrow

Want a personalized experience?

No dice with Doppler yet

Re: No dice with Doppler yet

Choose Another Board

Search Boards