OB unable to find heartbeat on Doppler at 11 weeks?

mayrae4 · October 2015

Hi ladies. I'm 11 weeks with my second and our OB was unable to find baby's heartbeat on the Doppler today (I was in being checked for a UTI infection). She said baby could just be too small and didn't say she was too worried, but suggested I reschedule my NT scan for sooner to make sure everything is ok.

I don't remember how far along I was when they first found my son's heartbeat and the U/S isn't until Thursday so I'm a little nervous. How many weeks were you when your OB was first able to find a heartbeat with the Doppler?

rschenck14 · October 2015

Hi @mayrae4,
When I went in for my 12 week appt my midwife had a very hard time finding the baby's HB. She was just about to send me over for an ultrasound because she didn't want me to worry and then she found it. She said they can have a hard time finding them at 12 weeks due to your anatomy and where the baby is positioned. I am surprised they did not send you for an ultrasound before your NT Scan though, just to give you re-assurance and make sure everything was ok. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Ready4theParty · October 2015

Don't worry! I went in at 11 weeks and my doctor couldn't find a heartbeat either. He then ordered a us and we were able to see baby and the heartbeat.

mayrae4 · October 2015

Thanks to you both, that makes me feel better. We did have an U/S at 8 weeks and things were fine back then. This was the first time they've looked with the Doppler.

sbellendier · October 2015

At my 11 week appointment my midwife said she wasn't going to even fool with trying to find it with a doppler, bc it is so difficult. The US tech quit so she just took me to the us to take a peek and we found it easily by US. I work in the ER and struggle to find fetal heart tones at 20w with the doppler. They really aren't very easy to find especially with wiggly babies

pinottoparenthood · October 2015

rschenck14 said:

Hi @mayrae4,
When I went in for my 12 week appt my midwife had a very hard time finding the baby's HB. She was just about to send me over for an ultrasound because she didn't want me to worry and then she found it. She said they can have a hard time finding them at 12 weeks due to your anatomy and where the baby is positioned. I am surprised they did not send you for an ultrasound before your NT Scan though, just to give you re-assurance and make sure everything was ok. Keeping you in my thoughts.

I don't think it's normal protocol to order an ultrasound just to "ease" mom's feelings. An ultrasound is an expensive medical test that is used for necessary medical purposes.

OP, don't worry... my office doesn't even try to listen to the heartbeat that early, probably to avoid anxiety like you're feeling. It's very normal for it to be hard to find at that point!

misstopsail · October 2015

OP, the same thing happened to me.. The doctor scolded the nurse for even trying (she was new), but sent me for an U/S because I was spazzing.. And everything was fine!

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · October 2015

I was just in at 10.5 weeks and my doctor warned us ahead of time it would be hard to find baby's heartbeat. She ended up finding it but it took a good 2 minutes. I wouldn't be worried if your doctor isn't worried and it sounds like he/she is doing the right thing by having you come back for a follow-up soon.

Also, UTIs suck, hope you're feeling better!

CCLow87 · October 2015

My midwife could fine mine at 11 weeks. I was able to find it find at home though, so I wasn't worried. 11 weeks can still be too early.

CelineKane · October 2015

At 11& 4 I went to the ER for bleeding and they couldn't find the hb, said baby had most likely passed away because of a drop in HCG levels. An US showed a happy healthy baby and an EXTREMELY tilted uterus, explaining the issue with the doppler, don't stress hun!! Most OBs say wait for a doppler for 12 weeks to be safe!

NachosAndPeaches · October 2015

If you're nervous, can you find an elective place to go get an ultrasound? The non 3D ones can be as cheap as $25, that's like a copay! And very often they will "peek" into 3d

rschenck14 · October 2015

@pinottoparenthood,
Well I am not an expert but the midwife was going to order it not me, so I am assuming that she was going to make sure everything was ok and she said "we won't let you leave her without knowing". So to me although you may not consider it medically necessary she obviously felt it was and as a person of the medical community I think I would trust her advice. And I went in early during my pregnancy for bleeding and the same midwife did not order one because she said the bleeding I had was not something to worry about. So I doubt they order them just because. And it is true they can't always hear a heartbeat but still it's nice that they make sure everything is good. You want to talk about expensive I saying telling someone to go to an NT scan to validate is a worse option. That test is far more expensive then an ultrasound in a doctors office.

eastdurian · October 2015

Definitely didn't find it at my 10 week appointment (this LO) or at my 11w5d appointment with DD. I have a retroverted ute so that makes it more difficult. It just depends on where LO is located & your ute.

amidthenoise · October 2015

I had my NT scan at 12w2d in the morning and went for my follow up appointment later that afternoon. NT scan looked great, saw and heard the heartbeat. At my follow up appt that same day, my doctor couldn't find the heartbeat via doppler. She wasn't worried at all!

mayrae4 · October 2015

Thanks everyone, your answers really help ease my worries. The OB didn't seem concerned, but was pushing me to have my NT scan moved to this week just to make sure everything was ok, so that got me a bit nervous. I will be having it this Thurs, so fingers x for a healthy babe! Thank you so much for your support!!

aa79606 · October 2015

@mayrae4 I'm glad you'll be getting to see your baby on Thursday! Same thing happened to me today at 10 weeks 6 days... Two nurses and the doctor all had trouble finding the heartbeat with the doppler thing. One nurse had it for a little while, and it was strong/rapid but faint like it wasn't very close to the instrument. (My uterus is also very tilted.) They all told me it wasn't that unusual to have trouble finding the heartbeat before 12 weeks. But since the doctor wasn't able to catch more than a few fleeting sounds when she tried, and because I had some spotting last week, she offered to send me for an ultrasound just to make sure everything is okay. I gladly accepted and have an appointment in the morning. I think more and more doctors are realizing the importance of mom's peace of mind.

thaisac1 · October 2015

By week 12 only 85% will find the heartbeat with Doppler… By 11 weeks, even less.

myndihallberg · October 2015

My last pregnancy my doctor couldn't find the baby's heartbeat on a doppler at 11 weeks. She sent me for an ultrasound and they found it on there. It could be the shape of your uterus, where the baby is positioned, the grade of the doppler. There are a lot of factors to consider. I would not worry right now. Since then we have moved and my new doctor doesn't even try the doppler until you're passed 12 weeks.

skc040512 · October 2015

My doctor won't even do Doppler until 14 weeks to err on the side of caution. A nurse told me that it can be hard to find the heartbeat up to about 12-13 weeks for some babies.

Samantha0089 · October 2015

I'm from the UK and my midwife won't use the Doppler until I'm 16 weeks

Monicagail1 · October 2015

My dr office will attempt to find the heartbeat with a Doppler after 10 weeks. At my last appointment (11w3d) two nurses tried, but could not find it. I wasn't very concerned, as I know it's early for Doppler, and I've already had a couple of ultrasounds due to my high risk status, but they did decide to do an ultrasound anyway. Everything was fine, and as a bonus they were able to get my NT measurements so I didn't have to come back a few days later.

AshleyM1985 · October 2015

Couldn't find heart beat for me either. They said another few weeks.

mayrae4 · October 2015

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone

Went yesterday for my U/Scand everything was fine; little bean was jumping and wiggling away

Bootsie327 · October 2015

Glad to hear all is well! With my son, I had an appt at 10 weeks. My doctor couldn't find the hb on Doppler so quickly checked on the u/s machine. I think up until the end of first tri it can be tricky to find!

gingercatNJ · October 2015

I'm 14+ and the NP couldn't find it on doppler. We did a quick U/S (they have a basic machine in the office) and everything was fine!

cmjenkies · October 2015

Something I read further back in here - do people not get NT scans/ultrasounds in the same office as their OB is in? I guess I just assumed all OB practices had in house ultrasound techs?

mojomama6 · October 2015

@cmjenkies even if one's ob has the equipment, one may not be able to use it because of insurance. My ob has a fairly new machine in-office, but because of the insurance I currently have, I actually have to get mine done at another hospital, which my Dr isn't even associated with. I can't have my labs drawn in-office, either, but have to trek across town. So obnoxious. Yay open enrollment next month!

ladylolly89 · October 2015

My doctor found mine today at 13 weeks 1 day, but it still took her about 30 seconds. She won't even attempt it before 13 weeks.

mumidi · October 2015

My dr does not have an ultrasound in office. However maternal fetal medicine is next door and they will order an ultrasound there if necessary.

kaylap58 · October 2015

My OB couldn't find it either at 11, so he actually manually maneuvered my uterus around so that the baby could sit still in one position. He knew I was really worried, so he said we wouldn't leave until he got it for me. I know it sounds weird, but it wasn't uncomfortable, and the HB was loud and clear after that.

sme127 · January 2021

I know this is old but for anyone reading it now, do not listen to the poster above about it not being okay to order a u/s for a mother's reassurance. My IVF doctor and my primary OB have both done this for me. I have had several miscarriages and this is what a compassionate doctor would do.

katelynn2008 · April 2022

If anyone is reading this now in 2022... I had an appt at 9 weeks. and my midwife said there's no point in trying the doppler. so she brought in a portable ultrasound machine and saw that little flicker. Like yes drs do this.... goodness.

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