Please Help - Advice Needed

rpham0512 · December 2016

Hello all, I am brand new here and would like some advice/opinions. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for about 9 months. Ever since i got off my birth control I never had a regular period so it was hard to track/monitor my ovulation. Towards the end of November my boobs starting hurting sooo bad and my husband convinced me to take a pregnancy test. I took the test on November 30th and it was positive. I immediately wanted to confirm things so the next day 12/1 I did the blood draw and my hcg was approx. 29,000 which according to the chart they gave at the lab put me between 6-7 weeks. Everything was great, I felt great just had a few days where I felt nauseous but I switched to taking my prenatal at night and snacked on food throughout the day which helped alot. I even felt like my stomach was growing, which probably seems silly but I am barely 5ft. so maybe.

Anyway (sorry this is long just trying to give background), I went for my first obgyn appt. yesterday 12/16 and the doctor couldn't detect a heartbeat using the doppler machine. She said I may be too early between 8-10 weeks and usually a heartbeat can be heard at 10 weeks. She scheduled me for their first available ultrasound but it wasn't until the 27th. She also told me not to worry but I have not been handling this well. I just have a feeling something is wrong, but I don't have anything to base this on since this is my first pregnancy. To make things a little more complicated I was planning on telling my family on Christmas that I am pregnant but now I am not so sure if I should without confirming everything is ok first.

My question is, do you think this is normal to not hear a heartbeat if I am really 8-9 weeks? If something was wrong is there anyway that I would know or any tests that could be done? Do I just need to be patient and wait until the 27th? My doctor did request I go for blood work but I don't think she requested hcg levels. If they did test for this and my levels had gone up, would that be a positive sign? Any encouraging news I will take!

Thank you so much.

kat0607 · December 2016

Hello and welcome!! I'm sorry your first pregnancy is getting off to a rough/stressful start. At my first appointment, I was 8 weeks and my doctor did not want to try and hear the heartbeat until I was nearly 12 weeks, and even THEN he said it's a 50/50 chance of hearing it. I think it depends on the OB and the woman. At 8 weeks your baby is still so tiny, his or her heartbeat may not have been able to be picked up by the Doppler. I believe an ultrasound would reveal if the baby was measuring up-to-date or if there was anything else wrong, but if your doctor is not concerned, I would try not to worry either. I dont know your medical history, but if you have no prior complications or any reason to be considered "high risk", your doctor might just want to wait and see what happens before ordering extra blood work or tests.

I truly hope your LO is growinng strong and healthy, and the rest of your pregnancy can be an enjoyable and exciting experience for you. I think you'll find a great community here as well, so I encourage you to introduce yourself and participate in the daily threads!! Again, welcome.

tuxielove93 · December 2016

If you aren't having any symptoms of a miscarriage and have been at least a little nauseous, those are good signs. I'm a little over ten weeks, possibly even earlier (the baby measured about five days early at my first u/s) and she had to shove that doppler into me to hear the heartbeat. And I mean shove it in. If you're any earlier, I really think it would be hard to hear it. I would be freaking out too, but if she isn't worried, then I would say just stay calm, stay healthy, and try not to stress out too much. It's pretty normal for them not to be able to find the heartbeat if it's too early. However, I wouldn't tell your family until the ultrasound, unless you are ok with them knowing no matter what happens. We actually told our close family pretty soon after getting the positive, but we also were hoping to redirect their Christmas gifts to us to baby things, and we see them a lot, and honestly with how I've been feeling, this would have been pretty hard to hide. At the same time, we had to weigh in the fact that if something went wrong, we would have to tell them. We took that risk, and actually it can be helpful if something does go wrong to have strong family support around.

glitterfish-2 · December 2016

Is this your only option for an OB practice? I wouldn't be ok with all of these non-answers and extended wait times.

abmommy15 · December 2016

I'm very surprised your doctor even tried to find a heartbeat at 8 weeks. Mine usually won't try until after 12. She did try at my last appointment (11 weeks) and we heard it but it took a good 15 minutes before she found it.
I wouldn't worry too much right now, I had a feeling something was wrong during my entire last pregnancy. I was just really paranoid, he was perfectly healthy

SaphireSweetie88 · December 2016

I don't have anything to add that PP haven't already said but I wanted to say I am sorry that your pregnancy is starting out stressful and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

rpham0512 · December 2016

Thank you so much everyone for the kind welcome and responses. I really truly appreciate it. I have been trying to keep busy to keep my mind off of things. I also spoke to one of my best friends (who is an ER doctor, not an obgyn) and she reiterated I shouldn't worry and that it is really difficult to find a heartbeat on the doppler machine at only 8 or 9 weeks. The doctor did not seem concerned so I am going to try really hard to stay positive and be patient until the 27th and pray that all is well. Thanks again for all of the support and I will be sure to stick around and update when possible.

ACharnelle · December 2016

My midwife told me that at my next apt (I'll be over 10 weeks then) it will be too early to detect on the Doppler. Hope this comforts you some!

mechanicwife · December 2016

My uterus is tilted way back, and we didn't get a heartbeat at my 11 week appointment. Totally no concern from me or my Doctor. Baby is simply way too far back. We got it at 12 weeks with my last baby. I go back at 13 weeks to try again, I'm fully confident it'll be swoosh swooshing away!!!

If not, we'll prolly do another ultrasound just to be sure. Sorry you have to go through this though, I'm sure it's frustrating!
ETA: Yes, a higher HCG number would be a good sign! A higher progesterone number would be good as well. You could definitely ask to run those two test, if it would ease your mind. I asked to have mine checked three times, and I've also seen the heartbeat on my dating scan, which is part of why I'm so confident everything is fine for me.

manillabar · December 2016

Just want to reiterate what everyone else said, since I know sometimes it helps to have as many people as possible saying the same thing. Most OBs I know, including my own, won't even try with the doppler before 12 weeks because it is so hard to find and only causes anxiety if it's not found (like your current situation). I would be reassured that everything else seems good so far and try to stay relaxed until your ultrasound on the 27th.

LoveLee85 · December 2016

If your family is supportive, go ahead and fill them in. I wouldn't because my family isn't supportive and seem to say the wrong thing and end up hurting me more! But that's just me! Different doctors use different machines and different guidelines! Try to relax and get a good group of family or friends to offer good support! I'm sorry and I hope you get answers soon.

splashmountain · December 2016

Sorry you're going through this. With my last pregnancy, my ob tried at 11 weeks and we didn't hear the heartbeat. He told us it's completely normal not to hear it that early and not to worry. We heard it loud and clear at our 15 week visit. Try not to stress

JAM85 · December 2016

My midwife warned me at my appointment when I was 11w1d they might not be able to hear the HB on the Doppler. She rooted around well and finally found it (baby keep scooting away too making it harder) but I definitely think 8-9 weeks is too early for a Doppler. That is why most doctors start with a dating u/s to confirm pregnancy around that time. I would either try to get the u/s moved up if you really want to have the confirmation before Christmas or depending if your family is supportive or not you can go ahead and tell them and let them know you are waiting on the confirmation u/s

Katie______ · December 2016

I am a first time mom too.....we got off birth control maybe a year ago. I was nervous too just because I had been on birth control since I was maybe 19 until 32...so just worried! My doc wouldn't see me until I was 8 weeks along and really preferred 10 weeks. I went in at just over 8 weeks.....so I know its tough waiting, but maybe it was a little too early?? My doc's ultrasound isn't the best machine....so for some of my tests I have to go the hospital. I live in a big city....its a big office, this is just her office and how they work, so I also feel like it just may take longer because her machine isn't good enough for those big deal tests. I know it's tough to wait and nerve racking....I am sorry! We wanted to tell at thanksgiving and my appointment was a couple days later----and gosh it was so weird to be around family and not tell them. Especially because I felt like everyone made weird pregnancy / kids comments---- I know I was a little sensitive AND even when we told my mother in law she referenced one of her comments.....so it stinks. And if you can prepare to be ready for weird comments---do. I know not super helpful.

Maybe at your next appointment, you can ask about too if there is another doctor or machine you should be seeing at that point. For reference, it's my test for downs that they don't do the measurement. While I waited....I kept looking at those positive pregnant test---we still have one around!! so keep looking at it for positive energy!

And one weird internet tip I heard for the ultrasound (so I did it) was I went with a full bladder, meaning the entire appt I had to pee! I have my next 2 drs appts the 27th....and I will be thinking of you!---and if it helps, having to pee all day and not being able to for a few hours.

jennrose89-2 · December 2016

I also go on the 27th! I'm due 7.7.17 I've had 3 ultrasounds already that's because I've had 2 miscarriages before I also have a doppler at home I bought for 38$ online it's amazing I started hearing the hb at 8weeks on it but it was very hard to find now at 11weeks it's pretty easy. I wish you luck I'm sure everything Is fine. Update us.

rpham0512 · December 2016

Hello again everyone! I am back with a positive update and I just want to thank you all again who commented with your positive stories and advice!

I was able to move my ultrasound up from the 27th to this past thursday the 22nd. Everything looked great, the tech was able to find the heartbeat (163) and she dated me at 8 weeks 6 days.

I feel so relieved and happy and feel now that I can finally enjoy my pregnancy! I told my immediate family last night and everyone is thrilled.

Looking forward to the rest of this journey.

Pricelessmommy3 · December 2016

My OB does a vaginal ultra sound at 8weeks to confirm the pregnancy and then I'm sent to do labs. This is also to confirm how many babies are there and to see that the baby has implanted in the right area. We could see the baby and hear the heartbeat. I'm going back Friday where they said they will do another ultrasound , might be another vaginal one, I'll be close to 11 weeks. My OB just does 3, 2 in the beginning and then the anatomy scan at 19/20 weeks.
If your doctor doesn't seemed concerned you shouldn't be. I know different offices may do things differently and it might depend on your plan also. Any symptoms you have are a good sign that baby is there and sticking.

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