Doctor can't find heartbeat at 16 wks

Codster · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:14 PM

My wife just went to the Doctor and she wasn't able to find the heart beat at 16 weeks. At her last Doctors appointment (13 wks) she heard the heartbeat. Our 13 week Ultrasound was also normal and we could see the baby's heartbeat.

I'm just wondering how normal this is and how concerned we should be.

We were lucky to get in for an ultrasound this afternoon, but I can't even concentrate on anything else right now, this is going to be the longest 5 hrs ever.

carrieanne · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:17 PM

wishing you all the luck sometimes bubs is just hiding xx

happygal · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:23 PM

when i had my 16 weeks midwife apt, i asked the mw to listen to the heartbeat for me and he said he would but he also said not to be too worried if he couldnt pick it up as baby would still be small and have lots of room to hide. good luck with your scan, fingers crossed all is well x

Tryin4Number3 · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:23 PM

Don't really know what to say. The midwife struggled to find my baby's hb at 16wks but she said it was quite common. Everything was ok at my next appointment though, its just that my placenta is on the front wall and it makes it more difficult to find. Hope everything turns out ok. Ps its really nice to see a dad to be on here!

Codster · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:34 PM

Excuse me for my lack of knowledge on the subject, but do midwives use similiar dopplers to the ones a doctor does? I know there are different ones that are available to the consumer for home use but I assume the ones the Doctors and Midwives use are much better?

I've forwarded this thread to my wife to try and ease her mind, I'm praying everything is ok.

lauralora · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:42 PM

fingers crossed for you, hope everythings ok

littleblonde · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:43 PM

Im not sure about the differences in dopplers. But when i was 25 weeks i had a midwife appointment and the midwife just couldnt find it. Id of really paniced but i could feel her moving away from the doppler. I think she tried for 20 minutes before we finnally got it and had to change to a different doppler that they have in hospital. Obviously at 16 weeks you wont feel the movment like i didi, but i wanted youi to no that babys can hide and if yours is like mine she always moves away. #
When is her scan?

beachlover1 · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:45 PM

yes Midwives and Doctors use the same kind of doppler, maybe not the same brand but similar enough if they arent in a hospital. but at 16 weeks a HB can be hard to find when you are rushed....it can take a fair bit of searching, and baby may have been snoozing way back by her back of something!!

Hope everything goes ok, let us know!!

Codster · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:50 PM

Scan is today at 3pm, it will be the longest 4 hrs of my life.

Thanks for the responses nice to hear that others have had similiar experiences.

amygwen · Feb 1st, 2010, 12:53 PM

My doctor had a really tough time finding my baby's HB at 18 weeks, it took him 20 minutes to try and look for it and afterwards I had an immediate ultrasound and found out that the baby was just laying in a weird position to where they couldn't even see the four chambers of the heart but they could hear the heartbeat, my doctor cleared everything and said it was all normal!

I have another ultrasound in a week, crossing my fingers that he's not in a weird position again! Grr just wanted to give you my positive story, try not to worry too much.

I hope everything goes okay for you and your wife, please let us know!

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:14 PM	#1
Codster Father to be New BnB member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4	Doctor can't find heartbeat at 16 wks My wife just went to the Doctor and she wasn't able to find the heart beat at 16 weeks. At her last Doctors appointment (13 wks) she heard the heartbeat. Our 13 week Ultrasound was also normal and we could see the baby's heartbeat. I'm just wondering how normal this is and how concerned we should be. We were lucky to get in for an ultrasound this afternoon, but I can't even concentrate on anything else right now, this is going to be the longest 5 hrs ever.

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:17 PM	#2
carrieanne Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,031	wishing you all the luck sometimes bubs is just hiding xx

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Feb 1st, 2010, 12:23 PM	#3
happygal Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: scunthorpe north lincolnshire Posts: 7,406	when i had my 16 weeks midwife apt, i asked the mw to listen to the heartbeat for me and he said he would but he also said not to be too worried if he couldnt pick it up as baby would still be small and have lots of room to hide. good luck with your scan, fingers crossed all is well x

Status: Online

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:23 PM	#4
Tryin4Number3 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nottingham, uk Posts: 576	Don't really know what to say. The midwife struggled to find my baby's hb at 16wks but she said it was quite common. Everything was ok at my next appointment though, its just that my placenta is on the front wall and it makes it more difficult to find. Hope everything turns out ok. Ps its really nice to see a dad to be on here!

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:34 PM	#5
Codster Father to be New BnB member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4	Excuse me for my lack of knowledge on the subject, but do midwives use similiar dopplers to the ones a doctor does? I know there are different ones that are available to the consumer for home use but I assume the ones the Doctors and Midwives use are much better? I've forwarded this thread to my wife to try and ease her mind, I'm praying everything is ok.

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:42 PM	#6
lauralora Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,860	fingers crossed for you, hope everythings ok

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Feb 1st, 2010, 12:43 PM	#7
littleblonde Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: shropshire Posts: 6,987	Im not sure about the differences in dopplers. But when i was 25 weeks i had a midwife appointment and the midwife just couldnt find it. Id of really paniced but i could feel her moving away from the doppler. I think she tried for 20 minutes before we finnally got it and had to change to a different doppler that they have in hospital. Obviously at 16 weeks you wont feel the movment like i didi, but i wanted youi to no that babys can hide and if yours is like mine she always moves away. # When is her scan?

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:45 PM	#8
beachlover1 Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,463	yes Midwives and Doctors use the same kind of doppler, maybe not the same brand but similar enough if they arent in a hospital. but at 16 weeks a HB can be hard to find when you are rushed....it can take a fair bit of searching, and baby may have been snoozing way back by her back of something!! Hope everything goes ok, let us know!!

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:50 PM	#9
Codster Father to be New BnB member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4	Scan is today at 3pm, it will be the longest 4 hrs of my life. Thanks for the responses nice to hear that others have had similiar experiences.

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2010, 12:53 PM	#10
amygwen Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 8,703	My doctor had a really tough time finding my baby's HB at 18 weeks, it took him 20 minutes to try and look for it and afterwards I had an immediate ultrasound and found out that the baby was just laying in a weird position to where they couldn't even see the four chambers of the heart but they could hear the heartbeat, my doctor cleared everything and said it was all normal! I have another ultrasound in a week, crossing my fingers that he's not in a weird position again! Grr just wanted to give you my positive story, try not to worry too much. I hope everything goes okay for you and your wife, please let us know!

Status: Offline

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