Fetal Heart Rate Fluctuations

hayzeb · Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:09 AM

Hello girls, I was listening to my baby's heart beat this morning with the doppler and it sounded weird. Not sure how to describe it but it sounded like it was speeding up and then slowing down and then speeding up again etc, the changes were very fast, every 15 seconds or so, never heard it like that before and I have been listening since 13 weeks.

Anyone had this? does it mean something is wrong or is it normal? Worried!

zoedwarf · Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:42 AM

HI hun, I dont have a doppler however when I had my 20 week scan the heart beat did vary so while at the scan they kept going back to the heart to check it regulated again. They explained this to me as a baby in the tummy isn’t yet developed enough to have a built in pace maker, meaning it is irregular, they said it was normal and they didn’t even put it in my notes so they weren’t at all worried about it. Obviously I cant say this is what is happening for you but it could be why? I hope it helps, but if your worried contact your midwife x

funkyfish586 · Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:50 AM

i had this with my son, apparently its completely normal, the baby will have been awake moving around just like our heartbeats. Have you drank anything cold, hot or sugary before? seriously it can all make a difference xx

hayzeb · Mar 3rd, 2010, 05:57 AM

Thanks ladies that's reassuring

. I have a consultant appointment in the morning so I will bring it up then, it just sounded so weird.
funkyfish586 - I had been drink tea so maybe that was it

. Pregnancy is such a tense time.
I will let you know what the consultant says tomorrow, fingers crossed he says the same thing you said zoedwarf.

LouLou78 · Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:13 PM

It is normal to get fluctuations in the fetal heart when baby is moving around. Even can be heard as high as 180 in very active periods but as long as it returns to a resting heart rate and doesn't stay up there. Accelerative heart traces are reassuring and are a healthy reactive sign.

beachlover1 · Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:39 PM

When I had the HB listened to by the MW she said she wanted to hear ACCELERATIONS...it means the baby is active. Dont worry im sure all is good x

terrie0617 · Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:50 PM

you want baby to fluctuate. I've had many NST's in previous pregnancies and echo's as well since we had a baby die of a heart defect. They explained they don't want baby's heartbeat to be steady, they want fluctuations in activites, from kicking, moving, flipping, sound, even after we eat or drink. Its a good sign.

hayzeb · Mar 3rd, 2010, 13:10 PM

Thanks ladies makes me feel so much better. Buying the doppler was supposed to reassure me not give me new things to worry about

lol!

Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:09 AM	#1
hayzeb Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2,818	Fetal Heart Rate Fluctuations Hello girls, I was listening to my baby's heart beat this morning with the doppler and it sounded weird. Not sure how to describe it but it sounded like it was speeding up and then slowing down and then speeding up again etc, the changes were very fast, every 15 seconds or so, never heard it like that before and I have been listening since 13 weeks. Anyone had this? does it mean something is wrong or is it normal? Worried!

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:42 AM	#2
zoedwarf Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Berkshire, England Posts: 257	HI hun, I dont have a doppler however when I had my 20 week scan the heart beat did vary so while at the scan they kept going back to the heart to check it regulated again. They explained this to me as a baby in the tummy isn’t yet developed enough to have a built in pace maker, meaning it is irregular, they said it was normal and they didn’t even put it in my notes so they weren’t at all worried about it. Obviously I cant say this is what is happening for you but it could be why? I hope it helps, but if your worried contact your midwife x

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 04:50 AM	#3
funkyfish586 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,308	i had this with my son, apparently its completely normal, the baby will have been awake moving around just like our heartbeats. Have you drank anything cold, hot or sugary before? seriously it can all make a difference xx

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 05:57 AM	#4
hayzeb Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2,818	Thanks ladies that's reassuring . I have a consultant appointment in the morning so I will bring it up then, it just sounded so weird. funkyfish586 - I had been drink tea so maybe that was it . Pregnancy is such a tense time. I will let you know what the consultant says tomorrow, fingers crossed he says the same thing you said zoedwarf.

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:13 PM	#5
LouLou78 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: currently England Posts: 1,069	It is normal to get fluctuations in the fetal heart when baby is moving around. Even can be heard as high as 180 in very active periods but as long as it returns to a resting heart rate and doesn't stay up there. Accelerative heart traces are reassuring and are a healthy reactive sign.

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:39 PM	#6
beachlover1 Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,463	When I had the HB listened to by the MW she said she wanted to hear ACCELERATIONS...it means the baby is active. Dont worry im sure all is good x

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:50 PM	#7
terrie0617 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 170	you want baby to fluctuate. I've had many NST's in previous pregnancies and echo's as well since we had a baby die of a heart defect. They explained they don't want baby's heartbeat to be steady, they want fluctuations in activites, from kicking, moving, flipping, sound, even after we eat or drink. Its a good sign.

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 13:10 PM	#8
hayzeb Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2,818	Thanks ladies makes me feel so much better. Buying the doppler was supposed to reassure me not give me new things to worry about lol!

Status: Offline

Similar Threads
Dating & Booking Scan - Will they check the fetal heart rate too?	Pregnancy - First Trimester
Fetal heart rate	Pregnancy - Third Trimester
Fetal Heart Rate	Pregnancy - Second Trimester
What should babys fetal heart rate be?	Pregnancy - Second Trimester
Fetal Heart Rates?	Pregnancy - Second Trimester

User Name		Remember Me?
Password