Sensitive ... No heartbeat at 16weeks with Doppler - is this normal??

[HelenJudi1]

Hello all,

So today I am 16weeks and 3days.

I had my last scan 2 weeks ago (private) and all was well. The baby had the hiccups and we could see him jumping and wiggling his arms with each hiccup. It was actually incredible.

Today I had my 16 week midwife appointment and she offered to check on the baby with a hand held Doppler. I haven’t heard the babies heartbeat yet so I was keen for her to try. However, she could not find it. She said that this is common and that’s why they don’t check the heartbeat with a Doppler as routine now due to this at the 16 week appointment. She said that the baby was active and moving and that’s why she couldn’t locate it. I heard a noise that sounded like a heartbeat to me but she said that it was the placenta I was hearing and not the baby’s heart itself. Although she said that this is normal and said the baby was active. I’m not feeling him move yet so how can she be sure? Should I be worried or is this in fact quite common for this to happen? My OH seems fine and said it’s the Midwife’s job to take care of the baby so if she had any concerns then she would have acted. I however, don’t know whether to be worried or trust her?! After not finding it, the midwife went on to discuss my birth plan etc and didn’t seem at all concerned... I really don’t know what to think!

[emmab178]

Don't be concerned. It's easier when the baby is bigger. Also depends if your placenta is in the way. Nothing to be concerned about otherwise she would send you for a scan

[HelenJudi1 in reply to emmab178]

Thank you... The logical side of me is telling me not to worry but it’s easier said than done at the moment ...

[emmab178 in reply to HelenJudi1]

Naturally it will be. Don't think I relaxed till week 30 where the anxiety of "I hope I don't lose this baby" went to anxiety of " sh!t, this has got to come out of me somehow!" My anxieties were handled better through counselling, because you are pregnant you get bumped to the top of the waitlist. Maybe it could help you aswell?

[HelenJudi1 in reply to emmab178]

I’ll be honest, that is something I have thought about...xx

[emmab178 in reply to HelenJudi1]

Please go ahead and mention it to the midwife team. Presume you've got the book with the numbers in, don't wait till the next appointment or phone your gp. Perinatal depression (crap words in my opinion as it covers anxiety etc aswell) is something all women must go through as it's a vulnerable time. Especially more worrying when it's a precious ivf pregnancy.

I only had a few sessions and really eased my anxieties.

Or sod it, get the scan (i had loads in the early weeks to reassure me!) But also follow up with the counselling as there's a root cause here x

[Afrohair]

Don’t worry hun I can tell you your midwife is right they no longer tell people to use dopplers to check usually because they are now known to not always be accurate x

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Afrohair]

I had read that even before my appointment so I’m a little annoyed at myself that I agreed to it as I knew I would worry if this happened... x

[MissSaoPaulo]

Even towards the end of pregnancy when baby's getting really big and you can actually see them moving it can take a while to find the heartbeat and I imagine it's even more difficult when baby's still small. It's so hard not to worry but I'd trust what your midwife told you xxx

[HelenJudi1 in reply to MissSaoPaulo]

Thank you...xx

[Missl73]

My midwife didn’t want to use the Doppler at my 16 week for this very reason. The baby can still be very low in your pelvis so heartbeat is difficult to find. My mum (who is a GP) was with me at the appointment so when the midwife gave up she stepped in and found it for her but we had to go really low down to find it and it wasn’t easy. It’s highly likely that everything is fine but if you really need reassurance you could pay for a private scan it depends how you feel xx

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Missl73]

I have decided to book a private scan... just to put my mind at rest...xx

[Hidden]

The midwife would have heard a whooshing noise of fluid as the baby moved around (similar to the background noise when you get sounds on an ultrasound). It can be very difficult to find a heartbeat at any point in pregnancy without a picture there. Think of trying to find someone's pulse on their wrist or neck without being able to see or feel your way to the correct spot. It will probably still be a few weeks until you can feel the baby move, but try to relax until then x

[jenben81]

Try not to worry. At my 15.5 week GP check up, she said she will try the Doppler but there is a strong chance we will hear nothing so try not to be concerned if we hear nothing. I was lucky to hear it as my little ducky is a highly active one anyway. In terms of kicks, it's probably too early to detect them. They say you're lucky to get them at 18 weeks (again, ducky was not letting me down) but I know a girl who started feeling them at 22 weeks, and my cousin at 26. Everyone is different. It sounds like everything is as expected on your side, so again try not worry. Not long till the big scan and hopefully your anxiety will subside. I couldn't relax until then (and even at that, it was delayed to week 23 because of Christmas- the waiting was terrible!). Good luck with your pregnancy.

[Corchi]

Hello why didn’t they just do an ultra sound at 8 weeks when you can hear heart beat??

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Corchi]

She only had a Doppler as it was the 16 week appointment and you don’t normally get a scan at this appointment. The next one is 20 weeks...

[Corchi in reply to HelenJudi1]

Oh I’m so sorry. In Greece where I am based they do an ultrasound at 8 weeks. I send you lots of baby dust and love

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Helen. I can fully understand your concerns. It could be that your baby's placenta is anterior and over the front of your womb, thus masking the heartbeat. Movement for a first pregnancy is usually from 18-22 weeks, so no worries there. It will start as a tiny flutter that you may not notice for a few days, then realise what it is. I would be reassured that your baby is fine in the scan, so fingers crossed all is well. Thinking of you. Diane

[Hidden]

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Sorry you are feeling really worried. It’s not easy being pregnant after fighting infertility! The fact the midwife could hear little one moving is very encouraging but if you are really worried ask maternity assessment for a scan for extra reassurance. That’s what they are there for. I didn’t feel my baby move properly until I was 23 weeks & she was my 2nd baby everyone though I’d feel her earlier & only felt them when I was sat down her placenta was anterior ( until she was bigger then felt her all the time!) . I felt tiny flutters at 17 weeks not very noticeable. I fretted throughout my whole until she arrived safely. I hope you can get some reassurance xxx

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you...xx

[Kikiwaits]

Idk, I’m in the US so ya’lls care is a lot different than ours. If they can’t pick up the heartbeat with a doppler after 10 weeks, you have an ultrasound. I wouldn’t have left that woman’s office without some kind of promise of reassurance.

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Kikiwaits]

It is very different here I guess... the midwife didn’t have the facilities with her to do a scan even if she had wanted...

[FrancyItaly]

I think as long as your baby was moving and wiggling your should not be worried. It might just be too early or as she said, he was being very active! Go on a private scan and you’ll hear it at 20 weeks. All the best!

[HelenJudi1]

Thank you all for your lovely comments! I can’t tell you how much all of your support and reassurance helps / helped me!!

I decided to go for a scan just to check and put my mind at rest ... I managed to get one for late this evening so my OH could come and only had to leave a few minutes early from work to make it.

Baby is absolutely fine!! Thank goodness! Proper wiggling tonight and the lady had trouble tracking his heartbeat and she could see him so the midwife didn’t stand a chance yesterday! We saw and heard his heartbeat tonight ❤️ I was also told tonight that my placenta is sat at the front so I am unlikely to feel the baby move as early as others as the baby will need to go through this too... again, it probably explains why the midwife had trouble yesterday... so relieved and I feel so much more relaxed now xx

[Katbaby19]

Hi there, I'm.28 weeks with a front lying placenta, it will definitely lower the movement u can feel, I can always feel moving if I lie down on my left hand side especially at night so just a tip for further into your pregnancy xx

[HelenJudi1 in reply to Katbaby19]

Thank you xx