Fetal heart rate with Doppler

[2boysJustOneGirl]

Hi ladies. I am curious when you first heard your baby's heart beat? With DS 1 I was almost 9 weeks and DS 2 I was 9 weeks a couple days. This baby...at 10 weeks 1 day I don't hear a thing. My midwife lent me a Doppler to play around with and so far I don't hear it. I am a tad freaked. I am small, thinner than I was with last pregnancies, so there shouldn't be a reason not to hear it. With the crappy LE diet I was on I worry that this little one is not well.

[atomic sagebrush]

LE Diet as written is 100% safe for moms and babies and is based on the recommendation of the World Health ORganization and various health agencies worldwide as the safe minimum nutrient intake prior to pregnancy for women of childbearing age.

The location of your baby and placenta makes a major difference in when you hear the heartbeat. We have all had times where we go into an appointment even pretty late on in pg and they can't find the heartbeat right away. You aren't a professionaly trained baby-heartbeat-finder, 9-10 weeks is pretty darn early anyway, and I would step away from the Doppler and give it a week or two.

Personally, I would have more concerns about Dopplering my stomach a lot - I know on paper it's supposed to be perfectly safe but I wouldn't be doing it if not necessary.

[nuthinbutpink]

If your placenta is up front, it can be harder to pick up the HB.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

Sorry for calling the diet crappy! I have a bit of knowledge about nutrition and by those standards, for me, it was crappy. Eating white rice 5 times a week is not a very nutritional diet when I am used to eating whole grains and sweet potatoes. I felt like crap (could be a combo from the cardio too) on the diet, I had numerous cold viruses and generally felt "unhealthy" so my concerns about a healthy baby are legitimate, I think, especially considering how healthy I was and felt when I conceived my boys. Perhaps I was too strict on the diet? Very well could be it.

I have a bit of experience with finding fetal hearts with a Doppler as well! Not my own, I will add. I just worry because it's not my pregnancy norm and was curious what other women experienced in their pregnancies.

I never thought about the placenta! Absolutely could be why I don't hear it, sometimes it's difficult to be practical when it's your own body! I have only listened twice for a grand total of about 4 minutes so I am not too concerned about ultrasound exposure.

[1+2+3boys]

It could very well be an anterior placenta (on the front wall). I can understand your worrying though. We all worry when pregnant, it is hard not to. Hugs and try to go easy on yourself. Also I can imagine you will be more tired this time round. You are pregnant and now you have two older children to look after so definitely the most work your body has done so far. And I am not sure how old you are but of coarse older than before so that could make you more tired too.
I really hope this is a healthy baby girl for you :) FX

[1+2+3boys]

And I can imagine the LE diet would take some getting used to too. I had such a typical boy diet when my boys were conceived. I'd be so hungry on the LE. I LOVE eating. Having a full tummy of good food is awesome. Can't wait for Christmas, munch munch munch

[Nahri]

Don't worry too much as so many factors come into play. Have you seen the heart beating on an ultrasound or heard it at any point yet? It can be a tricky thing to find even at your gestation because of positioning and angle. Sometimes putting it straight you wont hear it but tip it a bit and there it is. Mine are always tricky because of my unfortunate extra padding and baby going bonkers and not wanting to hold still so they have to chase baby around with the doppler.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

The diet was a drastic change for me! I also love food but not just food, I love nutrient dense stuff, healthy fats and snacking! Th diet sucked! I was hungry all the time and felt awful.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

Don't worry too much as so many factors come into play. Have you seen the heart beating on an ultrasound or heard it at any point yet? It can be a tricky thing to find even at your gestation because of positioning and angle. Sometimes putting it straight you wont hear it but tip it a bit and there it is. Mine are always tricky because of my unfortunate extra padding and baby going bonkers and not wanting to hold still so they have to chase baby around with the doppler.

I haven't had an early ultrasound. I won't have one until the 20 week anomaly scan, unless the MaterniT21 test indicates the need for a scan.

[atomic sagebrush]

There is a huge difference between an optimal diet you feel great on, and something that's harming your baby. That's all I'm trying to say. I would not EVER EVER EVER suggest or recommend anything that I thought was harmful to babies in any way.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

Yes I know the diet isn't harmful and knowing the many women I do know who eat way worse than LE and have healthy normal babies proves this! It's just me being type A. I feel that a mom who eats a low nutrient diet isn't providing a whole lot of resources for a fetus, that's all.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

An embryo I should say! The second I knew I was prego I changed to a high nutrient diet.

[jo doc]

i could never pick up my babies either and the midwives used to have to search for it ! my placenta was at the front and a wriggly baby didnt help! he he! try not to worry xx

[2boysJustOneGirl]

I find it strange that with both my previous pregnancies, the fetal heart was always audible, even very early on and with this pregnancy it's not. Can't help but wonder what is going on. Maybe my uterus is tilted back- that can happen after a couple kids I hear?

[Adia]

Every pregnancy, delivery, baby is a world in and of themselves. Almost nothing, except their birth weight:suprise:, has been similar with my girls. Everything has been its own story.

And as far as the LE...when I finally learned about it I then had clear confirmation of why I had 3 girls. I enjoyed being hungry, ate low nutrient food to try and keep the weight off, didn't particularly like cooking so I just skipped meals or ate whatever, etc.

Eating on the HE made me feel fantastic, but I gained a lot of weight...after baby is born I will have to figure out how to eat HE but lose weight...messes with my head when I try to figure it out. Praying breastfeeding kick starts things for me!!

[aidansmum]

I picked up a HB at 10 weeks with Anya, and it was very hard to hear, and I 'lost' it all the time. From 12 weeks on it got much stronger. I don't think your baby was harmed in any way, just too soon.

[2boysJustOneGirl]

Adia I was always about 10lbs heavier than I wanted with my boy friendly diet but I felt good so I know what you mean! I must say tho, the LE diet taught me portion control and ways to curb hunger without eating and I think that will help me lose future baby weight. I am better able to handle being a bit hungry, I used to get very bitchy and headachy when I was hungry even an hour after eating! Crazy. No wonder I gained 40+ lbs with my last pregnancies. 😁

[bluebonnet22]

2boys - I had an anterior placenta plus tilted uterus last time and couldn't pick up heartbeat at doctors office until 16 weeks! Try not to worry, but I know it's hard!

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh yeah the tilted uterus can make a huge difference, I forgot about that! I have one too that can cause difficulties with finding the heartbeat even into 14-16 week range with my 4th and 5th. (my uterus was lying in the corner waving a white flag by that point LOL)