is my doctor confused??

Question

i went to the doctor last week. she said i was 9 weeks pregnant and we heard the baby's heart beat, but then she said the baby was only 1/5 of an inch, which is so not 9 weeks and at that small is there even a heart beat, im really confused on how old my baby is. please help

i did have an ultrasound, and i saw the baby's heart beating, it was very very strong, and even the dr. was amazed. i live in germany (through the us army) so it not like i can just go to another doctor like that. id have to switch all together.

my due date is feb. 9

Answer 1

first of all, when we say 9 weeks, we (large majority of us anyway) actually mean that the sperm fertilised the egg 7 weeks ago.

The baby and its heart beat can definitely be seen on ultrasound scan at 9 weeks and the CRL (crown-rump lenght, which means the length of the baby from top of head to the end of the bottoms) should measure about 2.5cm (1 inch).

If the CRL measures only 1/5 of an inch (0.5cm), it corresponds to a baby of about 7 weeks (ie, the sperm fertilised the egg 5 weeks ago). The baby's heart beat can also be seen at this stage.

Answer 2

She might have said you were 9 weeks based upon your LMP (last menstrual period), which is only as accurate as your memory and calendar and is really just an estimate. You can hear a heart beat really early on as the heart is one of the first organs to develop because it supplies the blood to the rest of the baby. Don't worry about it. When you have your ultrasound, you will have a more accurate due-date. Until then, just be joyful about the new life you will be bringing in. A great book to read is "What to Expect When You're Expecting".

Best wishes.

Answer 3

At 9 weeks, your baby does have a heartbeat. It is hard to actually hear, but it is possible. I think there must be a misunderstanding about the size of the baby. It should be about 1 inch. I would give her a call just to ease your mind since you probably won't be returning to the doc for a couple of weeks! I'm sure everything is fine and it's a misunderstanding! Good Luck and Congrats!!!
Oh, and try a website like this one!
http://www.birth.com.au/class.asp?class=66&page=24

Answer 4

We are military and I had a baby in Germany. You can switch to Tricare Standard and see a German Dr offpost for your care and still deliver at the base hospital, that is what I did. The German Dr did ultrasounds at just about every appt I had and he was very informational.

www.babycenter.com will show you what your baby looks like in general of each week of your pregnancy. Remember not every woman who is pregnant will have a baby that develops at the same rate.

Answer 5

9 weeks is awfully early to hear your baby's heartbeat. It can be seen at 9 weeks using an ultrasound, but heard, using a doppler...unlikely. Are you sure your doctor didn't miscalculate your due date?

Answer 6

9 weeks is quite early to be able to hear a foetus' heartbeat. The heartbeat you heard might've been your placenta flow, or your own heartbeat. Your gynae might've unconsciously told you the wrong information. Ask for an ultrasound, and see for yourself. If you need to, seek a second opinion from another qualified oby-gynae.

Answer 7

I would have an ultrasound done. Around 8-9 weeks the baby is usually around an inch long.Have you tried to figure out your due date by your last period you can at
http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-calendar/

Answer 8

Hi there. First I would suggest buying the book "what to expect when your expecting" It the best darn book out there. it will tell you week by week what should be happening. Read up then you can point out what you know to your doctor. its fun to catch them when they goof. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 9

Get a second opinion. If the equipment is top noch, you can hear the heartbeat very early.

Answer 10

Hopefully your doctor accidentally got your records mixed up with someone elses. yes there is a heartbeat at that small.