Heartbeat at midwife appointment.?

Question

Hi,

My sister is 15 weeks pregnant. She had a midwife appointment this week, and the midwife checked for the heartbeat and didn't find it (It's not been found previously but the baby seems to be growing). The midwife didn't seem concerned and told her to come back in two weeks after asking whether she'd had any cramp or bleeding (she hasn't). The midwife suggested that she was having a problem finding the heartbeat because she's overweight (which I find outrageous as she's a size 12-14 (8-10 for the americans)).
Is this normal ? Has anyone else not had a heartbeat deteched at 15 weeks and everything has turned out fine ?
Serious answers only please !

Answer 1

It is very difficult to find the babies heart beat at 15 weeks gestation, as a midwife I don't normally try to listen in until at least 20 weeks gestation just because of this reason, it worries mums to be for no reason if after 20 weeks gestation then the midwife would have sent your sister for a scan. The midwife only has a small amount of allocated time for each patient and if this time runs over then everybody else's runs over. If your sister is still worried you can buy from ebay a fetal heart doppler for a few ponds and your sister can spend as much time as she wants to listen to her baby. The heart beat can be heard from 10 to 12 weeks gestation.

Answer 2

OK, so the baby's heartbeat hasn't been found yet. If it had been heard before, but not this time, I might be more worried. Usually you can only get the heartbeat for the first time at 12-13 weeks, and it can be quite difficult at this stage as the top of the uterus is only just poking out above the front of the pelvis.

By 15 weeks, you'd expect to be able to get the heartbeat - is there any chance that your sister's dates are a little off and she's not quite as pregnant as she thought?

Don't know about all this "overweight" stuff, plainly if she's that size she isn't, and anyway babies' hearts can be detected on much bigger women.

If your sister is anxious, she could ask to go back sooner, or contact the maternity unit. On a different day, the heartbeat could be easy to pick up, sometimes it depends on where in the uterus the baby's lying.

If she does experience any pains or bleeding, obviously she must seek medical help a.s.a.p.

Answer 3

Depends on the method used to listen to the heartbeat. Usually you can hear the heartbeat with Doppler amplification at around 9-10 weeks. Since it was midwife appointment, I'm going to assume that she just used a type of stethoscope.

No worries, it's usually not expected for you to hear the heartbeat through that method until about 20 weeks.

Also, if your sister is displeased with her midwife, or feels that she is making excuses for her inadequacies, now would be time for a change. She's going to have to be close with this woman for the next 25 weeks and she will have a very crutial role in the birth, so your sister should make sure that she has someone she is comfortable with.

Answer 4

I had this problem at about 15 weeks also when pregnant with my daughter, now a healthy 14 week old.
I was in to see the Dr as i had a really bad cold, sore throoat etc. and she decided to listen to the heartbeat as I was there but try as she might she couldn't find one!
As you can imagine this was very distressing for me. The Dr was so concerned she rang the early pregnancy clinic at our nearest hospital 35 miles away and I was told to go there immediately for a scan. Obviously I was in a bit of a state by now, so my sister in law said she would drive me there. The hardest part was ringing my husband and asking him to meet me there, I felt so bad for him.
I was seen immediately when I got to hospital and was soon crying tears of joy when I could see the heart beating away clearly.
The Dr at the hospital said it was difficult to detect the heartbeat due to the way she was lying - she had her back to my back and was curled round so there was too much water between her & my belly!
By the way, I am overweight, size 18 and at no stage did anyone say that had anything to do with it!
If I was your sister I would want a second opinion or be asking for a scan so she can get some peace of mind.

Answer 5

Tell your sister not to worry. I went for an ultrasound with a friend of mine who was 16 weeks pregnant and the doc couldn't find the heartbeat. The baby is still quite small and depending on its position in the womb the ultra sound may not pick anything up. We went back and had another scan a few eeks later and saw the heart beating - every things wll be fine!

Answer 6

i think thats quite strange im a size 10 uk now was a size 6-8 and that was wrong everyone kept making coments even at 9 weeks pregnant its a joke and really anoys me!!! size has nothing to do with a babys heart beat i'm 15 weeks with twins so they are a bit smaller but it was seen at 8 weeks and 5 days for them both probably nothing to worry about i still aint heared it yet but i have seen it on a scan get the midwife to phone the early pregnancy unit for an appointment

Answer 7

Finding a heartbeat at such a relatively early stage of pregnancy can be difficult. I'm sure if the midwife wasn't worried then she has seen it 1000 times before and knows it doesn't signify a problem
As for your sister's weight, I'm sure the midwife was not basing it on her dress size, but on her BMI. She shouldn't take it as an insult.

Answer 8

Over weight?How ridiculous.If your sister isnt happy with her midwife i would ask for her to be changed.The fact that your sister is worried about not hearing the heartbeat, and getting a response like she has had from the midwife, means she probably doesnt feel very reasurred and supported by her midwife.I wouldnt worry about not hearing the heart beat.Everyone is different, and it can also depend on how your baby is laid,to be able to get a clear reading.Good luck.

Answer 9

I never had that problem but I was a size 10 when I got pregnant and told I was over weight...doctors want you at about an american size 4 when you get pregnant, it is the safest weight in their opinions and thats fine but maybe she should see a doctor and not a midwife, they might have better equipment in situations like this...

Answer 10

You should not worry. In the UK, it is recommended not to try to listen to the heart beat before week 12, because it is sometimes tricky to find, and it worries parents for no reason. Maybe the baby was in the wrong position? For next time, tell your sister to have a full bladder before seeing the midwife, it sometimes help!
Congratulation for the Auntie to be!!!