How can you tell if there's no Heartbeat?

Question

Ok - this may seem strange to you girls, but I'm 18 weeks pregnant & feel great. But I'm a little paranoid, 'cause last night a girl who just had a baby told me her sister was at 17 weeks when there was no heartbeat. As of week 16 everything was fine. I don't go to the dr. again for 2 weeks. Would there be signs if there's no heartbeat? Like cramping or bleeding? I feel flutters (none today strange enough) so that means baby should be ok, right? I can't believe she told me that story!

Answer 1

You have to do an ultrasound to determine if there is no heartbeat.

Typically, if the baby dies in the womb, you will have a spontaneous miscarriage. Sometimes, though, it doesn't.

I wouldn't worry about it, since it's not that common. Just continue your prenatal care, and everything will probably be just fine.

Oh, and DON'T PANIC if they can't find the baby's heartbeat with the little Doppler machine at the OB/GYN's office. They'll send you for an ultrasound, where we can visually locate the heart, and we'll almost always see it beating.

Answer 2

hi,

at your stage in pregnancy some women don't even feel a flutter yet, usually at 20 weeks plus we feel flutter and little kicks so for you to feel a flutter is great and you wont feel that flutter like you would kicks! When you get farther along the best way to make sure baby is OK is by tracking your kicks! Right now, all you have to go by is how you feel, if you have cramping or spotting! Not always will you have symptoms but usually you will have the cramping and or light spotting.......

I went through the same exact feelings as you have! I felt so good that I was like I wonder if she is OK because I feel too good to e pregnant and I don't feel her yet.....but, I am 35weeks and everything is good!

If you are not a high risk then try not to worry so much! Hormones makes us a little crazy sometimes!!!

gooooood luck!!!

Answer 3

People are stupid when it comes to talking to pregnant women. They will just say dumbest things without thinking first. You may not feel your baby move everyday. Your baby is still fairly small. Often, then more active a woman is, the less she will feel the baby move because the baby is being cradled in the amniotic fluid from her movements. Every pregnant woman is paranoid that something is wrong with their baby. Don't worry and try not to listen to the stupid stories people tell. If you don't feel the baby move for a few days and are worried, call your doctor. All the nurse has to do is put the Doppler on your belly to listen for the heartbeat. Best wishes for a healthy and stress free pregnancy and healthy baby.

Answer 4

Last March, I suffered a MC. I was 15weeks along(I dint know I was pregnant, though, untill the very moment of the lose)I can tell you excatly what you would feel if you were having one. You would have cramping, and bleeding(as if having a period)You are only 18weeks along, so although you are having flutters, don`t get worried if you dont feel them everyday. Your baby at least in my experince(I am 24weeks pregnant now, due in June)kicking wont be on a regular basis till 20, 21, 22 weeks. I feel you have nothing to worry about. By your next Doctor appt. I bet you will have regular kicking.

Answer 5

If you can feel you baby moving, it's alive, so relax. If you are really concerned go to the doctor they will be able to use a fetal monitor to find a heartbeat to put your mind at ease. I don't know that there are any signs (at the stage of pregnancy you are at) besides not feeling you baby move that would suggest there is no heartbeat. A friend of mine lost her baby at 32 weeks, the only sign she had to suggest there was anything wrong is that she hadn't felt the baby move for a few days.

Answer 6

When I was 16 weeks my doctor tried to get a heartbeat with the doppler and was unable to. He then did and ultrasound and we were able to see the baby's heart beating. If you feel flutters than everything is ok. I hate that people tell us stories like that knowing that it will make us very paranoid. Congratulations on your pregnancy, good luck and God bless.

Answer 7

Ok first off, you're being paranoid. It's someone else's story, not yours. And there could be things behind the story you don't know, like drug or alcohol use, or health issues...or anything, or it just could be that her baby didn't have a heartbeat.

I wouldn't worry so much...if anything, worrying isn't going to make it better, it's going to stress your baby out. You need to stay calm for your baby and just be sure you're doing what you can to keep you two healthy.

As far as flutters, it's very normal not to feel them everyday, but it does not mean your baby isn't moving. If you're that concerned, then call your doctor.

Answer 8

You have to try to stop worrying about it, there is always a slight chance of a miscarriage but it is very unlikely and anyway worrying is not good for your health or the baby's health. At this early stage there isn't much you can do other than take care of yourself and watch for bleeding.

I think your friend should have thought a little more before sharing that story with you if she knew you were pregnant.

Answer 9

Don't worry.....when you have something to look for you get a little feaked out. That's another reason people should not read those pregnancy books too......Anyways, I didn't feel any movements until 19 weeks and I didn't and still havent stressed over anything. I am due n 2 days and I was out taking down Christmas lights yesterday......I know its almost March! Everything will be fine. Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

Feeling the flutters is a great sign!!

Don't worry at all! You're out of your first trimester so your chances of miscarriage go down DRAMATICALLY. You should have no reason to worry, especially since you're feeling movements. I know it's very hard not to worry about your little one, but your body is taking excellent care of the baby.

Not sure why some people like to share horrific stories...but don't let it cause you to worry about your baby.

Sounds like you're doing fine!