What are the chances of the E.R. doctor missing the babys heart beat?

Question

I am about 8 weeks and 5 days along. I went to the doctors on july 23 due to spotting and a little pain. I was 7 weeks along at that time. When I went they said that I was fine and the baby was healthy. I started to bleed a little more yesterday ( August 6 ), So I went back to the E.R. This time when I was seen they said that there was no heart beat. All they gave me was some pain pills. So I called my doctor and he wants to do his own ultrasound on August 7. I dont want to get my hopes up but what are the chances for them missing the heart beat the first time? And how do you go from a healthy fetus one week to it not having a heart beat? Also if it wasnt healty and its dead then why is it the size it needs to be?

Answer 1

With my last pregnancy I was in a car accident at 9 weeks gestation and I asked the E.R. to listen for the heartbeat I was so worried the baby had been hurt or killed. They tried for nearly 20 minutes with the dopplar and could get nothing.

But they did a follow-up ultrasound and there was my baby kicking and moving on the screen very vigorously.

She was born last year and was perfectly healthy. My doctor said she just must not have been in a good position. Sometimes it's really hard to find that heartbeat, esp. when you are 10 weeks or less. And if you are in the E.R. remember that prenatal care is NOT their specialty. An OB or midwife usually has a better technique for pinpointing a fetal heartbeat, even early on.

I'm sure the ultrasound will give you the reassurance you need! All the best to you

Answer 2

Same thing happened to me, and yes, I miscarried. I went to the doctor at 7 weeks, baby had a heartbeat and measured appropriately. I started spotting, then had a few sporadic instances of heavier flow - but not super heavy like a period. So I went to the ER, ultrasound confirmed there was no heartbeat. I was given the choice to either let it pass naturally, which could take days or weeks. I tried to do that, but after two weeks of sporadic heavy bleeding and still not passing tissue, I opted for the D&C.

The only thing you neglected to mention was how the ER doc tried to find the heartbeat. Was it via ultrasound, or handheld doppler? If it was by doppler only, there is a good chance they just missed it, sometimes you can't hear it with that device until 12 weeks.

Ultrasounds, however, are very accurate at detecting it by 8 weeks, espeically if they had confirmed a heartbeat prior.

Good luck, hope for the best.

Answer 3

Go for the ultrasound. I went to the ER 18 wks pregnant and the Dr's couldn't find a heartbeat. I was bleeding badly but it stopped but they said that there was no heartbeat. I called my OBGYN and made an appt the next morning. They rushed me in for an ultrasound in the office and there was my little man just a swimming around perfectly fine with a strong heartbeat. At 7 wks a doppler doesn't usually pick up a heartbeat, sometimes an ultrasound can even miss a heartbeat that early on but it will usually catch it. The ER only uses the dopplers and they aren't the best things either, usually the older ones that OBGYN's won't even use anymore. Goodluck

Answer 4

Before the fetus is 12 weeks old it is very hard to hear its heartbeat. Even at 12 weeks, my doctor couldn't hear it but the ultrasound found a healthy, beating heart. I don't think you should stress about it. I have been having bleeding too and so far all is well still. :)

But to answer your other questions, it is very possible to have a healthy fetus one week and no heartbeat the next. Until 12 weeks, the chance of a miscarriage is high. The fetus may have looked healthy but at that size, genetic and physical defects are impossible to see.

Answer 5

It is very likely the baby was not in a good position at the time for the heartbeat to be picked up by the doctor's equipment. Most ER doctors aren't trained in OB work. I'd wait for the ultrasound. It is so much more accurate. The best thing you can do for now is pray, if you pray, and spend time with your family. I realize it's the 7th and this was the day slated for your ultrasound. I hope everything turned out fine for you. I bled early in my pregnancy with my daughter and she's fine.

Can you let us know the outcome? If you can. I really hope everything has been fine today. Take care.
K

Answer 6

I am not sure what the chances are with missing the heart beat but there is a large chance you are having a miscarriage. If so I am so sorry for your loss and be prepared for the pain. When I went the first time she said it didn't look hopeful and that sometimes it just happens. The last time I went there wasn't even a baby in the uterus. But I was still very hopeful and kept my chin up. You can't really worry about that kind of stuff until it actually happens and you know for sure other wise you may harm yourself and your baby.

Answer 7

My heart aches for you. I don't know what the chances are of the ER doctor missing a healthy heartbeat, but I suspect "pretty small". They wouldn't want to worry you unnecessarily and I'm sure they would have spent a long time looking. The fetus would be the correct size if it's only just died. I pray for you that your baby is OK, but I suspect it is not.

If you have miscarried, follow your heart with regards to whether you want to wait to get pregnant again. I was advised to wait, but I didn't want to - just my personality is "let's get going again". Well, we immediately - without another bleed after the miscarriage - fell pregnant with twin boys. And I was delighted - I'd always wanted twins. (Apparently most people don't want twins and are very upset to find they're having multiples, but before my OB/GYN told me that, I thought everybody would think this was great news.)

Seven years later, I think that I must have miscarried because God decided I could handle twins rather than a singleton. So there was a reason.

I pray that whatever the outcome of this pregnancy, you will ultimately have a happy outcome. My warmest wishes and big hugs to you.

Answer 8

Unfortunately this happens all the time. Between 6-9 weeks is the most critical point. The risk of miscarriage declines at 10 weeks, and is rare after 14.

First, I want to be VERY CLEAR. It is possible for an untrained person to miss the heartbeat. So, wrap your arms around your belly and hold your baby right now. You will know for sure when your doctor performs the u/s today.

People bleed in early pregnancy all the time for varying reasons, such as low projesterone or low lying placenta. Sometimes its because of a twin pregnancy that is reducing itself, or a baby that has died in utero...

Second, I have had 8 kids. 4 Singleton and 2 sets of Twins.

I bled at 6 weeks with a baby that I miscarried.

I bled at 6 weeks with a singleton that I gave birth to 7 months later.

I bled at 6 weeks and 9 weeks with the first set of twins. I gave birth at 33 weeks and 6 days.

I bled at 7 weeks with the second set of twins. I gave birth to them at 35 weeks and 1 day.

You never know, but it aint over till its over, and I pray to God that isn't over. Because I know how much you love this baby. It can never be replaced...I would be happy if you emailed me and let me know the outcome of the u/s.

Good luck and hugs to you...

Answer 9

Yes, it can be possible that they missed the heart beat, but don't set your hopes one way or the other yet. I had the exact same experience and I lost the baby. There are alot of factors that can happen that can cause a baby in utero to die. Especially that early on things are developing every day and if something is not developing right it can lead to death. And the baby can be normal sized but if things internally are not o.k. then that also can lead to a miscarriage.
I really do hope for you that everything is fine and baby is o.k., and if not I am so sorry!!!

Answer 10

That early is very common. With my first and only pregnancy last year the doctor only listenend to the baby's heartbeat at 16 weeks or so. 7 weeks or that early is very common to miss it. My doctor suggested listening to the heartbeat at 16 weeks because that is the time when it can be found easily. They should have done an ultrasound. Request one, and good luck to you.