16 week appointment -heartbeat?

[vic30]

Hi,

I've just had my 16 week appointment and I was told they don't listen to the baby's heartbeat until after 20 weeks. This wasn't the situation 3 years ago and even this time last year for a friend. I mean yes it's nice to know what my blood pressure and urine are ok and that I can have the whooping cough vaccine earlier (whoop!) and sort my anti-D out, but I'd quite like to know if my baby's alive. I appreciate that its not always easily heard and that the don't send you for a scan if it can't be heard so it's to illiminate worry, but still. I'm quite disappointed.

 

[candymycandy]

That's so odd, maybe it varies in different areas now but my mw did mine at 16wks. Sorry Vic that's a really crap experience. Have you got any MW walk in clinics nearby you could go beg to? Or failing that a private reassurance scan? I know you shouldn't have to do that though x

 

[nat206ttc3]

We hear our babies heartbeat at the 16wk appointment, although I don't get mine until thurs and I'm 17+3 today lol x

 

[vic30]

I know I just don't get why it's different in places and even different in the same place now! I see a different midwife every time too. My anomaly scan is actually at 19+1 so not bad at all - only three weeks. It's just nice to know all is ok but I suppose if she couldn't hear the heartbeat I'd just be worrying. I also had to inform them I am now consultant let as they didn't look at that information in the notes! X

 

[Debz34]

I know how you feel Vic, I had my 16wk appointment last week and they said they wouldn't listen for a heart beat until next appointment which is 24wk with them so I'm having to wait until 20wk scan to know everything is ok.
We also have a team of midwives so someone different every time. Think I've met 5 of them so far and by the comment made that's only half the team. They all contradict each other as well changing which weeks I should make appointments and what checks need done, doesn't really fill me with confidence.

 

[vic30]

I remember you saying Debz and I thought 'oh at least mine do it' I think a different midwife might've offered. It doesn't fill you with confidence does it? I've got plenty 'wrong' with me and seeing different midwives doesn't help. I'm all for students being in appointments and its perhaps the time of year they're finishing their placements/course but I had them at nearly every appt last time, even at both my sweeps and then one when I gave birth! Two appointments so far and both times they've taken the appointment. X

 

[mylullaby]

I think it actually varies between midwives. Mine said "we're not meant to do it yet so don't panic if we can't find it..." tried anyway and found it straight away! Think I got lucky though with a rebel midwife

 

[firstfreakout]

My midwife (who has been the same one throughout besides the GP who I also see due to first pregnancy) listened in to the heartbeat at my 16 week appointment. She said it can take time to find and sometimes the baby doesn't want to co operate which can cause concern in some mummas so to be aware that it's a possibly she won't find it but that doesn't mean anything is wrong. It took her a while as my kiddo doesn't tend to like the wands he gets prodded with, but she found it in the end before he kicked it away and wriggled to where it couldn't be heard! I literally only heard it for about 10 seconds before he had enough.

The MW and GP have both listened in to the HB at every appointment since.


If you're super worried and looking for reassurance in the meantime, you could get a cheap doppler from Amazon (we have one but only used it a few times as baby gets irritated with the prodding) and try to find it yourself. We managed to find the HB at around 9 weeks or so with that. Only cost £20, so if you have the finances it might be worth investing to put your mind at ease until your 20 week scan.

HOWEVER just because you hear the heartbeat it doesn't mean the baby is okay. The dopplers are never advised to be used by non professionals to ascertain the baby's welfare (a number of reasons including confusing HB's with your own; not being able to find it; not being medically trained etc).

If you're super upset about it, you could always mention it to the MW and see if they'll let you listen in anyway to calm your nerves a little?

 

[candymycandy]

Yeah they always add the caveat not to panic if they can't find it. Mine said this but assured she'd send me for a trace at the hospital if not. They'll not do it before 16wks now as I think that's maybe considered early enough to chance not finding it but strange not to do it after x

 

[vic30]

Yes it definitely does vary between midwives so that's the inconsistency I'm not happy with. I'm sure my old midwife would've tried like she did in my last pregnancy (she just did it I didn't ask as with a first pregnancy I didn't know what to expect anyway).

Thanks firstfreakout (!? Haha!) I've read a lot about dopplers too and for the reasons you mention I don't believe in them and wouldn't get one. I've actually just signed a petition to ban them! I think I'm just worried as I was told my placenta might not be that 'great' but my tummy is getting bigger for definite. I'm not super worried, I just like everyone to be treated the same and people to follow the same rules...in an ideal world I guess! It's like at our hospital, one midwife charges you for photos and the rest don't! It's not on!!

 

[vic30]

Ahh Candy I'm just reading your info...I've got PCOS too.

Yes I think it's the opposite with ours. They wouldn't try because if they couldn't find it they wouldn't send you to PAU as it's borderline early X

 

[claireyt]

My midwife offered but recommended against it. She said it was very unlikely that anything would be heard and so she didn't want to cause any unnecessary worry. I completely get where you're coming from though I had early scans at 6 and 8 weeks because of previous issues, then my 12 week so it now seems like I have to wait an eternity until my 20 week scan!!

 

[vic30]

Yeah I completely get that. In my first pregnancy my midwife offered and heard something straightaway. It would just have been nice for it to have been offered and not dependant on what the midwife thinks about it. It was like 'we don't do that until after 20 weeks now' No, I thought 'you' don't. It was the student who said it - perhaps it's what they have to say now! X

 

[Allysa151]

In my area they don't listen to the heartbeat either, not at the 16 week appt or later. When I asked the midwife she said they don't do it anymore as it doesn't mean the baby is fine so they just ask for movements instead. Luckily I got a doopler and kept me going until I felt the baby moving

 

[baby1201]

I had my 16 week appointment today with midwife and she never checked for the heartbeat either, I think they did with my last two babies at 16 wks. I didn't mind this time as I've had 2 scans this week, but if I hadn't of it would of definitely given me some reassurance.x

 

[nat206ttc3]

I just had my midwife appointment and heard her little heartbeat xx