Hearing a baby's heartbeat for the first time is one of the most exciting moments for expecting mothers and their partners. A fetal heartbeat tells the mother the baby is alive. Beyond that, a baby's heartbeat can also tell the healthcare provider a lot about the baby's health.
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A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as the fifth week of gestation. At that time, the baby's heart tube begins to beat, although you cannot hear it. Only a vaginal ultrasound can pick it up.
However, it can be better picked up between the 6½th to 7th week of gestation. In some cases, you may not hear it till later. Depending on the medical practice and your history, your doctor may schedule your abdominal or vaginal ultrasound to assess your pregnancy around this time.
You may be asked to have an early ultrasound if you:
The ultrasound will:
Timing may vary, depending on your doctor, his medical practice, and other factors. Some doctors may ask for your first ultrasound early in the 7th to 8th week of pregnancy and then ask for another a week or two later.
At other times, your doctor may schedule your ultrasound in the tenth week. You may hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. However, the Doppler may find it challenging to pick the heartbeat. Don't panic. It may be that:
Give it a couple of weeks. The Doppler will be able to pick your baby's heartbeat perfectly by the 12th week of gestation. After 8 to 10 weeks, you can hear your baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope. This should be around the twentieth week of pregnancy.
It is almost impossible for the human ear to detect a fetal heartbeat. However, some women claim they hear their baby's heartbeat. This may be possible in the late second and third trimesters.
At 6 to 7 weeks, the normal fetal heart rate is between 90 to 110 beats per minute.
By the ninth to tenth week, your baby's heart rate should beat between 150 to 170 times per minute. However, this should reduce to around 140 beats per minute by week 20.
During labor, your baby's heart can beat 110 to 160 times per minute. But there may be slight variations due to several reasons, some of which are perfectly normal.
Your doctor may warn against using at-home fetal apps and devices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also warns against using such unless you’re under the supervision of a medical professional.
These apps and devices are mostly substandard and may either not pick up a baby's heartbeat or give you an inaccurate reading, resulting in unnecessary fear and worry. Also, using some of these devices like the at-home Doppler requires training to avoid wrong readings.
Your doctor will monitor your baby’s heartbeat at each prenatal visit. If you are worried about your baby’s heartbeat, talk to your doctor. They will schedule an ultrasound and check your baby's heartbeat. If your baby's heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the doctor may assess some others things and order more tests to diagnose the problem.
Rarely, if your baby has a heart condition, your doctor may schedule a fetal echocardiogram to examine your baby’s heart further.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in-network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
