Comments on: Can’t Tell the difference between my heartbeat and the fetal heartbeat. 17 Weeks Pregnant?

By: ekyellen

ekyellen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

Not certain of a definitive range it should be within, but have always been told between 120-170…my baby’s was always between 130-160 every time they checked it in the office, which they said was healthy.
At any rate, it should definitely be more rapid than your own, and should be easily distinguishable from your heartbeat.

By: KT

KT — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

In the range of 140 beats per minute.

By: FaZizzle

FaZizzle — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

You’ll have to "dig" around for the fetus. The heartrate will be between 120 and 180. Just keep moving and you may have to press a little bit.

By: Michelle Y

Michelle Y — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

you are to early to use the home doppler yet…you need to get that out about 18-20 wks. You will notice when you go to the doctors the BHB is always about 120 to 170 dependent on gender.
So don’t worry everything is fine. Once you get a little further along you will hear more then just the HB…movements and such…they are pretty neat, but hard to get used to if you don’t know what to make of the sounds.

By: Stacey G

Stacey G — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

it will be much faster than yours. between 130 and up
anything above 140 is "supposed to be a boy"
under 140 is "supposed to be a girl"
also girls are modest and she will be hiding from your monitor.
good luck it will take some hunting at this age.

By: Megan G

Megan G — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

It should be *much* faster than yours. Baby’s heartbeat should be over 120 beats per minute, if I remember correctly. (It’s been a while…my son is 12!)

You might want to try keeping a finger on your pulse…if what you are hearing coincides with your pulse, it’s yours, not the baby’s.

By: mommy

mommy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

put the doppler on your heartbeat over your uterus and then feel your pulse on your neck. They will match. The babies heartbeat will be about 2′ce as fast. 120-150 beats per minutes

By: Sweet Eden

Sweet Eden — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:59:53 +0000

Sometimes the baby is laying closer to your spine, so can’t be heard as easily. It will become increasingly easier to hear the heartbeat as the baby fills the uterus (20 weeks). Just keep trying, and enjoy all those little signs of life.

Try pointing the doppler down toward your pubic bone. You will know it’s the baby because the heart rate will range from 120-160 beats per minute. The placenta will resemble your pulse.

Interesting note… usually around the 8th month baby boy’s heartbeats stay on the slower end, while girls are on the higher end. This of course is not fail-proof, but has held true for about 90% of the births I have attended.