Could my due date be wrong based on the first time I heard the baby's heartbeat with a doppler.?
I went in for my first visit and we were able to hear the baby’s heartbeat with a doppler. Based on my last missed period and the doppler reading my OBGYN determined I was about 9 weeks 6 days, and we set my due date for November 17th.
However, when I had my ultrasound they pushed my due date back to December 3rd. That would have meant that I heard the babys heartbeat on a medical doppler at about 7 weeks, 6 days (The fetal age would be 5 weeks, 6 days). Is it possible to hear a babys heartbeat on a medical doppler when it is this younge? I feel like my due date might be too late now because I’ve heard its extremely hard to hear anything on the doppler before 10 weeks. Does anyone know anything about this?
Thanks 
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
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That is really weird that you would have heard it that early. But, ultrasound dating is usually pretty dead on. That’s not to say that it is 100%, because it could be wrong, but it’s rare.
I would just be glad you got to hear it that early!!
Hi, I was able to hear my daughter with a doppler at exactly 8wks so it is possible to hear a heartbeat at such an early stage. I also hired one and could hear babies heartbeat before 10 weeks, i think they just tell you 10wks to prevent unnecessary worry beforehand.
There is every chance the could have the dates wrong though as i am now pregnant after trying to conceive and charting cycles, using ovulation sticks to see when i ovulate etc and on my scan they put me back 10 days due to babies size, i know full well that i could not be 10days off, maybe 3-5 max but not 10.
Don’t worry too much though, it is a common occurrence. Just be ‘ready’ by your Original due date. Nothing will be wrong if the baby is in there for an extra 2 weeks anyway.
Good luck!
I would go with te ultrasound date you were given. I hard my son’s heart beat at around 7 weeks with a doppler at my OB’s office. But then at 12 weeks after I had a cercage, took the nurses a very agonizing 45min to find the heart beat. So personally I think it could depend on the doctor as well as the position of the baby.
From what I have been told, all babies grow at the same rate for the fist trimester (maybe longer not sure) so the measurements that are taken early in the pregnancy are the most accurate in determining the due date and age of the baby.