fetal heartbeat?
this maybe a case of paranoia since we’ve waited long enough to have this baby. My wife is close to her 12 weeks of pregnancy, we had a pre natal visit last Feb.02 (10 weeks and 4 days) and the OB tried to hear the fetal heartbeat using Doppler but unfortunate to locate it. My question is, when do exactly we can hear our little baby’s heart beat to ensure that he/she is okay?
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!





everyone’s different. i was almost 16 weeks, my friend was 13. but when you do hear it, its the greatest sound ever.
Usually it’s around 12 weeks before they can hear the heartbeat on the doppler.
I heard mine at 15 wks. Some hear it sooner but at my 11 wk checkup my doctor even said he’s not going to try because we won’t be able to hear it yet. Every doctor’s different.
Perfectly normal not to hear the baby’s heart beat with the doppler before 12 weeks. We didn’t hear our little guy’s heart beat with the doppler until I was about 15 weeks. You should be able to hear it next time.
at the ultrasound they will pick up the heartbeat, my midwife assured me that when she tried before i had my scan that it doesnt always pick up, so dont fret until your wife has the scan that is when you will see and hear that little heart! congratulations to you and your wife
The doppler really shouldn’t be used until the 2nd trimester. My OB even had a hard time hearing my son’s at 15 weeks.
my dr said it is borderline at 11wks. I heard mine at 12wks. you can see it on ultrasound before then.
with my first child it was around 12 or 13 weeks i heard her heartbeat. I’m pregnant with my 2nd i had a appointment last month and they couldn’t hear any thing, they told me it was nothing to be worried about. the baby could have been moving around too much or its just too soon to hear it on the Doppler. if u have an u/s coming up soon they can hear the heart beat on there as well. congrats on the pregnancy
Dont worry. I was in the hospital for a couple of days when i was 14 weeks, and they came in 4 times to try to find the babys heart beat and couldnt find it. I went to the drs at 15 weeks, and she was able to find it quick. Im sure there is nothing wrong, some just take longer than others. Good Luck!
i heard mine with the doppler two at 12w5d. she didnt even have to move it, the exact spot she placed the doppler2 was where the baby was! but im tiny….so it could be easier for them to hear mine cuz i dont have much inbetween…i guess
I first heard the heartbeat with a doppler at 10 weeks but it can take longer sometimes up to 12 or 13 weeks. Don’t stress about it.
my baby’s was heard at almost 11 weeks.. but sometimes it takes longer.. especially if your wife has more weight around the middle, or if her uterus is tilted and the baby is sitting farther back. however, if you are really concerned, just request an ultrasound so you can SEE the heartbeat.
I couldn’t hear my baby’s heartbeat on a doppler until 14 weeks, so try not to worry, baby is still very small. Good luck and congratulations.
Your baby’s heartbeat would be already beating by 6-8 weeks, so around 10-12 weeks, your OB should have detected it. Sometimes it depends on the the position of your baby and if wife has her placenta in the front like i do which takes time to locate the baby’s heartbeat but you will get there eventually when your baby starts to get bigger. I am already 18 weeks and have my own doppler at home and can locate my baby’s heartbeat straight away. Its normally nearer to your pubic bone, lower down than higher up near the navel.
Dont worry….. you may not be able to hear him for a couple of weeks yet….. i didnt hear my baby until 16 weeks, and that was at hospital…… When you have your 12 week scan, you will be able to see him/her kicking and moving around anyway so you will know that he/she is alright!
I bought a doppler for when i am at home and me and my partner couldnt hear our baby boy until 21 weeks, i am now 24 weeks and hear his heartbeat everyday….. and the kicking too…..!!
Dont worry, everyone seems to get abit paranoid and anxious around 12/13 weeks as the danger decreases afetr that but i am sure your little bubba is fine and well and enjoying it all tucked up and warm…!!!
Good luck
x
It can be from 11-15 weeks. At 10 +4 the chances of the FH being heard are very slight as the uterus is usually still in the pelvis at this point. The heavier your wife is it is likely to be longer before the FH can be heard.