Should my unborn baby's heartbeat be really fast?
I am 20 week and 3 days, and just got a fetal doppler. I listened to my own heartbeat, which was going at a normal rate, then i found the baby’s but it was really quiet and probably going a little slower than mine.
Is this normal or should I tell my midwife?
I felt the baby kick and the doppler picked that up so i think all is well, i have a scan on friday, so i’ll try not too worry much. x
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!





you probably picked up sounds of the placenta it wasnt the heart beat, babys heart beat is really fast, just another reason NOT to get those heartmonitors because they make you freak out, the midwifes are experts at using them, also babys dont like them it creates a high pitched sound that only the baby can hear.
yes a babys heartbeat is faster i would not worry as long as the baby is still moving fine
yeah its normal darlin
Seems normal they say slower indicates a baby girl but that’s an old wife’s tail
i remember being told that the heartbeat of a baby is about twice as fast as an adult’s. maybe you weren’t hearing every beat, if as you said it sounded quiet. get a professional to do it for you. I considered getting ones of those fetal dopplers and decided against it cos i think it would freak myself out with worry if i didn’t hear the heartbeat properly etc. i am sure all is ok if you are hearing a heartbeat at all….
if im being honest i wouldnt use ur fetal doppler because you will listen to it and not know if wot u’ve heard is normal, like you have done already. im sure that is normal but it wouldnt hurt to question it with ur midwife. i wouldnt use it again coz u will always be anxious and worried xx
if its going slower than yours, that you should probably tell your midwife.
the babys heartbeat sounds and generally is.
twice as quick as yours.
I am pretty sure it’s okay, don’t get worried too much, but you should definately tell your midwife in case.
You may have been hearing your own pulse, when docotrs were checkingmy babies heart beat they always had to search around and get away from my pulse. And yes bubbies will beat fast
Hey at 20 weeks on a fetal doppler you cannot always hear babys heartbeat or pick it up. It shouldn’t be slower than urs it should sound like horses galopping. Best thing to do is go to mdwife but it just probably the doppler.
X
Are you sure it was the right way around?
Babies are faster than the Mom’s, pop down to the nurse and get her to set your mind at rest.
It should be between 110 and 160 bpm,
this ofen confuses less experienecd medical staff as mine can often go as high as 109 so the often tell me that is my baby - luckily I know (as does my midwife and any decent Dr) that my baby is at around 149 bpm and has been at high as 167 bpm.
Are you sure the faster beat you heard was not your baby?
The babies heartbeat should be between 140 and 150 beats per minute, it shouldn’t be any lower than 120 beats per minute and shouldn’t rise above 165 beats per minute unless you are in labour. If you are worried you should call your doctor.
Your baby’s heartbeat should be faster than yours. If you’re worried speak to your midwife.
i think you will find every think will be fine you are worrying for nothing if the baby is kicking it is fit and healthy if you have any worries phone your middwife and speek to her
Your baby’s heart beat should be much faster than yours but as you listen on your fetal doppler the speed does vary also.
i wolid mention it. it is suppose to be faster obviously ok cos he`s movin but id deffinitly mention to your midwife just to keep your mind at rest
Sounds like you didnt find the babys HB
Sounds like you picked up the placental pulse not the babies. 20 weeks is still a little early to easiliy find the babies heartbeat, wait till after about 24 or you will drive yourself mad. I know, i bought one too.
On a doppler the babys heartbeat should be a lot faster than yours and makes a whooshing sound.
I was in hospital with a nasty infection and sepsis when I was around 22 weeks pregnant and couldnt really feel my son moving much,I was concerned and they used a normal doppler on me and could only find a fient heartbeat and slow and they thought something was wrong and they got a midwife from the maternity unit to check him,they found his heartbeat straight away,very strong and faster than mine,it turned out that when the nurse checked for it first,she had got one of my arteries instead of my son and thats why it was slow and fient!!! Get yourself checked by a midwife and make a mental note of where she found the heartbeat and use your doppler there,but your baby will be moving around all the time so it wont be in the same place!!
Yeah, its normal for the babys heartbeat to be nearly double yours!
I spent 2 months of my pregnancy in hospital where i had the fetal heart monitor on every day and i used to love hearing it, but your right. Compared to our hearts it does sound a lot faster. Completely normal though. Someone once told me if its slower its a girl. My babys heartbeat was fast, and it was a girl so thats another old wifeys tale!!! lol
Sorry, i read your Q wrong, thought ud said babys heartbeat was faster than yours!!! (which it should be!) Those doppler things will only drive you mad! Midwifes are trained but youre not, so you night panick if you cant find a beat!
Your baby’s heartrate will be faster than yours. My baby’s heartrate has been:
9w - 170
12w - 122
19w - 160
29w - 151