slow foetal heart beat

['Lis]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what is considered normal for a heartbeat for scan around 5 wks 5 days. I went for an ultrasound yesterday and expected to be at around 6wks 4 days and was told 5 wks 5 days and also that the foetal heart rate was around 84 which is considered a little slow. I am due for another u/s in a week to check for any changes. Between 5-6 weeks what kind of heart rate should I be expecting.
I miscarried on Christmas eve 05 I went for my 12 week scan to find the foetus had died at 7-8 wks I had no symptoms that would have alerted me to this. So you can imagine I am a little concerned.

Also what is the definition of gestation age? Is this the number of weeks since conception.

Any advice appreciated.

[ButterflyKisses]

Hi 'Lis :wave: and welcome to BH.

I had my first scan when I was 7 weeks and the heart rate from memory was 176bpm. I was told a normal rate is somewhere between 120-160 - that was 3 years ago so I don't know whether anything has changed since then so any other preggy mums who post here will be able to confirm whether that is still the case.

as to your gestation age Q I'll leave that to someone else to answer as my DS was IVF so they have a different way of calculating.

Congratulations and good luck with your pregnancy :yelclap:

[bronny-jane]

Also what is the definition of gestation age? Is this the number of weeks since conception.

Any advice appreciated.

it goes of the first day since your last period, although when you get a scan it can differ alot:)

[min]

Hey 'Lis

I was in a very similar position last year - and got myself very worried! I, too, was expecting the pregnancy to be further advanced (more than 6 weeks), but the sonographer wasn't worried at all. She said that, when the heart first starts beating (5-6 weeks), it's pretty slow, but then speeds up over the next week or so. In my case, it seems that we caught bub's heartbeat at a very early point - but ever since then, it's been just fine!

You might want to check out this site:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/

"Generally from 6 ½ -7 weeks is the time when a heartbeat can be detected and viability can be assessed. A normal heartbeat at 6-7 weeks would be 90-110 beats per minute. The presence of an embryonic heartbeat is an assuring sign of the health of the pregnancy. Once a heartbeat is detected, the chance of the pregnancy continuing ranges from 70-90% dependent on what type of ultrasound is used."

Good luck!!

[~Emmylou~]

Agree with the above - it should be 100bpm or over at 6 weeks, 120bmp or over at 7 weeks and beyond.
They probably just caught it as it had started beating (usually starts around 5w3d I think) It is probably up over 100 already :)
I had a scan with this baby at 6w2d and it was 114bpm.

[~Kimba~]

Hi 'Lis,

When I had my first ultrasound I thought I was about 8.5 weeks (from my LMP) but they told me I was only 6 wk 2 days, and that the foetal heartrate was 95bpm. The sonographer's report said that this was a 'low' heartrate and so my doctor referred me for another scan in 2 weeks to 'check foetal viability'. I was very worried and anxious for those 2 weeks (although the lovely Min also set my mind at rest in response, to my post on here - thanks again Min!)

When the next scan was done 2 weeks later, the heartrate was up really high (176 bpm I think?) and the foetus had grown exactly as it should have (they said I was 8 weeks 1 day). Sine then everything has been just fine.

The sonographer at my second scan said that often when you have a scan early on (5-6 weeks) the heart has only just started beating, and so it isn't always that fast yet. She also said that they shouldn't freak the mother out with the 'low heartrate' scare at that point, because in most cases the HR picks up speed really quickly after weeks 6-7. (She was actually quite cranky with the notes in my first scan results and my doc's referral, and how worried they'd gotten me!)

Good luck with your next scan, hopefully all will be fine/ your little bubbas heart will be pumping away beautifully! :fingerscrossed:

Take care and try not to worry (easier said than done I know) :hugs:

[aggero]

I had my first u/s at 6weeks 4days according to LMP. Bubs measured 6weeks 2days with a heartbeat of 111bpm.

Take care of yourself 'Lis and remember every pregancy is different.

['Lis]

Hi everyone,

Wow I have never used one of these community boards and I am glad I did it is very reassuring. :yelclap:
You get the real storey from fellow mums and dads as opposed to the medical profession I often find.
I had another blood test yesterday although my OB told me that was really just for tracking purposes in case any thing went wrong again which is really reassuring - NOT! I would have thought rising hormone levels would be a good sign and not just for historical purposes?
About a week and a half ago my BhCG levels were 923 and yesterday they were at 30, 970 which my OB receptionist told me he was very pleased about. :thumbsup:


As I am still very early my OB will not book me in for an appt he just writes referrals and either he rings me or his receptionist rings me to discuss the results. He said there is no use coming in to see him as it is too early and there is nothing he can do for me even though he has agreed I need closer monitoring early on as I had previously miscarried. Is this a common experience for everyone else with their OB?

My EDD - 19 Jan 07

Have a great weekend

:smiliedance:

[bronny-jane]

hey lis, you just have to take what comes:D

doctors arent very reasurring, everytime i go in i get bad news and leave worried:(

i was told i was going to lose my baby at 12 weeks after a huge bleed and dropping hcg levels, but im 24 weeks on monday.

now i keep getting told my baby will be premmi, just what i need to hear:rolleyes:

hope it goes well