Low fetal heart rate PLEASE HELP

[javalava]

I want as much information on this as possible so please ladies tell me your story if it applies!!

My baby had a heartbeat of 117 at 18 weeks 2 days and they didnt say anything at the ultrasound place accept that i have to go back so they can check the heart. I thought 117 was a bit low but thought nothing of it.

After my doctors appointment this mroning he said i have to go back because of the heart rate and they want to check that its all ok.

How many of you have had a heart rate under the minimum 120 beats per minute?? And what was wrong or not wrong with your bub?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help :)

[Purplebird]

My bubs heart rate dropped below 120 on the doppler. I was sent for foetal monitoring, but the midwife wasn't too worried. It turned out I had an active bub and he/she was leaning on the cord at times which made the heart rate drop. All was fine. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, good luck :)

[javalava]

Mine seems to be more than just at one particular time. The heart rate was strong when it was younger. Around 12 weeks etc. But this time not so strong. She measured it for ages... over and over again. Maybe it was asleep? I dunno it wouldnt move when i emptied my bladder or ran on the spot for 3 mins lol. So maybe it was having a rest.

[bada]

You must be so worried :hugs:
I haven't got my records, but from memory my baby's heart rate was frequently low, off the top of my head it was 114 (I think) it was never an issue as everything was fine, pretty much trouble free pregnancy and birth, and quite a healthy bub.
I had never really linked the two until thinking about it now, so don't know whether it was a sign or not but she did have 3 minor heart conditions at birth, 2 of which resolved themselves within 6 weeks, and the other a VSD was very tiny and she gets it re checked at 12 months, even if it is still there it won't require treatment or special considerations etc
I hope everything is ok :fingerscrossed:

[javalava]

the doctor said it can be caused by heart problems. Or it may be nothing. God I hope it's nothing bad.

I will know more in 2 weeks. Just seems so far away. I just want to hold the baby now and keep
It safe. :-( I hate worrying

[MyFourCubs]

Sweetie just wanted to give you a hug, I haven't had any experience with this so have no advice but sending you lots of:goodvibes::goodvibes: Keep us posted:hugs:

[javalava]

Its amazing how much we take our healthy kids for granted. I have 2 wonderful gorgeous healthy children and never really thought about having a sick one. Although i feel for those who do, i dont belive i really understand. Not until now where the possibility is staring me in the face. Im being positive and thinking all will be ok. Having talks with my belly etc but i cant help but think about the what ifs.

Im just going to hang in there for 2 weeks. Be tough and hopefully this will all just be a big mistake and everything is really fine :fingerscrossed:

[javalava]

I cant seem to find any info on it on the net either. I dont know if im googling the incorrect words or what it is.

does anyone know of a site that might help me out?

[~Emmylou~]

Did you see the baby moving around much during the scan?
Their heartrates drop when they are asleep and it is still borderline normal (on a few bpm under the lower normal limit) so possible baby was asleep at the time.

Hope it all turns out ok, I'm sure it will.

[MyFourCubs]

There are many, many, many instances in which prenatal testing has led people into fearing and/or believing that something is wrong with their baby. The majority of these cases result in bub being perfectly fine and you, in all likelihood, will be one of these people.

I know what you mean about not expecting it, I had two normal pregnancies, my 3rd I had one problem after another- resulting in a baby half the size of my first two, delivered a month early and we nearly lost her- yet she is perfect and healthy now and ironically my 2nd baby, a result of a very normal, great pregnancy in fact, has autism and a host of other issues!

What I am saying is do not panic yet- there is a lot to be said for antenatal testing and while it absolutely has it's place (my 3rd dd would not be here if it didn't) there are a lot of negative things that can be said about it. Try and relax, cross fingers and if there IS a problem with bub deal with that IF and when it happens.

:fingerscrossed: for you:)

[deesalie]

Thinking of you :kiss:

[ChasMum]

Aaargh, I feel your pain! I've just arrived at work (and am stressed, hence not doing any work :rolleyes:), after my 32-week check-up. Everything was fine, except the fetal heart rate (which is usually up around 150) was at 120. The Doctor told me that anything from 110 to (I think she said 160???? don't quote me on this, cause I kinda tuned out when I heard the dreaded heartrate) is normal, and not to worry... but to me (because all through-out this pregnancy and my daughter's pregnancy where 140-150 was the normal range), it seems a little strange.

I'm trying not to worry, because the doctor wasn't worried. But she did say "it's probably just because the baby is resting", and then later said "we heard babies movements through the heart monitor", so how could the heart rate be low due to resting if the baby is moving?

It just feels odd and a little concerning to me. I have been quite ill throughout this pregnancy, and was hospitalised at 9-weeks due to a severe virus, so that worries me, and makes me think that maybe something has happened along the way to bub??? :(

I hope everything works out well for you... keep us posted! I'll let you know how I go when I see me GP next week too :fingerscrossed:

[javalava]

Oh Chasmum I know what you mean, you just worry that something will go wrong along the way. When in all likely hood its nothing!!

I have to wait another 10 days for my ultrasound. I wont know anything till then and i hate the waiting!!!

I made the appointment for last Friday but they said i had to wait longer. Grrrrr. Im getting use to not knowing now and ill just be happy after this ultrasound is over and they can tell me whats going on, or not going on hopefully!! The hearbeat went up to 120-122 at the midwives the other day so im hoping its normal for this bub.

Ill keep you posted on what happens next week. And good luck to you also!!

[javalava]

Any news yet chasmum?

[ChasMum]

Hi Javalava.... so sorry about my slow response... I had a check-up with my GP on Friday, and he checked the heart rate, and it's gone back up to 140BPM, which is still slightly slow for me, but it's completely normal.... thank goodness! How about you? I know your ultrasound is coming up soon, you must be feeling nervous. Try not to worry, I'm sure everything is perfectly ok... If the doctors were really worried they would get you in for an emergency US, so try not to worry (I know that's near impossible though). I hope everything goes really well for you, please let us know how everything goes after the ultra sound! :fingerscrossed:

[javalava]

Wow thats really great news! i wouldnt have thought 140 was by any means slow!!

I too have good news. I have a healthy baby! :-)

The heart rate was up, only to 128. But thats good enough for me, and the heart looked fine when it was checked at the scan.

We also found out that its a little girl :-) Just what mummy wanted, the rest of the family, not so much haha.

Thank you everyone who contributed to this thread when i was really quite worried. xoxo

[bada]

CONGRATULATIONS javalava! What brilliant news. You must be so happy!

[cmd'smum]

Excellent news! Congrats on a healthy baby girl! :yelclap:

[ChasMum]

YAY!! Congrats Javalava! I'm so glad your bub is healthy! (Girls are great too - my first is a girl, and her Daddy wanted a boy, but now they're so close, and he wouldn't change her for the world)!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!