What is a normal fetal heartbeat at 6 weeks?

[twinkles]

Hi All,

Just got back from an ultrasound (internal :( ) and found out I am 5 weeks and 4 days, altering my due date to 11th October. Anyway, whilst there the lady doing the ultrasound seemed very quiet and spent more than 20 minutes repeatedly doing the fetal heartbeat, she said it's there, and showed it to me, but didn't seem 100% and grimaced when I told her my positive preg test date (I tested positive 25/1/07 - LMP 1/1/07). As I was getting dressed, I looked at the screen and the baby's hearbeat was 91 beats/minute. I know with my m/c in July, that when the baby was 88bpm, she was only a few days from passing but was at 10 weeks and she was also small for her age. Is it normal for it to be so slow at 6 weeks?

The ultrasound lady (sonographer?) said that my Doc will get the results tomorrow. Should I expect a call?

A little worried

Twinkles

[Believer]

Hi Twinkles! I'm not sure if this will help, but my FS told me to get a scan done before our appt. on Wed. Since I will be 5 weeks 6 days, he said to be prepared not to hear a heartbeat. He said if it was still too early then he would send me back in about a week to check again. I have no idea what the heartrate is supposed to be but maybe it's good that you can hear it so early. I'm sure some of the other women on this thread will be more helpful. Hope it all goes well!

[nats]

:hugs: :fingerscrossed: all is well with you and your bubs.

As with Shorty_581's experience with sonographers --- they are not infalible!
She was told she had a missed miscarriage untill she demanded an internal and then they saw a, as she put it - Big Fat Heartbeat.....
so, don't assume the worst but demand the best!
GL for tommorrow :thumbsup:

Shorty nearly got sent to surgery to have it removed btw.

[EcstaticEm]

Oh Twinkles, How scary. I dont know the normal Rates but I wanted to give you a :hugs: and I am sending strong sticky vibes to that bubba of yours hon.:hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

[twinkles]

Hi Believer!

Thanks for the encouragement. She could only see the sack through the tummy so did the 'internal' thing to see the heartbeat. I hope your scan goes well and you get to see your little ones heart beating, strong and regular :)

Hi NAts,

I like the thought that it might just be a dodgy sonographer :) I am not assuming the worst, I keep telling myself, it will all work out, my baby is fine, happy and healthy and I look forward to hassle free pregnancy; still have the thought hanging around though, especially with my recent history.

Thanks for the good luck wishes; hopefully he calls early!

I really do appreciate the reassurance from you both.

Twinkles

[twinkles]

Anxious Em,

Thanks for the sticky vibes and the hugs, I feel like I could really do with them today.

Twink

[zenifa]

All I can say is good luck with your pregnancy, sending you lots of positive vibes and :hugs:
Thinking of you

[Believer]

Twinkles.. Did they measure anything else or were they purely looking for the heartbeat?

[nicoleE]

I did a bit of a google for you and found that it seems like the average heart rate at 6 weeks is around 90-110bpm so you sound fine to me! :thumbsup:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070105104234AAP2hB8

http://www.ob-ultrasound.net/joewoofaq2.html#6

http://ww3.babyzone.com/community/posts.asp?brd=735&tpc=3151906&pg=1


Good kuck with everything and welcome to the due 11th October club :D :wave:

[Kewe]

twinkles, I know you've had one m/c so your a bit on edge, when the heart first starts beating it starts off slow, and as your only 5wks 4days then the heart would've just started beating,

as hard as it is to do, try not to stress about it :hugs: , some sonographers don't know anything, and for some reason say things that worrie us mums when there is no need to

i'm sure all will be fine and in 36wks time you'll be holding your baby in your arms :yes:

[twinkles]

Hi Zenifa, Thanks for the vibes :)

Believer, they measured lots of other things, but she got really edgy on the heartbeat - I was on there for over 40 minutes, more than half of it doing and redoing the heartbeat.

NicoleE, THANKYOU!!!!!!!!! I did a search - MSN..... should have googled! It has made me feel sooo much better to know it's normal! Although the sites do put it in the low end of normal most suggesting 100 +, but as I have a slow pulse (60BPM), I'm guessing bubbas like me :)

I went through a link on one of the pages and got this:

"The human embryonic heart rate (EHR) accelerates at 3.3 beats per minute per day during the first month of beating. Beginning at a rate near the mother’s, at approximately 80-85 B/M at the start of the 5th week, the heart rate accelerates to a mean of 175 B/M (+/-20 = 2SD) at 9.2 LMP weeks. It then abruptly begins to decelerate. This increase is approximately 10 beats every 3 days until the early 9th week."

This would explain why it is so slow!!!! It's just the poor baby has an Alien Mum with a slow pulse!!!!!!

GO Due the 11th October Club!!!!!!


Hi Gizmo,

I love your 'slowly going insane' subtitle - feels like me at the minute!

Thanks for the words of comfort, they are appreciated - I am on edge given the history and the sonographer certainly didn't help. I am working hard not to stress and to reaffirm to myself that all is well - I got my first maternity clothes (yes, it's very early, but I am trying to be ultra positive that it IS happening and I will wear them this time :) from Pumpkin Patch in the mail today and it really helped to make me feel more positive about it. I am not giving up on this little one, I didn't give up on the other bubs (one 10wks, one almost 6 weeks) and I'm going to be positive for this one no matter what. I think I just needed some reassurance.

Thank you ladies, I really appreciate the help and support