My rent-a-doppler arrived…
…and, as per Victoria’s instructions, I am NOT FREAKING OUT just because I didn’t hear a heartbeat.
- I have a tipped uterus.
- I wish I were thinner.
- I’m only at 10w2d.
- Who the hell knows where the placenta is. With my luck, it’s between the doppler and the baby.
I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out.I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out.I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out.I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out.I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out. I am not freaking out.
Ok. Maybe I’m freaking out just a little bit, but that’s sure nothing new.
I am back…..I also got a doppler and freaked out when I could not find the HB, then when I did find it I realized I had been looking in the wrong spots. At 10wks go all the way down to um hair, directly in the middle and dont hold the wand up and down, angle it down and away from your body (towards the birth cannal). Also instead of moving the wand around you stomach put it in that spot and angle it in the different directions waiting at each angle to allow the machine to pick up the sounds. PS: I did not find the hb on a regular basis until 12-13 weeks (but could usually find the placenta and swooshing in the placenta means a live baby)
I agree with Megan when I was using the doppler very early on in my pregnancy I had it all way down low too–honestly it seemed to be too low (practically into the pubic area). This is the only place I could hear the heartbeat up until about 13wks. At first I couldn’t find it either, but I just kept looking and was able to find it. Keep searching for little Sprog and I bet you’ll hear his/her heart beating away! Breath deep girl … I’m breathing deep with you!
Oh — that does sound scary even though you know, and listed, all the resasons why it might be so and lots of others in the same boat have gone on with no problems. I’m one. At my first regular OB appointment we couldn’t find a heartbeat to save our lives. I think I was about 10 and a half weeks, about, maybe 11. (Also have a tipped uterus; also would like to be thinner.) Anyway, I started crying (sniffing, really, because I was raised Catholic and didn’t want to impose on the nice nurse who was trying to help me and figured, oh well, that’s the way it is) and they noticed (thank God) and said, well, lets just get the ultrasound machine and then there the baby was and everything was fine. (I went with a regular OB for all the resons you’re thinking about switching right now, and while it was great at the beginning especially, at the end, I really wished I had gone with a midwife. Easy to say that to onesself at the end. . .but in the beginning. . ..) Hope for some distraction and peace today and a clear heartbeat tomrorow.
Elizabeth
Can understand why you are freaking, but like everyone above said it seems to be normal the first couple of times. It’s so early and lets face it, as much as we think we are medical professionals, well we aren’t.
I am with Elizabeth – may distractions and peace come your way today and a resounding heartbeat tomorrow.
Sweetie – sending you a big hug and lots of deep breaths.
Don’t freak out! I do think it’s a little bit early and I have heard (and read in the previous comments) that it can be a bit tricky to find the HB (even at the doctor’s office). I didn’t get a doppler because I am way too neurotic to deal with my freaked out self and I knew that I would find a way to do it all wrong
And if you have other factors not in your favor (like the tipped uterus) then it definitely makes it harder.
I will be thinking good thoughts for you and your appointment tomorrow!!
Try not to freak out (too much). I know I freaked a little too when I first used mine and got an empty sound. I’d advise taking it with you to the midwife, so that she can help you use it (just in case things are not where you expect them to be) and also to help you hear a tone, in case it is very light.
Sprog is okay. He’s fine. He’s saying “Mama, dont worry- I’m here!” I hope that you get to hear that loud thump thump thump at the midwife’s tomorrow.
Sending big hugs!!!
About now, you are probably wishing you’d married Tom Cruise–who wouldn’t want a u/a? Can you finagle one more from your RE?
I’m with Sarah– listen, I think Sprog is fine. I do. Your symptoms waning might just be the beginning of the bliss period of pregnancy that some women experience (you know, if they are not curled up in a ball rocking and humming to keep the panicky freakouts at bay).
See if you can get your RE to do an ultrasound, get some reassurance. If your midwife has hospital privileges, you may be able to get one through them– I do not think things are wrong, but I think reassurance is a gift, and I would love for you to feel better, even if it is only for 3.5 days.
Oh sweetie, I so get it even though I have never been in your shoes. I get it and hope you can get what you need from the universe so you can breathe.
XOXOX
kate
If it makes you feel any better — I have a tipped ute and an anterior placenta, and it took my doc a good 3-4 minutes to find a heartbeat last week at 20 weeks. She told me that it can be even tougher if the babe is not positioned correctly — apparently you can hear the heartbeat much more clearly if his/her back is facing the doppler.
I would try not to freak out, but I remember the 1st tri all too well, so take my advice with a big grain of salt!!
It really helps to fill your bladder to almost bursting as this pushing the uterus up and out of the pelvic area and to rest your hips on a couple of pillows and to use the doppler very low in the pelvic area, literally at the center of the pubis symphysis and to use lots of gel. I am a retired labor and delivery nurse, so take it from me it may take you a little time, like 20 or 30 minutes to find it, if you are looking in the right spot, the first time, but once you do, you should be able to find it well after that once you get a little more experienced. And 10 weeks can be a little early, so take your doppler with you to your midwife appointment and have your midwife use it as well to make sure it compares well with hers.
Good luck, I am sure you will figure it out!
I was pregnant with twins and could not hear them at 10 weeks, relax….yeah right..I know
Gah. I am really sorry that you could not find the hb – I am sure it is there and your little ass-kicker is growing strong.
I have a tilted uterus too and it is my understanding that it may not get into the “right” position until week 12.
Don’t freak out. I am also a retroverted ute girl with a few extra pounds and it took my OB a good five minutes to find HB when I had my spotting at 10w scare and they do this everyday. Just keep trying…HUGS
Wish I lived closer…I would SOOOO come over and find it for you. It’s not easy that early…you have to be soooo low low low. I’ve literally taken 10 minutes sometimes on patients.
Hang in there. I know it is worrying, no matter how many facts you know….but really, we start about by telling patients in the ER “when you are less than 12 weeks, sometimes we can’t find the heartbeat on the doppler, so don’t worry if I can’t find it”…because really, it isn’t easy.
Ok. i’ll shut up now.
I am so proud of you for clearly not freaking out
You will have to post when you try again. As others have said, the earliest they recommend using the doppler at home is 10 wks AND you have to have watched the DVD FIRST AND use enough ultrasound lube on said tranducer.
I was 30 lbs overweight at the beginning of my pregnancy and it was really tough to find at first (requiring a 2nd watching of the DVD and a post out to my groups who all said “go low”.)
And, like others have said, I wish I were nearer by, b/c I would high tail it over, too.
Ultimately, the NOT FREAKING out is the important part because you will find it. And, it does matter how you are angling the transducer (meaning you won’t likely find it if the transducer is at a 90 degree angle to your belly…you sort of have to angle it a bit to and fro as the sound waves bounce of who knows what in there and move it slowly, an inch or less at a time then stop, from hip to hip).
OK, now I am going to breathe for you.
Read the previous post and this one and I’m glad you’re not freaking out
.
Seriously though I do understand how you feel but I was told I wouldn’t hear anything on those things until 12 weeks, and possibly 14.
I have to agree with Megan. I have a tipped uterus and that is exactly what the doctor had to do to find a heartbeat with me until after the first trimester.
Deep breath.
Another.
: )
I used a doppler obsessively from 10 -12 weeks and never once found the h/b (my husband had then had enough and sent it back to the store despite my protests at the time!). I was told by every health care professional I spoke to when I couldn’t find a h/b that they are notorious for causing more fear than reassurance. In the UK where midwives lead pretty much all care in pregnancy they won’t even check before 16 weeks. I really don’t think that you should panic (yes, I know, panic doesn’t work like that!), there are a hundred reasons why you haven’t heard the h/b yet. I am sure everything is still fine.