Couldn't hear heartbeat-beside myself!

[naughtoj]

Wow, so I am totally freaking out today.

As an RN, I realize odds are in my favor. Odds are I am still healthily pregnant, baby is fine. But I am so anxious.

First prental visit at almost 10 weeks OB could not hear baby heartbeat with doppler. Went back last week, couldn't hear hb again. The RN took me into the ultrasound room to "take a peek" but she is not an ultrasound tech and stated so. She proceeded to move the US around and didn't even know what was my bladder, what was my uterus. It was nice of her to try but I wondered if she did not have the know how to run the machine, why did she attempt? So, we sat in there for 10 min or so while she moved the wand against NOTHING. Just a bunch of blah. She also admittedly said she did not know how to work the machine so I am keeping that whole thing in perspective, but on top of no hb x 2, it was kinda distressing.

So...she said, do you want to just wait until week 14 to hear heartbeat with doppler or do you want an ultrasound next week? DUH. It's like, HELLO, I already have been waiting anxiously for two weeks, you want me to go a month? Yeah....no. I know the odds are very much in my favor and that hearing the hb is positional (I have a tipped uterus too). She asked if I could be off on the dates but no I can't so that was distressing too. Hubby and I left the appt just so depressed!

Funny thing is this baby was a suprise. I have always been so ambivalent about having children, getting pregnant, all the added responsibility. So..I am very suprised by how intense I am reacting to this. All weekend I was absolutely beside myself and today it is even worse!!!

So, I have my full fledged first US by a qualified tech today at 220. Now we will know, without a doubt. I am so scared! I am not sure know either about NT scan....my doctor never even mentioned it and I had to read about it on the net. Anyone know anything about NT testing? I didn't take prenatals the first couple of weeks pregnant plus I was on an anticonvulsant that very slightly raises your risk of NTD's so maybe I should have this testing? Come to find out you have to get it done before 13 weeks or so. Yeah, would have been nice to know my OB's opinion on that one. Hubby and I are even considering getting another doc at this point!

So anyway, just venting. WISH US LUCK!!!!

 

[usamarsha]

That is nerve racking, I hope everything goes well for you today. Something similar happended to me with ds. The nurse couldn't find the hb with the doppler with him, I was around 14 wks or so. They didn't seem to worried about it and I heard it at the next appointment. (I have a tipped uterus too) Hopefully that makes you feel a little better.

As far as the NT, I also had one of those with this pregnancy. However, I am 37 yr. old. I think they are usually only offered if you are over 35 or have a medical/family history that indicates a need for it. I'd discuss the medication that you took prior to finding out you were pregnant with your doctor if you are really concerned. I was taking just a regular muti-vitamin before I found out I was pregnant. If you were doing the same, the folic acid level is usually 100% RDA on those, so you should be fine.

Let us know how the ultrasound goes. Good luck!

 

[cyclinggirl]

Best of luck to you today!! Please keep us posted. I went through a scary time between weeks 10 + 16, it's a tough time. I had a vaginal ultrasound at 7 weeks for reassurance and then a too early test at 10 weeks and had to go back at 12 weeks, both ultrasound "first looks" for defects. I felt grateful that I was able to have the reassurance of these tests, but in between these US I felt very unsure of whether everything was okay. My midwife never used the doppler until the 14th or 16th week b/c it's not that sensitive and she felt it wasn't worth giving her expectant mom's any extra doubt or worry in case she couldn't find a heartbeat.

So it may just be too early for your doppler to work and the US machines are not that simple to work, that's why techs get so much training.

We'll be thinking of you and wishing you the best outcome today!

Take care,
steph

 

[Cruncholi]

Naughtoj:
I would demand an ultrasound by a certified technician pronto!

 

[seapd33]

For me 10wks was too early to hear the baby's HB with my 2 other pregnancies. The dr wasn't concerned, so I didn't worry too much.I wish you all the best, keep us posted
Suzette

 

[Chrissysu]

My experience was similar to Steph's. I had a vaginal U/S at 8 weeks to see the heartbeat, but my doctor did not use the doppler until later (15 weeks?). Plus, the first time we listened, we could barely hear the baby's heartbeat because my own heartbeat was drowning it out. It's hard to hear its little beating so early . . .

Chrissy