I am now her. Feel free to let the machine pick up.
For those of you givers still here, this is today’s issue:
When did you first hear the baby’s heartbeat?
Because I didn’t hear it today. I will be ten weeks tomorrow and I heard Ironflower at nine weeks. I don’t think this doctor was all that good with the doppler and she seemed to think it was too early but I am unnerved. She thought everything felt fine. But still.
Because I am old this time around (36! Call the gerontologists!), I get to have an ultrasound next Tuesday. So I have to wait until Tuesday to make sure everything is okay. Patience is not one of my virtues.
So please, please, tell me that you didn’t hear heartbeats this early either and that everything was fine. Because I believe in you, internets. And I’m very, very, needy.
(Also, this time I get to have genetic testing. Wahoo. Anyone got any opinions on amnio? I don’t know whether to risk the test or not. There’s no history or anything. But now I’m over 35, that magic age when your eggs go crazy.)
23 responses so far ↓
wordvixen // April 10, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Having never been pregnant (still crossing fingers- but not the legs!), I’ve never had the tests. However, a friend of mine had to have the tests with her last pregnancy. She said it really wasn’t that bad, and she was so excited after getting the report that she promptly forgot all the discomfort that she did have.
Lindy // April 10, 2008 at 5:15 pm
With both my (very healthy!) babies, I didn’t hear the heartbeat until 13 weeks (1st baby) and 12 weeks (2nd baby). Haven’t had an amnio, but my cousin did and she said that it was worth it to find out if there were any risks to the baby. Hang in there, don’t stress, try to distract yourself. Heck, you have two kids running around — I’m sure they’ll do something in no time that will be a good distraction!
anglophilefootballfanatic // April 10, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Don’t worry. These things are all normal. And, 36 is NOT old for a 3rd child. These doctors just like to scare us. Keep your chin up. You are gestating and growing a person.
matteroffactmommy // April 10, 2008 at 6:17 pm
36 is SO NOT OLD, just ‘old’ by the insanely advanced standards of today.
if you can’t hear the heartbeat at 9wks, you are still TOTALLY FINE. check back at ~12wks OR SO and see what the dr. says… no worries, honestly. you are good to go, mama!
Cass // April 10, 2008 at 6:44 pm
We didn’t hear the heartbeat at the 8 week appointment - I was concerned but the doctor said it has a lot to do with where the baby is and if you ate and blah blah blah. We heard it crystal clear at 12 weeks though and it was a big relief.
AndreAnna // April 10, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Both times I’ve been pregnant, they’ve done vaginal ultrasounds at my first doctor appointments around seven-nine weeks to see the little nut and make sure there was only one. And you could SEE the heartbeat flicker, but they never tried to hear it until 13 weeks or so.
I wouldn’t worry until you have something to worry about, but I will be thinking of you nonetheless.
mkate // April 10, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t hear a heartbeat. That would definitely make me nervous. If the doctor was concerned, he would have sent you for a sono (this has happened to me before).
As for the amnio, I had one and it wasn’t bad at all. The worry about it was much worse then the actual amnio (which took 2 minutes tops). I also got a 20 minute sono before and after the amnio to see Becca moving around. It ended up being a 3-d sono which was really cool.
If you decide to do it, lay low for that day and the next two days (as much as you can with a preschooler and toddler
)
Becky // April 10, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Dude, no worries, I didn’t hear Ben’s right away. I don’t think I heard Alex’s either.
But I understand darlin’. I’ve been there.
April // April 10, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I’m fairly sure its normal to not hear a heartbeat until about 14wks, so don’t stress
Not sure what your genetic testing stuff is over there…the thought of having an amnio freaks me out though!! Have no advice on that one sorry…other than that you are so not old. Aren’t there like 63yr olds having babies these days?? Now that’s old…..
feener // April 10, 2008 at 7:33 pm
i can’t recall when, but i do recall having to go get the ultrasound b/c the doppler didn’t pick it up. sounds like a common thing. and i had more first kid at 36, second at 38….not sure of having a third but if i do it will be at 41….you are a spring chicken.
Kathy // April 10, 2008 at 7:51 pm
We couldn’t get my first baby’s heartbeat at either 9 or 13 weeks w/the Doppler. The little guy just didn’t like the soundwaves shooting at him and/or bubbling the amniotic fluid! Even at 15 weeks (and possibly 19 weeks too–I can’t quite remember now), we only heard his heartbeat too briefly to actually count it. Until your baby is too big to swim away, you might not get his/her heartbeat very long either!
Jess // April 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Hey Mama! Just wanted to offer an internet hug. I know the wait can be unbearable!
I had an amnio to determine fetal lung development. I only agreed to it because the downside was that I would go into labor and deliver- which we knew was going to happen ANYWAY since I had full blown Preeclampsia at that point.
You CAN say no to your doctors about the amnio. It’s okay. There are GREAT first trimester screens that can tell you a lot of information- and if you feel it necessary, awesome ultrasounds that can tell you a lot of information as well.
But if you DO decide to have the amnio, it’s really simple. Just don’t look at the needle. And don’t laugh. (I had the giggles for some reason- probably just my insanity by that point).
silken // April 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm
lady, you are NOT old! especially for a third…it has been so long since I’ve been pregnant that I don’t really remember when I first heard the heart beat, but it seems like 12 weeks or so…
hang in there!
Jenni // April 10, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I have a tilted uterus, and it makes it very difficult to hear the heartbeat early.
As for the amnio, that’s such a personal choice. For us, we’ve chosen not to do any testing at all.
Scarlet O'Kara // April 10, 2008 at 9:44 pm
It took a rather long time for me to hear the heart beat with my first daughter. So try not to worry too much.
Jen // April 10, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I didn’t have an amnio but I did have a cvs last time I was pregnant and I found it so painful that I hope to never have anything like that done again. I think Imight be unusual though because a lot of women don’t seem to have the pain with them that I did.
Leslie // April 10, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I heard Julia’s heartbeat with the Doppler at 12 weeks and Lucy’s at 13 weeks. Don’t worry! It’s early. You’ll see that heartbeat at your ultrasound.
byrnedoutmom // April 11, 2008 at 2:24 am
I had my two at 33 & 36 and they marked my chart “advanced maternal age” both times! I certainly didn’t feel “advanced” in any way but someone thought I was. Had an amnio with #1 b/c the AFP and Triple Screen tests came back wonky. The test itself was no worse than having a blood draw but the size of the needle is unnerving. Everything turned out fine and the peace of mind the amnio gave me was worth the risk. With #2 all the tests were normal so I didn’t opt for the amnio even though I was older.
Thalia's Child // April 11, 2008 at 3:08 am
Heh. The nightmare that was my pregnancy with Punkin… I *saw* it on the ultrasound at 7 weeks. Then I never heard it again until 16 weeks at another ultrasound (a ‘fetal viability’ ultrasound because I had been so sick). No one seemed to be able to track her down with the Doppler. They’re very fickle.
outsidetheblue // April 11, 2008 at 7:59 am
We didn’t hear H’s heartbeat with the Doppler until I was at least 12 weeks. Midwife said it has a lot to do with where the baby implants and how much “padding” you have around your middle section. I have plenty…
Dory // April 11, 2008 at 8:50 am
Got a funny picture of your crazy eggs running around in your ovaries, like patients at a mental health institute.
*still giggling*
Is that bad? I’m bad, aren’t I?!
Kathryn // April 11, 2008 at 10:57 am
I didn’t hear any of my baby’s heartbeats until after 12 weeks. And with Ben at the twelve week mark they had a hard time finding it so they did an ultrasound. it was just quiet. No biggie.
Try not to worry about it. My docs won’t even check for a baby’s heartbeat before 12 weeks because they don’t want the mom to freak out when she doesn’t hear it. It is completely normal!
jerseygirl89 // April 11, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Wordvixen - That’s a good point.
Lindy - Another good point.
AFF - And it’s not like gestating is all fun and games, right?
Matteroffactmommy - I have paranoid tendencies, I think.
Cass - So if I don’t hear it next time I can freak out, right?
AndreAnna - I am probably just borrowing trouble.
Mkate - Hmmm, the amnio might be worth it just to have an excuse to ship the kids to their grandparents for a few days.
Becky - It’s so easy to freak when they’ve forbidden things like deli meat, ya know?
April - Seriously! I thought if I had a baby after 40 that they’d make me feel ancient, I didn’t realize the attitude started the second you’re over 35.
feener - That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard all day.
Kathy - I didn’t know that they would actually avoid the Doppler. Great - I’m probably getting another stubborn one!
Jess - You know that since you mentioned the laughing, I will totally laugh now. It’s what I always do whenever someone tells me not to.
silken - I’m hangin, thanks to all of you guys.
Jenni - I haven’t before - except for the ultrasounds - but since I’m so “old” this time, I just can’t decide.
Scarlet - Hearing stories like yours makes it easier not to worry (as much).
Jen - I don’t think I want that one, then.
Leslie - I think seeing it will help a lot.
byrnedoutmom - Your plan sounds very sensible - maybe I’ll just wait to see what the other tests show.
Thalia’s Child - That makes me feel much better - although slightly concerned that I’ll have more occasions to worry as the pregnancy goes on.
outsidetheblue - Hmmm, I do have a lot more padding this time - that makes sense. Thank you.
Dory - No, not at all. If I only I could do fancy graphics I would totally make that part of my template.
Kathryn - I think I need to go to your docs.
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