Fetal heart rate changes

[jewels787]

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with my fifth child.  Up until now, the heart rate has always been very regular between 140-150 bpm.  I have a doppler at home that I use periodically so that the other kids can hear the baby and I was surprised lately that the heart rate has now changed.  Now the heart rate baseline stays around 140-150 bpm but then it will speed up really fast for a few seconds to half a minute to an average of around 200 bpm then it will slow back down to the regular hearbeat again.  This can happen a few times.  Also, I noticed the odd skipped beat.  Is this normal for a 20 week fetus?  I had an ultrasound over a week ago which showed the heart was normal but I am worried now that the heartbeat is changing.

[jewels787]

Yes, they will do the echo because my daughter was born with a hole that never closed and it is quite big.  She will need surgery when she is three to close it.  When we met with a geneticist when she was tested for the same things that they thought my nephew passed from, he recommended us having a fetal echo with future pregnancies since my daughters condition may be genetic.  It is very stressful and I am paranoid as it is.  We had a hard time conceiving this time and I was on fertility drugs.  We are praying everything is alright with this baby because this is likely our last go at this.  Thanks for the support!

[jade_and_janessas_mommy]

Oh, OK.  With the additional information I can see why you would be concerned.  I do not have a doppler to check my baby's heart rate all the time but I know sometimes at checkups it is like 130 bpm and then the next time it will be like 170 bpm.  I have asked why and was told that when it was faster the baby was probably awake and moving around and being more acitve.  Are they doing the fetal echo because of your daughter's heart condition?  I know waiting for things like that is horrible, I hope all goes well for you and your baby.  Good luck!

[jewels787]

Apparently the doctor I saw said we all have skipped beats here and there.  He also said that the increase is likely due to movement.  However, I still worry since it is so much different all of a sudden then it was.  Also, I have a daughter with a heart condition and my nephew passed away last august at 4 years old from what was likely a heart condition.  Needless to say, it makes me very anxious.  Eventually I will be getting a fetal echo to check out baby anyway but I hate waiting and wondered if anyone else has had anything similar.

[jade_and_janessas_mommy]

Maybe when it speeds up the baby is being very active and moving around a lot more.  The regular heartbeat that it usually is for you (140-150 bpm) might be when the baby is sleeping or at least resting and not doing much.  I don't know about the skipped beat, maybe the baby is moving quickly or something and causing something to happen which to you sounds like a skipped beat.  If they told you the heart was normal in the ultrasound there is probably nothing to worry about.

[jschoch8]

accelerations from 140's to 200's doesn't sound normal to me, but i could be wrong. I just doubt the accuracy of the doppler just from my experience. you could always go to your doctor and have a non stress test done to ease your worries.

[jewels787]

I guess I am more worried about the changes in the heart rate.  It makes me uneasy that it varies between normal and very fast.  

[jschoch8]

well my doppler always seems to register lower than the doctors. every single time i go to the doctor or have an u/s it is between 150-160. when i do it at home its like 130s and 140s. i think the closing the doppler is to the heart the more accurate it is.