First trimester screening(Ultra sound) and heartbeat of baby

Hi,
I m 10 weeks now.. i visited my obgyn on friday.. she told me that it's too early to hear heartbeats... so when can i hear heartbeat of my baby? and she asked me to be done first trimester screening.. we asked our insurance company.. it's not covered in our insurance.. i want to know from u, ladies, how important this test is? Is it really necessary?  plz help..

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I'm not sure what she means by first trimester screening?  The only things I have had done in the first trimester were the dating ultrasound to confirm dates and that it was a viable pregnancy, bloodwork to check for rh factor, diseases and stds and the papsmear for hpv and other stds.   Plus the usual urine checks.  As for the heartbeat It really depends, it can be heard on dopplar anywhere from 10-14 weeks depending on the sensitivity of the dopplar. At 10 weeks though if you were to have an ultrasound you would be able to see it.  

[waitn838]

you ob will typically look for a heartbeat between 14-16 weeks...at my 12 week visit the ob could not located the heartbeat but said its ok the baby is still deep in the pelvic bone...i just had my 16 week checkup yesterday and we were able to find the heartbeat after chasing down the baby

i had a NT scan done for my first trimester screening and towards the end i had some kind of bloodwork done to look for downs syndrome, trisomy and other things (sorry dont know name)...i just repeated that bloodwork today and when i go for my anatomy scan they will let me know the results

[sameerab]

I hear my daughter's heartbeat at 10 weeks by doppler...so maybe the Dr. just didnt want to do it yet but it is possible to hear the heartbeat at this time

[cocacolapanda]

I don't take any tests. You can see the baby's heartbeat anytime after about 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 weeks.  Then sometime between 9 and 14 weeks you can hear it.  At my 9 week apt we did not hear the heartbeat (but my midwife did an ultrasound and we saw it), then at my 13 week apt we did hear the heartbeat.  

At 10 weeks I wouldn't worry about not hearing it.

[Victoria01]

Usually they won't try and listen for a heartbeat until 12 weeks, which is when baby comes up out of the pelvis. Anything before that is hit or miss and may be too early. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure you will hear it at your next appointment.

[mom2ariana]

not too early to hear the heartbeat. i heard my baby's around 7 weeks via vaginal ultrasound. so im sure at 10 weeks abdominal will play a heartbeat. even if you couldn't you would SEE it. not sure why your ob said that. maybe they just like to wait until later

[cherylsangel]

At 11 weeks I had my NT scan to check for down syndrome, trisomy 18, if you want to know if your baby is a risk for these disroders than you would want to get it. If it doesnt matter to you if the baby has anything than there is not much point in getting it. It all depends on whether you want to know if the baby will have any problems. As for the heartbeat everyone else has covered that. I heard my babys hearbeat at 14 weeks, saw it at 11 weeks.