Should I be worried? Not able to hear heartbeat.

[Lamenz]

I am in my 12 week of pregnancy, and I had an ultrasound 3 days ago as part of a sequential screen.  The baby looked great, the heartbeat was strong, and he was moving around like crazy!  I was feeling great about everything, but then I had my first visit with my new OB today.  She did a full exam, and then at the end, said she should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat, as I was in my 12th week.  She put a small microphone to my belly, and moved it around for about 10 minutes- then she said she just couldn't find the heartbeat.  My instinct was to be worried, and she didn't do much to make me feel better. She did say if the baby was moving around a lot, it could be difficult to locate the heartbeat.  She said that since I had a heartbeat 3 days ago, I "should" be fine, and just to call if I thought there were any problems in the next few days?  She made me very nervous, and I felt great when I went in there.  Does this sound strange to anyone?  Is it normal to not be able to hear the heartbeat this early w/ the microphone (I don't think it was a doppler, it was this tiny handheld machine w/a small mic attached to it).  We definitely heard it through the ultrasound machine 3 days prior-  but I had one previous miscarriage, so things like this make me nervous.  The doctor seemed so sure she'd be able to locate it with her machine, so I think that's making me even more worried.  Any one have any thoughts, or experience with this?  Thank you!!

[mamaof4410]

Im not trying to be negative but at 7 weeks i got to hear my babies heart beat with the doppler. But my doctor also did advise me it was early and might be hard to pick up. But your doc shouldve had more patience with you and maybe did a sono just to be safe since you have had a mc. my doc had said if he couldnt find it he would do one. But with all the new technology they should throw out the old dopplers for the new ones!

[Clysta]

Wow. She said I give up? That's horrible. If the machine is of poor quality it might take longer to find it as well. If you're uncomfortable with what was done, call back and say you want to go in sooner. It's their job to make you comfortable and if they don't, find someone else. .01212

[Michele, Katy, TX]

It is still very possible to be in your 12th week and not be able to hear the heartbeat for whatever reason.  She's right.  The baby could have been very active or the doppler could have just been kind of an older model, etc.  But my doctor would have done an u/s just to be sure everything was fine.  I am not sure why your doctor didn't do that.  Could you request to be seen again in like a week and then if they don't find it request an u/s??  That's what I would do.

[Lamenz]

Thanks for the response, it definitely makes me feel better.  It may have been a doppler that she used-  it just didn't look too high tech to me!  She also seemed to get frustrated after about 10 minutes, and actually said "I give up."  So maybe she was just having difficulty, but would have found it if she kept looking?  Anyway, I go back to see her for an office visit in a month, and my next ultrasound isn't until 20 weeks.

[Clysta]

I wouldn't worry too much yet. I couldn't hear my babies heartbeat on a doppler till 15 or 16 weeks. (And I'm not a very large person to begin with either) I was in the ER at 13 weeks and she listened and couldn't find it. It was horrifying, but my baby is perfectly fine. It sounds like she used a doppler to me, but it could have been something else. When do you go back in?