Heartbeat and U/S

[Latrice414]

In early prenancy 5-8weeks, when you heard your babies heart beat was it by abdominal or vaginal u/s?

Also, for women who have high risk pregnancies including m/c's how many vaginal u/s have you had?  What is the danger of having vaginal u/s when you are high risk?

Any input would be great

[Latrice414]

Ok, ty ladies for your input, i had an u/s yesterday and i will be having one feb 3 which would make me 7w4day. Dr wants to make sure everything is growing ok then i think i will see her again at 10w or 11w for possible u/s or doppler in her office. Ive had one m/c in june 08.

[diela]

6weeks0day and 7weeks0day - both abdominal us and i can see hearbeat at both time.

[Dani711]

hey Latrice.  I got to see the heartbeat by a u/s on my belly at 7 weeks.  I think they did it that way because I was at the ER, and he was suprised he could see the actual hb that early...

[jenntanis]

my first ultrasound was Jan 6th, and I was measuring 6 weeks 4 days.  We could see the heart fluttering but not hear it, probably because it was a very old machine.  Doctor (my GYN) estimated between 140-150 bpm.  Next appt scheduled, I will be 10 weeks 4 days with my OB.

I"m not high risk, so I don't have an answer to the second question.

[bryanarae]

I'm not high risk or anything, but my first u/s was at 8weeks 4 days and it was abdominal. We saw the heart beat and it was at 170bpm.

[tarrah87]

i am high risk for losing a pregnancy at 6 wks and twins at 21 wks mine due to incompatent cervix i have an ultrasound every visit and have had a vaginal ultrasound every visit as well to check my cervix other than that depending on why you are considered high risk you may not need a vaginal ultrasound every visit but i had a cerclage put in place and they barely insert vaginal ultrasound at all so i don't see how that would cause a mc.............good luck.

[sweetangel7]

I had my first u/s at 8w...my doctor said that it is near impossible to hear a fetal heartbeat transabdominal prior to 12w.

I'm not high risk so I don't know about the second question...

[KM604]

8 1/2 weeks along was my first OB appointment.  They did a vag u/s and we were able to see and hear the heartbeat through the u/s.  I think that it just depends on how up to date your docs u/s machine is to be able to hear it.  I had one m/c before this pregnancy but according to my doctor they treated me as if I never had one (they don't consider one m/c high risk).  He did do another u/s at 12 1/2 weeks to make sure everything looked ok (didn't charge me, I guess he does it for his and my satisfaction of seeing that everything is ok).  Then my next u/s for at 18 1/2 weeks to do the second trimester screening and determine the sex.  Following u/s after that wasn't until 31 weeks along.  The only u/s that was vag was the first, the rest were abdominal.  

I don't know the risks of a vag u/s, but I would ask your doctor or the tech before they perform the u/s if you are concerned.  

[alaysha]

I was considered high risk and maybe had about 4 vaginal ultrasounds and then the rest were abdominal. After 8 weeks I believe they were all abdominal. I don't remember them telling me that there was any risk of vaginal ultrasound during pregnancy.

[rdh1981]

I go to a high-risk doctor and they did an abdominal u/s on me at 8 weeks. I heard and saw the heartbeat at 177 bmp.  I am not expecting to have another one until 18 wks to find out the gender.  Once you get to 10 wks they can just use the doppler to find the HB.

Like the others said unless there is a problem you will not have "routine u/s"

[amberd5191]

I didn't get to hear it but we did see it with the vaginal ultrasound; early on with all my kids.

I have been high risk a few times, they only did ultrasounds when they saw fit; or when they thought something was wrong. I had one at 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks...then not again until 18 weeks. (Last Pregnancy).

[depressed748]

In early pregnancy they do it vaginal u/s that is the only way hey can see anything,. I am considered high risk I have had about 5 vaginal u/s right now they are checking to see if my cervix is shorter but that is the only reason why they use it. I have heard that a vaginal may cause a m/c but I have never had a problem with it even at this late in stage.

[JoyRenee]

They use a vaginal ultrasound that early, yes.

I wasn't high risk so I can't answer your second question!