contradicting info

[vacuumprincess]

The books I have been reading at home all say that a heartbeat can be seen at 10-12 weeks.  It seems like on here women see a heartbeat at 6-7 weeks.  

When do you USUALLY see a heartbeat?  it is so conflicting.  is it because now, there is more modern machines that can detect things earlier?  OR  Are women who saw it at 6-7 weeks just lucky?

I'm so afraid of another miscarriage. 5 wks 5 days with menstrual like cramps.  some lower back pain(last night).  The books I have say this is bad.  I have read a lot of posts on here of women saying that they had cramps early on and all was fine.  What is right?  It is not that I don't trust everyone here, I just wonder, what are you saying "cramps" actually are??  a small occassional twinge, or actually feeling like you have your peroid, but there is no blood?  Do I need to burn those books or what?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

An ultrasound is where you can see the baby on the screen...the dopplar is where the doctor uses a small hand held device to just HEAR the babys heartbeat.

[vacuumprincess]

I guess I thought the 2 scans were the same...  thanks.

[BeautifulMistake2010]

Losing is right. A heartbeat can be SEEN with the eye around 6-8 weeks. Heard usually between 10-12 weeks.

[vacuumprincess]

thank you thank you!  I was reading them & everything they said I was feeling was bad!

Thanks for clearing up the heartbeat thing.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

The heartbeat can be SEEN on ultrasound around 6-8 weeks...it can be HEARD via doppler any time between 9-12 weeks.  Cramps are very normal in early pregnancy.  As long as you aren't cramping WORSE than menstrual cramps and there's no blood associated with it then it's most likely normal.  

This is exactly the reason why *I* think it's a bad idea for women to read too many pregnancy books.  Pregnancy books are basically at the discretion of the author and there's no gaurantee the information is correct.  There are a FEW good books out there (don't know any names right off) but many of them are way off base and just tend to scare the crap out of women.  I know that JoyRenee can recommend some good ones that have accurate info.