any midwife know why.............

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Aug 23, 2004

the position of the baby probably just made it difficult, happens about once a year at our hospital.

mamajapko · Aug 23, 2004

i had my ante natal today and im 17 weeks pregnant and listening for heart beat the midwife could not pick one up. I then had to go to hospital for an emergency scan. There was the heart beat,strong and regular. Why couldnt the midwife at my docs pick up the heart beat with the machine she was using? the machine was in working order.
I was so scared and very upset when she told me this, but am so relieved baby is ok.

The same thing happened to me when I was pregnant with my second son and I had some spotting early on. The doctor said the heart beat was not steady and asked me if the baby was moving. He was very active especially after they gave me some orange juice to drink. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and found out he was ok. I always feel bad when I remember because there was a lady next to me and her baby never moved. The physician's assistant checked me at the next appt. and said, " You've got a squirmmer in there." That's why the heartbeat was hard to hear. He kept moving all the time. Just be glad your baby is ok

nekhismom · Aug 25, 2004

You could also have a slightly retroverted uterus. That means your uterus is kinda tilted toward your back more than is normal. Happened to me, too, and I was also scared to death. Glad everything is ok.

LadyBugLass · Aug 25, 2004

The little fellow might be lying very low in the pelvic cavity, esp. with your first baby (those muscles are still tight!) As your uterus gets larger, it will rise more up and out of the pelvis, and it will be easier to hear the FHT's. :)

uk_nurse · Aug 26, 2004

thanks for your advice. i asked about tilted womb but was told not got one. they said its just one of those things no reason for it.this is my 4 th baby and i cant wait for it to be born, so excited. Im just so glad all is ok.

BETSRN · Aug 29, 2004

At that gestational age, it is common not to always hear the heartbeat. As someone said, the uterus may still be somewhat retroverted and that's why under 20 weeks, usually you have to have a FULL bladder before they will scan you. I think rather than sending you to the hospital for an "emergency" scan, it would have been prudent to have you drink, fill your bladder and listen again!