Low bpm at 18 weeks

[itann]

Hi Everybody! I bought a fetal doppler yesterday & monitored the heartbeat of my baby. I'm 17 weeks going to be 18 very soon. Screened it before going to bed last night, it was 90 bpm. In the morning 10 min after I woke up, it was 93 bpm. I started counting it with the seconds. it was 96 bpm once, then 100 bpm. Last time my midwife did it at my 14 weeks(around 3:30pm), she said baby's heartbeat is 140 bpm.. How come it's too low now? Should I go see the doctor's immediately? I hardly feel the baby's movement which I assume at 17 weeks is normal. This is my first pregnancy. My next appointment with my midwife still 10 days away. Any advice would be appreciated. Please Help!

[bzjenn]

I would say that any question like this you should call your doctor...just to be safe. My DS's bpm was always on the lower end (120-140)...is it possible you just mis- counted?
In any case, I would call your Dr office and ask.

[Babidol]

Fetal dopplers will pick up your Heartrate too and placenta sounds. Try closing your eyes and feeling listening to the Doppler and feeling your pulse. You should still be finding baby at the pubic bone line at this stage.

[itann]

Yeah that's where I found the heartbeat. A little left on the pubic bone line. I remember when my midwife tried to find the baby's heartbeat at 14 weeks, she was able to find it at the same place. I felt the baby's movement quite frequent today. Maybe I should give a call to the doctor. Thank you all.

[christianaaa]

I wonder if you just caught your own ? I would call your ob just for piece of mind. KUP!

[itann]

It's sooo possible! Bcz I had 3 US so far & saw the baby's heart is beating so fast & when I heard my baby's heartbeat at the midwife's, it was really fast. But this one sounded like a normal adult's (probably mine!!)

[Minismommy]

It is probably yours only! Chill, I don't think anything is wrong! Call your midwife tommo! My ob doesn't like me taking any measure myself even the BP machine at cvs is no no! I myself am not feeling the baby much but that's cause this is my second pregnancy and I have a lovely layer of fat from my first right at the bottom of the abdomen!

I remember when the ob measured the HB, I was guessing it all wrong! The HB I thought was the babies was actually mine! My heart beat is higher than normal these days! The heart has to pump more remember?


Try feeling the baby at night while resting!

[Babidol]

It should sound like a horse galloping. It's the best way I can describe it. With the Doppler you can start at the pubic bone but turn the probe in toward your belly button. My cousin is an OB nurse and says there are lots of nurses and docs that have trouble finding it before 20 weeks. I'm guessing you are getting your own.

[itann]

Thanks to everybody.. The answers gave me a lot of comfort

[babykenny]

Stalking...hope all is well!

[WishingNat]

First thought I had was that you caught your own heartbeat by accident

Hope all is well!!

[itann]

Yeah.. I guess so.. cause I can feel the baby moving whenever I sit somewhere or lie down. Also, I counted my pulse yesterday.. & my pulse rate was 96-100 bpm. So I didn't call the doctor. the doctor gives me only 1 appointment per month. If I call in early, next appointment seems so long. I wish I had a U/S machine of my own & could see my baby swimming everyday. That would give me a lot of peace. I've alws wanted to be a mother so badly. I did babysitting for many people & couldn't plan for my own bcz of the financial problem. This one came without notice. When I went for my regular check-up & the doctor told me I'm carrying a baby, couldn't hold my tears. Finally, I'm gonna babysit the one nobody can take & the baby will call me 'mommy', my very own part of my body. I'm so excited & enjoying every moment with my baby. 18 weeks tomorrow. Thank you ladies for the support. I'm so glad I found this website