16/17 week midwife appointment Doppler question

[Hopingitwill]

I have my 16 week midwife appointment on tues when I will be 17w 3 d. Can anyone tell me if it is common practice in the uk for them to check for heartbeat using a Doppler? What if they couldn't hear it (am overweight and carry all fat around my middle). I don't want to spend the next few weeks until my 20 week scan panicking that something is wrong!!! Any advice????

 

[cheshire]

Not common, I think they do that after 20 weeks but my midwife is always willing to try, so I asked at the 12 week and she did.

I had an ice-queen stand in at the 16 week so no chance

Ask and you may receive.

 

[booflebump]

In our nhs trust, they listen in at 16 weeks. If they can't hear anything, they send you for a scan

xxx

 

[P.Lily]

I think nhs generally make it their practise to listen to the hb at your 16 week appt. All of my pregnant friends have had this at the 16 week. My friend recently had hers and it took them a long time to locate the hb, but they perservered and didn't stop until they found it, and said that if they hadn't have found it they would have sent her for a scan, so you wouldn't be waiting another 4 weeks if that was the case.

 

[wanaBmummy]

In my area they do. I was told at my booking appoinment they would listen to the heart beat at 16 weeks It was fab. Like you i didn't hear it at 12 week scan either x

 

[cheshire]

I think nhs generally make it their practise to listen to the hb at your 16 week appt. All of my pregnant friends have had this at the 16 week. My friend recently had hers and it took them a long time to locate the hb, but they perservered and didn't stop until they found it, and said that if they hadn't have found it they would have sent her for a scan, so you wouldn't be waiting another 4 weeks if that was the case.

Wow, I really did have an ice-queen. She told me no to the heartbeat and gave me no answers to my questions about my blood results, or ask me how I was or anything I don't even see another midwife now until the end. I am royally pissed off now!!

 

[Sproglet]

I heard the heartbeat at 16+6, it did take a little time because I had a student do it- my midwife had to reposition me (lay flat rather than propped up) and then the student got it.

 

[P.Lily]

I think nhs generally make it their practise to listen to the hb at your 16 week appt. All of my pregnant friends have had this at the 16 week. My friend recently had hers and it took them a long time to locate the hb, but they perservered and didn't stop until they found it, and said that if they hadn't have found it they would have sent her for a scan, so you wouldn't be waiting another 4 weeks if that was the case.

Wow, I really did have an ice-queen. She told me no to the heartbeat and gave me no answers to my questions about my blood results, or ask me how I was or anything I don't even see another midwife now until the end. I am royally pissed off now!!

That's really crap! I think why be in a job if you don't want to be the best and offer the best care?! I can't even believe you don't see the midwife until the end? I wonder if it's an area thing? I just got the impression the nhs was consistent throughout! I think after the 16 weeks, it's again at 24 weeks too, and then again when due date gets closer. You could have a look into it and perhaps change your midwife, I wonder?

 

[Camlet]

I had my 16 week appointment last Tuesday & my midwife did listen to the heartbeat. I'm quite large & she found it just fine so it shouldn't be a problem! They have really good expensive dopplers much better than the home ones anyway! My LO hates dopplers & scans though so kept kicking away from her everytime she found it! good luck I'm sure you'll be fine xx

 

[Camlet]

I think nhs generally make it their practise to listen to the hb at your 16 week appt. All of my pregnant friends have had this at the 16 week. My friend recently had hers and it took them a long time to locate the hb, but they perservered and didn't stop until they found it, and said that if they hadn't have found it they would have sent her for a scan, so you wouldn't be waiting another 4 weeks if that was the case.

Wow, I really did have an ice-queen. She told me no to the heartbeat and gave me no answers to my questions about my blood results, or ask me how I was or anything I don't even see another midwife now until the end. I am royally pissed off now!!

that midwife sounds awful! I can't believe you won't see her again until the end either! This is my 4th pregnancy & they still see me at 16 weeks, 24 weeks & then nearer my due date it's every week! Is there no chance you could get a different midwife? xx

 

[cheshire]

I think nhs generally make it their practise to listen to the hb at your 16 week appt. All of my pregnant friends have had this at the 16 week. My friend recently had hers and it took them a long time to locate the hb, but they perservered and didn't stop until they found it, and said that if they hadn't have found it they would have sent her for a scan, so you wouldn't be waiting another 4 weeks if that was the case.

Wow, I really did have an ice-queen. She told me no to the heartbeat and gave me no answers to my questions about my blood results, or ask me how I was or anything I don't even see another midwife now until the end. I am royally pissed off now!!

That's really crap! I think why be in a job if you don't want to be the best and offer the best care?! I can't even believe you don't see the midwife until the end? I wonder if it's an area thing? I just got the impression the nhs was consistent throughout! I think after the 16 weeks, it's again at 24 weeks too, and then again when due date gets closer. You could have a look into it and perhaps change your midwife, I wonder?

No, that's what I thought, my midwife team are two lovely ladies. This woman was a stand in, when I asked about aquanatal her response was 'I am not from this area so I have no idea, just google it'...crazy! I am seen less which is common as usually with second and subsequent pregnancies you are seen less, I am very low risk being this is my 4th and I have had no previous complications, so even more appointments were crossed out for me I will see my GP though and he is really kind and nice. So there is that to be thankful for.

 

[Indi84]

The midwife let me hear the heartbeat at my 16 week app, and I'm plus size too (UK 20) found it straight away

 

[cheshire]

That's really crap! I think why be in a job if you don't want to be the best and offer the best care?! I can't even believe you don't see the midwife until the end? I wonder if it's an area thing? I just got the impression the nhs was consistent throughout! I think after the 16 weeks, it's again at 24 weeks too, and then again when due date gets closer. You could have a look into it and perhaps change your midwife, I wonder?

l

Hmmm that's interesting, I looked in my book and low and behold I do not have a line through 24 weeks. I'm going to call my regular midwife on Monday because another appointment is usually booked while you are there, but this ice-queen just told me to call and book at 38 weeks!!! I doubt I would have noticed this had you not mentioned this, Thanks! This woman is getting worse and worse, wow!

 

[TB82]

I think you don't get 24 week appointment unless it's your first, but you should have a 28 week check

 

[Lola90]

Hi hun
Midwife used doppler at my 16 week appointment. It took her a while to find it and I'm quite large too but she did find it after a few minutes, bub was very low down too and she started looking quite high up. Don't worry if you're a little bigger, it might just take a little while to get it xx

 

[Mrs.B.]

Yes, HB listened to at 16 week appointment. I am plus size and she had no problem finding it, just problems keeping the baby still so she could get it for a length of time

 

[Veronicaco]

At 16 weeks I find it immediately almost every day and told her where to put the probe to hear it, it can take a little while and some mornings my little one shifts all around to hide from the probe so don't worry if it takes a few mins but I would be very surprised if you can't hear it at all. Don't worry hun I am sure it will be loud and clear and the most beautiful sound you will ever hear xxxxx

 

[P.Lily]

That's really crap! I think why be in a job if you don't want to be the best and offer the best care?! I can't even believe you don't see the midwife until the end? I wonder if it's an area thing? I just got the impression the nhs was consistent throughout! I think after the 16 weeks, it's again at 24 weeks too, and then again when due date gets closer. You could have a look into it and perhaps change your midwife, I wonder?

l

Hmmm that's interesting, I looked in my book and low and behold I do not have a line through 24 weeks. I'm going to call my regular midwife on Monday because another appointment is usually booked while you are there, but this ice-queen just told me to call and book at 38 weeks!!! I doubt I would have noticed this had you not mentioned this, Thanks! This woman is getting worse and worse, wow!

I have just looked at my notes and for the 24 week appt it's only with the first preg, however it does state routine fetal grwoth appts for weeks 28, 34, 36, and 38 no matter which number pregnancy. Definitely give your regular midwife a call, especially if she is actually a nice one Maybe even mention that you weren't offered to listen to the HB at 16 weeks and you could wangle a cheeky visit

 

[charlie15]

I have my 16 wk appt tomorrow, I'm hoping to hear the HB, won't be happy if she doesn't get the doppler out!

I think my next appt is at 24 weeks but that's with my GP and this is my 1st pregnancy. After that i think I may see a midwife at 32 or 34 weeks, I can't remember.

 

[Mrs.B.]

I have my 16 wk appt tomorrow, I'm hoping to hear the HB, won't be happy if she doesn't get the doppler out!

I think my next appt is at 24 weeks but that's with my GP and this is my 1st pregnancy. After that i think I may see a midwife at 32 or 34 weeks, I can't remember.

Should be every 4 weeks to begin with on your first then moves to every 2 when you get close to the end. So after 24 you should have one at 28