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carebear-22 · Sep 16, 2007, 06:50 PM

When can they hear the baby's heart rate?? And I am having slight cramping but goes way after I use the bathroom what can this be?

J_9 · Sep 16, 2007, 06:57 PM

The baby's heart can be heard by doppler around 5 - 8 weeks.

If you are pregnant, the cramping could be related to many things... full bladder, full bowel, just to name a few.

char1977 · Sep 17, 2007, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by carebear-22

when can they hear the babys heart rate???? and i am having slight cramping but goes way after i use the bathroom what can this be ??

When you go to your midwife she should listen to the babies heart beat and you will be able to hear it as well. They usually do this from about 14-16 weeks and then every appointment after (well they did for me).
As for the cramping I had this to and I was assured that it was were the baby is growing and is pressing on the bladder, as the bladder fills it obviously gets bigger therefore squashes against the baby so to speak! There isn't a lot of room in there!
Your midwife will check your urine each time you go, you could maybe have a water infection. Make sure you tell your midwife or dr about this problem so they can check your urine.

alkalineangel · Sep 17, 2007, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

The baby's heart can be heard by doppler around 5 - 8 weeks.

If you are pregnant, the cramping could be related to many things.... full bladder, full bowel, just to name a few.

Just to add to J's great knowledge... although it isn't uncommon to not hear it until 12-14 weeks... esp. if you have a retroverted uterus, as I do :)

curlybenswife · Sep 17, 2007, 12:53 PM

If your in the uk the midwife won't even try with a doppler till after 9 weeks some refuse till 12 weeks for the reason Al says and the fact its quite hard to detect with a handheld doppler while baby is below the pelvic bone.
Its different with a ultrasound machine though if you are lucky enough to receive and early scan they will normally let you hear it then.

alkalineangel · Sep 17, 2007, 12:56 PM

Yes, with my current pregnancy, we saw the heartbeat on u/s at 5 weeks, but I was unable to hear it via doppler until 14 weeks. Unless there is cause for concern, My doctor won't even see you until you are at least 10 weeks along...