7 frequently asked questions about 6 weeks pregnant without a fetal heart

The phenomenon of 6-week pregnancy without fetal heart will easily make many pregnant mothers think that their baby is having problems, but the truth is not so.

Fetal heart rate is one of the important indicators representing fetal growth, health and development. Your baby's heart usually starts beating around 6 weeks of pregnancy. If you don't hear or hear your heartbeat during the ultrasound, it's understandable to become nervous. However, do not panic because the following article will synthesize questions about 6 weeks pregnant without a fetal heart with answers to relieve this concern.

1. Is it normal for 6 weeks pregnant without a fetal heart?

Even though it is really worrying, it is normal not to hear the fetal heartbeat at 6 weeks and there is no reason to worry, as it is still quite early to detect the heart rate. Besides, there are still some reasons to help explain, such as: Your gestational age may also be inaccurate and ovulation cycle, irregular menstrual cycle.

In addition, the type of ultrasound that the mother chooses will also affect the results. Abdominal ultrasound is usually less sensitive and may take longer to determine your heart rate. A transvaginal ultrasound will provide accurate results, especially during early pregnancy as the transducer is inserted into your vagina, allowing easy access to the uterus.

2. Can't hear or hear the heartbeat during ultrasound a sign of miscarriage?

Lack of fetal heartbeat will be a sign of miscarriage in the following cases:

The fetal heart rate was not heard and the mother's hCG level decreased

The ultrasound measurements do not indicate the presence of a heartbeat

No heartbeat was heard on the next ultrasound despite the previous heart beat.

The doctor can also measure the length of the embryo to determine the risk. If the embryo is greater than 5mm but has no heart rate, this will represent miscarriage. In addition, if a fetal sac is larger than 10 mm without an oocyte or a fetal sac larger than 20 mm without an embryo or oocyte, the prognosis is poor.

3. What is the effect of 6-week pregnancy ultrasound?

In addition to the fetal heart, one thing that may appear during a 6-week scan is the embryo position. The doctor will also know if the embryo implements correctly in the uterus. If you have an ectopic pregnancy , you will need immediate support to avoid any potential risks.

4. What if there is still no heart rate at the next scan?

Although the absence of a heart rate during follow-up ultrasound after a week may increase the likelihood of the pregnancy stopping progressing, don't be sad because you will still have hope. If the 7-week ultrasound does not find a heartbeat, sometimes it is due to the incorrect gestational age and irregular menstruation, making it easy for you to mistake and time for successful fertilization.

5. Should we worry about not seeing fetal heart at 8 weeks?

If the exact date of pregnancy and no heart rate occurs after 8 weeks, then there is a risk that the fetus will stop progressing (or stillbirth ). However, there are a few specific cases where the fetal heart is not detected by ultrasound at 8 weeks but the newborn is still healthy.

6. How is fetal heart rate normal?

Normal fetal heart rate ranges from 110 to 160 times / minute. From the first trimester, the fetal heart rate can be a little faster, from 170 to 180 times / minute. Then, fetal heart rate is stable in the above range, on average 130-140 times / minute.

7. How to keep the embryo healthy?

There are a number of reasons why a 6-week pregnancy does not have a fetal heart. However, you can take the following steps to help keep the little angel's heart healthy:

Minimize exposure to tobacco smoke in the first 3 months of pregnancy

Take folic acid during pregnancy because it helps prevent congenital heart defects

Stay away from alcohol to avoid fetal alcohol syndrome and other complications

Keep your blood sugar at a steady level, especially if you have gestational diabetes

Avoid using Accutane to treat acne as it puts your baby at risk for fetal heart defects

Hopefully the shared information has helped you partly relieve anxiety about 6 weeks pregnant without having a pregnant heart. During this time, take good care of your health to prepare for the next prenatal visit.

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