Aren’t you excited about your first time hearing your baby’s heartbeat? It is indeed a milestone in all parents-to-be journeys.

Baby’s heartbeat

💓When can you detect baby’s heartbeat?

A fetal heartbeat is first detected by a vaginal ultrasound in 5 ½ to 6 weeks after gestation.👶 When the baby is 6 ½ to 7 weeks old, you can hear your baby’s heartbeat💓 more clearly.

💓What to expect in the first ultrasound appointment?

During your first ultrasound appointment, the doctor👩‍⚕️ will confirm viable pregnancy and check for non-viable molar or ectopic pregnancy. Any abnormal gestation must be detected at this point. Baby’s heartbeat💓 and crown-rump length are then confirmed. 

Baby’s heart rate

💓Baby’s heart rate

Your baby’s heart rate💓 should be between 90-110 beats per minute at 6 to 7 weeks. When the baby is 9 weeks old, the heart rate should increase by 140-170 beats per minute.

💓Why you can’t hear baby’s heartbeat?

It’s too early in the pregnancy so you might not be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat💓 at your first appointment. Otherwise, you may have a tipped uterus or a large abdomen that impedes heartbeat hearing ability.🩺 If no heartbeat is detected, further fetal measurements like blood test will further be conducted.👩‍⚕️