It is important throughout the pregnancy to observe not only the health of the mother, but also the baby. The most important thing in the development of the fetus is the correct work of the heart, the vital activity of the baby depends on the heartbeat. The work of a small heart is closely monitored, since the slightest deviation can cause a violation during development. So what week does the fetal heartbeat appear and how many weeks can you listen to it?
How does the heart develop?
The process of heart development is quite complex, as well as very long. The first formation begins to appear at the 4th week of pregnancy, and already at the 5th its pulsation is slightly audible. By the end of pregnancy, the tiny heart already consists of four chambers, but, despite this, it differs significantly from the organ of adults.
At this stage of modern life, the baby’s heart can be heard using various devices. The first thing that interests you is how many weeks the fetal heartbeat appears and how to listen to it? For example, in the early stages, cardiac contractions can be detected by a vaginal ultrasound probe, and only later by an abdominal one.
Fetal heart rate (HR) rate
To determine the rate of heart rate per minute, it is necessary to take into account the duration of pregnancy, since the number of strokes is different every week - this is normal.
At what time does the fetal heartbeat appear:
- at 6-8 weeks, heart rate per minute is 110-130 beats;
- at 8-11 weeks, the maximum heart rate is 190 beats per minute;
- after 11 weeks, the reduction reaches 140-160 beats per minute.
When listening, the condition of the pregnant woman, the procedure time and the activity of the baby itself are taken into account.
Heartbeat Listening Methods
Many are interested in what week the fetal heartbeat appears. There are many ways to hear the work of the heart.
The most common and accurate are:
- Ultrasound Ultrasound examination experts advise every pregnant woman to undergo both when registering, and for further monitoring of fetal development. At present, with the help of ultrasound, you can not only examine in detail the development of the baby in the womb, but also hear the work of the heart. This method helps to study the condition of the placenta and the fetus as a whole, and also with its help you can see all the deviations (if any) and timely proceed to eliminate them. When does a fetal heartbeat appear on an ultrasound? It can be heard from the sixth week.
- Auscultation. The study is conducted by a specialist with a special medical device - a stethoscope, this method is used only after 18 weeks of pregnancy at each examination by a gynecologist.
- Cardiotocography. This technique is very effective, allows you to study in detail the baby's heartbeat, as well as establish deviations even in the early stages of gestation. Basically, this method is used after 32 weeks or before childbirth.
- Echocardiography. This method is used when there is a suspicion of a heart defect in the fetus. It is used at 18-28 weeks of pregnancy.
Timely research helps to avoid abnormal development, as well as to establish all heart rate abnormalities and immediately proceed to their treatment.
How to hear the baby's heartbeat on its own
In addition to medical control, the expectant mother can independently check the baby's heartbeat. Such methods will help to be confident in the development of the fetus and in case of any anxiety to seek help. What week does the fetal heartbeat appear, which can be heard using various devices:
- Stethoscope. This medical device can be purchased at the pharmacy, it is inexpensive. To find the baby's heart rate, the expectant mother will need an assistant. The only drawback of this method is the baby's heartbeat can be heard no earlier than 25 weeks of pregnancy. Also, very often women perceive the sounds of fetal movement for a heartbeat.
- Fetal Doppler. This is a special device designed to control heart rate. It has headphones; with their help, listening becomes a convenient and easy process. This unit is expensive, but it allows you to determine the heartbeat at 8-10 weeks. Experts warn: you can’t often use such tools so as not to harm the baby’s health, you also need to listen to the work of the heart with such a device for no more than 10 minutes.
- Ear attachment. The method is quite simple and effective (if the fat layer is not too large). Starting from week 30, the baby’s heartbeat can be heard by putting an ear to the stomach, focusing on the location of the heart.
How is control going?
It is very important to control the baby’s heartbeat from the beginning of pregnancy until the birth. This will allow the baby to be born healthy, without any deviations.
The heart of an unborn child develops for a very long time, it has a complex structure compared to other organs. An organ is formed starting from the 4th week, during this period a hollow tube is formed, on which the first contractions are observed at the 5th week. And already on the 9th structure of a tiny heart resembles an adult. In a baby in the womb, the heart is very different from the usual organ - it has a hole between the right and left atria, as well as between the arterial flow. This structure helps oxygen to flow into all the organs of the baby.
By heartbeat, they look at the viability of the fetus. If beats per minute are less than 86-100 or more than 200 - this is a cause for concern. If the embryo grows up to 8 mm and the heart is not heard at the same time, this indicates a fetal freeze. It is important during pregnancy to be registered and regularly undergo a scheduled examination by a gynecologist.
Determination of the norm and deviation of heart rate in the fetus
In the initial stages of the study of heart rate is carried out only using an ultrasound machine. In the first trimester, this parameter remains unchanged. After this period, the frequency of contractions begins to increase. The heart rate by the 8th week should reach 130 beats per minute and not exceed this indicator. At the 9-10th week, the reduction per minute reaches 180-190 beats, and already from the 11th to the very appearance of the baby - 140-160 beats per minute.
In the later stages, the heart rate indicator will depend on the activity of the child in the womb, as well as on the loads of the mother herself, diseases, temperature changes (severe cold or heat). If the fetus lacks oxygen, then its heart rate increases to 160 beats, and after saturation with gas, on the contrary, drops to 120 beats per minute.
With the correct formation of the heart in the fetus, its tones are rhythmic and well heard. With improper intrauterine development, arrhythmia or hypoxia is observed, also it indicates an inborn defect of the organ.
If the heart is hard to hear
Many women know at what week the fetal heartbeat appears. But there are situations when the heartbeat is not audible, this happens due to the location of the placenta on the front wall of the uterus. It is also problematic to listen to heart rate in case of low water or polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancy, obesity, increased activity of the child.
In the second and third trimesters, the purpose of ultrasound examination is not so much in assessing the work of the heart, but in determining the location of the organ. In the case when it is necessary to examine the heart in detail, echocardiography and cardiotocography are performed - with the help of these studies, you can control the baby's heartbeat.
Heart rate disorders
Often, with a deviation in heart rate, the following diseases appear:
- Tachycardia - appears in the fetus due to improper development or through the fault of the mother. A specialist can determine the disease using medical equipment.
- Bradycardia - appears due to a low fetal heart rate.
Timely diagnosis of diseases will help to start the quick and necessary treatment, so it is very important not to forget to undergo examinations and visit a gynecologist.