Im 34 weeks pregnant and slow fetal heartbeat???? What should I do?

[debgunn23]

Ok so its been about 2 weeks since ive listened to the heartbeat so i decided to listen to make sure everything is ok. Well of course the heartbeat is heard as low as it can go, the bikini line, which it always has been. Im assuming he/she is head down. And its i think almost slower than mine! I listened for a while. The doctors office is closed and i dont want to go to the ER just yet. Any advice? Maybe its the way the baby is positioned? Im going to try again here in a bit. He/she has moved a few times and kicked maybe once or twice but its hard to tell because normally i dont feel a whole lot during the day. Hes more active at night.

[JoyRenee]

Have you been feeling consistent movement?

Have you checked the batteries?

I think going to L&D and having them put their doppler on your belly to ease your mind is a great idea.

[GRose]

I know dopplers are fun and all, I have one myself but this is the reason a lot of doctors caution using one at home, it causes unnecessary worrying. If it makes you feel better call the on call nurse at your OB's office or L&D at the hospital. I'm sure your baby is just fine though :)

[leighanne143]

as i got closer to the end of my pregnancy, even my doctor had trouble finding a nice steady heart beat.  i am not sure why, maybe because how big they are getting and their positioning but if you are really worried you can call L & D or your doctor office on call and see what they say but it does get harder to get a nice steady beat towards the end.

[chantal21]

Hmmm...just to ease your mind I would contact your doc or go to L&D. There are things that can interfere with hearing the heart rate though. The bebe sounds isn't the best doppler (so I've heard) but since you've been hearing it fine since 20 weeks I would just want to get checked out. I had an experience one time with listening to my son's heartbeat....I forget how far along I was...but I could hear it and it sounded as if his heart kept skipping every other beat...it went on for the whole day. My midwife wanted to see me the following day and when she listened, it was perfect! and then from there on out, it was fine. She said the placenta could have been in the way or I was picking up my heartbeat along with his. So def. get checked out to ease your mind! =)

[debgunn23]

Ive been listening to the heartbeat since about 20 weeks and its usually around 130-140 bpm usually almost always aropund the smae area bnikini line and a little to the right. It could be mine i guess but the thing is when i listened and counted mine the baby's heartbeat was alot slower. hes moving though, right now squirming and what not. I tried to go listen again and count, now i cant find it. My mother said it could be the way the baby is positioned and it could interfere with the beats. Also i have a cheap bebe sounds doppler thing. But ive never had any problems since week 20.

[sweetangel7]

You could even call L&D and speak with a nurse...not sure how far you live from the hospital but I only live 15 minutes, so I'd just drive down...but if I lived farther, I'd call first...

[debgunn23]

I dont know the beats per min yet but it was no galloping horse. It was slower than mine. I will count here in a bit and see. I think if it still sounds slow i will go to labor and delivery. I dont think he was sleeping, when i was listening i could hear and feel movement and a few kicks. But it wasnt much. Thanks for your help.

[chantal21]

Have you been listening to your baby's heart beat with your doppler the entire pregnancy? I am not sure, but I think you may be hearing your own heart. What was the heart rate last time you listened to it? My son was head down by 33 or 34 weeks and I would hear his heartbeat right around my belly button or a tad lower and to the side a bit. I just think you may be picking up your heartbeat instead of the baby's. Also feeling movement is a great sign! What kind of doppler do you have?
When your doc checked last time, what was the rate? If you are truly concerned I would call them. It's always better to be on the safe side. Like sweetangel said...my son's heart rate was always slower when he was sleeping. The lowest was 135...when he was awake it was 145-150.

[sweetangel7]

Most doctors have an on-call number or a service where you can call and have them paged or another doctor paged.  I'd call my ob if I were you, just for peace of mind.  When I call my ob's office after hours, it says to press something to be connected with the on call doctor and it is an answering service who takes your info and they page the doctor and the doctor or the service gets back to you.

Another option instead of calling the dr. or going to the ER would be to head to Labor and Delivery.  My doctor gave me a list of things to go to L&D for...don't have to call him, just go in and get checked out by a nurse or what not.

By the way, how low is low (beats per minute)?  Maybe the baby was sleeping?  We had a low hb at one of my ultrasound appointments when the hb was always much higher and the lady said he was sleeping.  

Good luck!