What should be the fetal heart rate by week?

Author: Mironenko Nelly Arkadyevna, obstetrician-gynecologist

Heart rate is an integral indicator, which is influenced by many factors: blood oxygen saturation, hemoglobin level, anatomical features of the heart, the effects of hormones and the autonomic nervous system. That is why the nature of the fetal heartbeat can indirectly judge its viability .

The fetal heartbeat can be determined by many methods: auscultation using an obstetric stethoscope, cardiotocography, and ultrasound. Each of these methods has its own advantages. Regular monitoring of the fetal cardiac activity sometimes allows you to change the tactics of pregnancy and childbirth and make responsible decisions that can save the baby’s life.

Normal fetal heart rate by week (table)

The heart rate of one baby or twins can be recorded using the following methods:

• Ultrasound diagnostics. Ultrasound is performed from 4–7 weeks, it allows you to determine the size of the organ, listen to tones, and identify gross malformations. If necessary, it is prescribed at 12, 20, 23, 32, and 37 weeks.
• Listening with a stethoscope. Performed by an obstetrician from the 20th week to assess the timbre, frequency and rhythm of knocking, and determine noise.
• Echocardiography. It is carried out from the 20th week if fetal malformations are suspected. Allows you to study blood flow and the structure of a muscle organ. Indications for the study are the mother's age over 35 years, the birth of children with a history of heart defects, and infectious diseases in the woman.
• Cardiography. The method is effective from the 30th week. It helps determine the degree of oxygen starvation by the nature of the baby’s pulse and movements. These parameters are recorded by sensitive sensors and display the result in the form of a graph.

If the pregnancy is progressing normally, the woman should do control ultrasounds three times: at 11–14, 18–21, 30–34 weeks. Listening with a stethoscope occurs every time during a scheduled visit to the doctor from the second half of gestation in order to determine the rhythm and heart rate of the fetus. The obstetrician first determines the position of the baby in the uterus and then applies a stethoscope to the woman’s abdomen closer to the fetal head from the back. The frequency, rhythm and sonority of tones are assessed.

Cardiac monitoring is carried out at 30–32 weeks. In case of pathological pregnancy (polyhydramnios, hypoxia, gestosis), the study is performed as often as necessary to determine the condition of the child: at 32, 35, 38, 40 weeks. The CTG device is also used during childbirth to determine the baby’s heartbeat and the contractile activity of the uterus.

In addition to the main examination, urine tests, palpation, Doppler ultrasound to determine the speed of blood flow in the umbilical arteries, and Doppler ultrasound of placental blood flow may be indicated. If pathological changes are detected at 18–24 weeks of gestation, it is possible to conduct a cardiogram of the expectant mother (see also: how does the baby develop at 24 weeks of pregnancy?).

During the first four weeks of pregnancy, the fetal heartbeat cannot be heard. To determine its viability and successful pregnancy, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is determined. In the absence of conception, the hormone level is not higher than 5 mIU/ml. If the fetus develops correctly, the hCG level will increase and will be (mIU/ml):

• 1–2 obstetric weeks – 25–156;
• 3–4 – 101–4800;
• 5–6 weeks – 2560–82300.

The frequency of a child’s heartbeat during intrauterine development depends on a number of significant factors:

• physical activity;
• hemoglobin level;
• uterine tone;
• emotional state of a woman;
• Gestational pathologies: Rhesus conflict, bleeding;
• individual characteristics of the myocardium;
• period: sleep or wakefulness.

When a woman is pregnant with twins, each baby's heart rate is usually at the lower end of normal. Good indicators for each child at the time of birth are 110–150 beats per minute. Tachycardia is indicated by parameters of 180 beats per minute or more. Bradycardia in one or two babies is diagnosed when the pulse is 100 beats per minute or less.

Heart rate does not depend on the gender of the child. On average, a baby's heart beats 2 times faster in the womb than its mother's. However, there is a belief that the heartbeat of boys is 120–150 beats per minute. For girls, the figure is higher – 150–170. It is believed that male children have a regular heartbeat, while girls have a more chaotic heartbeat. This information has not been scientifically confirmed. You can accurately find out the sex of the baby during an ultrasound from the 18th week. The error in determination is 10%.

The baby's heartbeat can be detected early. Using a conventional abdominal ultrasound sensor, the doctor will detect heart beats at 5 weeks of pregnancy, and a vaginal sensor will allow you to do this already at 3-4 weeks, that is, almost immediately after the first beat of a small heart (see calculating the gestational age - calculator).

The fetal heart rate varies not only depending on its activity, but also changes with the duration of pregnancy.

• At 6-8 weeks, the beat frequency is 110-130 per minute
• from 8 to 11 weeks it can increase to 190 beats
• starting from 11 weeks it stays in the range of 140-160 beats, with slight deviations in one direction or another.

The doctor evaluates not only what the fetal heartbeat is like by week, but also takes into account additional factors (illnesses of the mother and child, listening time and the baby’s activity phase).

If the expectant mother has a desire to listen to the heart of her baby, then it is not necessary to make an extraordinary visit to the antenatal clinic. There are several ways to listen to the sound of life developing.

Stethoscope

Auscultation with an obstetric stethoscope is accessible to absolutely everyone. This requires an obstetric tube (which costs very little) and an attentive and patient assistant. If he is not a doctor, then it is unlikely that he will be able to hear the heart before the 25th week of pregnancy.

The main thing is daily training. Then one fine day a husband, mother or other owner of a stethoscope will be able to hear the long-awaited sounds of a heartbeat. It is important to learn to distinguish them from the sounds of fetal movement, pulse or peristalsis of the mother.

If you don’t have time to train in auscultation, you can purchase a portable ultrasound detector - a fetal doppler. This device works on the principle of a conventional CTG machine, but does not write a graphic image on film. Often, headphones are included with the device for comfortable listening.

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When can you hear the fetal heartbeat in your ear? In late pregnancy (after 30 weeks), you can make sure that the fetal heartbeat is normal by simply placing your ear to the pregnant woman’s stomach, but it depends on the woman’s fat layer. You need to listen to the baby's heart in a certain place in the abdomen, depending on the location of the fetus in the uterus.

Cases of serious pathologies causing heartbeat disturbances are quite rare. Nature has decreed that the vast majority of pregnancies end in the birth of an absolutely healthy and full-fledged child. Therefore, in parallel with observation by a doctor, you need to listen to the life emerging inside and rejoice in future motherhood.

Vaginal sensor

Already from the fourth week you can hear the heartbeat of the embryo. This can be done using the vaginal sensor of an ultrasound machine. If an ultrasound in early pregnancy is performed transabdominally (the sensor is located on the abdomen), the heartbeat can be heard as early as 5-6 weeks. If, during the first ultrasound at 4-5 weeks, the doctor did not listen to the fetal heartbeat, but the fertilized egg is visualized in the uterus, do not despair; it is better to repeat the study a week later.

Within a week, the embryo will grow and most likely a heartbeat will be heard. In the period from 4 to 6 weeks, the normal heart rate of the embryo is 83-85 beats per minute (with deviations - 3). But if even after a week the heartbeat is not detected, and the fertilized egg is deformed, a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed. This pathology occurs most often in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Fetal heart rate results on CTG

The period from 1 to 13 weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. The normal heart rate for an embryo (the future human being until the 8th week of intrauterine development is called an embryo, from the 9th week - a fetus) is 83-85 beats per minute. Small deviations up or down are also normal. During this period, as a rule, the frequency of contractions is equal to the mother’s pulse.

From the 6th to the 8th week of embryonic development, when the formation of a four-chambered heart occurs, heart rate increases to 110-125 beats per minute. And from the 8th to the 10th week, the normal fetal heart rate is 170-190 beats per minute. This increase is associated with the imperfection of the autonomic regulation of the baby’s nervous system and its insufficient control over the work of internal organs.

How should an embryo's heart beat?

Fetal heart rate norms by week depend on how far along the woman is. The fetal heartbeat appears already in the first weeks. Therefore, contractions can be counted as early as week 5.

This indicator changes under the influence of the baby’s activity and development. The following norms are indicated (by week):

• from 4 to 6 there are from 80 to 85 beats;
• from 6 to 8 the heart contracts from 110 to 130;
• from 8 to 11 the heartbeat increases to 190 beats;
• from the 11th week, the indicators remain within the range of 140-160 beats, slight deviations upward and downward are possible;
• from 12 to 40 weeks - no more than 160 contractions per minute.

The heartbeat is assessed not only by week, but also by taking into account additional factors such as maternal illness, listening time and whether the child is active or sleeping.

Characteristics

When examining the functioning of the embryo’s heart using one of the above methods, the doctor pays attention to the following indicators:

• Heart rate. Rapid heartbeat of a child is a symptom of tachycardia. A rare and muffled knock is observed with bradycardia. Both conditions require close monitoring and correction after identifying the causes.
• Rhythm. The norm is equal time intervals between heart beats. Heart valve defects, fetal hypoxia, intrauterine infection and other pathologies lead to arrhythmia.
• Character of tones. Clear and ringing beats are evidence that the heart is healthy. If dull, blurred tremors are heard, pathology is possible.

Throughout pregnancy, based on the characteristics of the fetal rhythm, it is possible, without interfering with the woman’s body, to monitor the development and physical condition of the child, notice violations in time and prescribe therapy.

Fetal heart rate is a variable value. The rhythm changes constantly: when the baby moves in the womb, during rest, after the mother eats, as a reaction to a drop in serum glucose.

Due to the characteristics of the embryo’s circulatory system at different stages of gestation, the heartbeat is determined by several factors:

• the stage of formation of the heart chambers;
• the presence of structural abnormalities;
• ingrowth of fibers of the autonomic nervous system into the myocardium;
• change in the fetal rest/activity cycle;
• maternal blood glucose level;
• the amount of hemoglobin in the blood;
• state of uteroplacental blood flow;
• the presence of umbilical cord compression;
• state of amniotic fluid;
• the general health of the mother.

Fetal heart rate changes depending on the stage of pregnancy. Up to 9-10 weeks, the frequency progressively increases to 170-180/min, and then, by the 33rd week, it gradually stabilizes at around 140-160/min.

Table of fetal heart rate norms by week of pregnancy

Some of my patients try to determine the sex of the unborn child using the fetal heart rate during the first ultrasound. They rely on the theory that a girl's heart beats at a frequency of 150-160 per minute, and a boy's - 140-150. But from the point of view of medicine, as well as my observations, the chances of guessing the gender in this way are 50%: the rhythm of the embryo is influenced by many factors, and not its gender. Moreover, these figures do not fit into the tabulated weekly fetal heart rate norms corresponding to the time of the first ultrasound screening.

At what time from conception does the fetus develop a heart?

The fetal circulatory system improves throughout pregnancy, but it develops at the very beginning, already 12–14 days after conception. Next, we can distinguish several stages of heart formation:

1. 20 days after conception, the embryo develops a heart rudiment, which is a tube. She cannot pump blood yet, since she has no chambers, but she is already pulsating.
2. After 7 days, an atrium and one ventricle appear in the tube, and a conduction system is formed.
3. At the end of the first month of pregnancy, a septum forms in the atrium, the right and left parts are separated.
4. After another 7 days, a septum is formed in the ventricle. The embryo now has a heart with 4 chambers (two ventricles and two atria). A full heartbeat occurs.
5. By the third month of pregnancy, the heart is formed and is fully functioning.

Despite the fact that the formation and functioning of the organ begins early, it grows and strengthens throughout pregnancy. As the fetus grows, the load and volume of the muscle also increases. The cardiovascular system is closely related to the body's autonomic system, which arises later.

How to listen to the fetal heartbeat

It is possible to assess fetal cardiac performance using:

• Ultrasound (in the early stages with an intravaginal sensor, then with a transabdominal one);
• cardiotocography (CTG);
• fetal Doppler;
• direct auscultation with a stethoscope.

Modern developments in the field of medical equipment offer portable devices that record fetal heart rate - fetal monitors.

This device allows you, regardless of time and place, to determine the baby’s cardiac activity or simply enjoy the sound of a beating heart.

The design of the Doppler is extremely simple:

• small-sized case with a digital display and buttons for sound control, recording and playback, which is powered by batteries;
• directly the sensor, which is connected to the base with a wire;
• headphones.

You can detect your heartbeat using a fetal monitor as early as the 12th week of pregnancy.

The cost of such devices in Russia is from 2 to 7 thousand rubles. More expensive models can transmit sound waves into the uterus. Manufacturers suggest playing slow music to calm a raging baby in the womb.

An obstetric (fetal) stethoscope is the simplest device for determining the functional state of a child and diagnosing fetal distress, available in every antenatal clinic.

Auscultation of the pregnant woman's abdomen is carried out from the second trimester during each visit to the obstetrician-gynecologist.

During auscultation of a pregnant woman’s abdomen with a stethoscope by an obstetrician-gynecologist, in addition to the baby’s heart sounds, the following can be heard:

• peristaltic sounds of the intestines and uterus;
• the sound of blood moving through the vessels of the umbilical cord;
• movements, fetal kicks;
• the beating of the abdominal aorta (must completely coincide with the pulse of the pregnant woman).

Reasons that make it difficult to listen to heart rate:

• significant fat layer of the anterior abdominal wall;
• attachment of the placenta to the anterior wall of the uterus;
• polyhydramnios.

Technique: the study is carried out when the pregnant woman lies on her back. Before listening, I determine the position, position, appearance and presentation of the fetus (its location in the uterus relative to the birth canal). This determines where to place the stethoscope. The heartbeat is best heard on the side of the fetal back, between its shoulder blades.

The fetal stethoscope is pressed with the wide end to the abdomen, and the other - tightly to the ear. The clarity and rhythm of heart sounds are determined, and the heart rate is calculated for 1 minute.

You can also listen to heart sounds using a standard phonendoscope.

Ultrasound examination during pregnancy is an extremely important and reliable method for diagnosing fetal anomalies, monitoring its development, and determining delivery tactics.

This is a safe, fast, accessible and informative test for the mother and fetus, which does not require prior preparation (with the exception of a full bladder in early pregnancy).

In addition to the rhythm, ultrasound examination at different stages of gestation determines:

• quantity, position and attachment of the fertilized egg;
• size, functional state of the placenta and umbilical cord;
• amount of amniotic fluid;
• size, weight of the child, presence of intrauterine developmental delay syndrome;
• position, position, appearance and presentation of the fetus (cephalic, pelvic, transverse, oblique);
• all internal organs are visualized, which allows early identification of various developmental anomalies and chromosomal pathologies;
• condition of the cervix.

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Data obtained from an ultrasound examination, together with CTG, make it possible to determine the biophysical profile of the fetus - an integrated indicator that most accurately predicts the possible intrauterine death of the embryo.

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Further tactics directly depend on the amount of points:

• 12-8 - normal condition of the fetus;
• 7-6 - questionable result (possible hypoxia), dynamic observation, daily CTG, counting movements, Doppler measurements of uteroplacental blood flow in dynamics;
• less than 5 - severe fetal distress, threat of antenatal death of the child, immediate delivery.

CTG is a method of assessing the condition of a child through parallel recording of the baby’s heartbeat and contractile activity of the uterus. This is an accessible, non-invasive method for early diagnosis of fetoplacental circulatory disorders and monitoring of treatment.

The monitoring result is presented on a specially plotted sheet in the form of two curves. Modern cardiotocographs are equipped with the function of mechanical recording of fetal movements.

The autonomic innervation of the heart matures by the 32nd week of gestation. Therefore, acceleration (acceleration) and deceleration (deceleration) on CTG recorded before the third trimester can only be caused by the influence of the maternal body and intrauterine conditions on the sinoatrial node.

CTG recorded after the 32nd week reaches maximum diagnostic significance in assessing the functional state of the fetus. During this period, the myocardial reflex, sleep and wakefulness patterns mature.

The CTG procedure is carried out for at least 40 minutes, since it is necessary to examine the child’s cardiac activity during the period of his activity. The baby's sleep duration fluctuates in the range of 15-30 minutes, and during this period of time the indicators will coincide with those if his condition is disturbed.

CTG can be recorded in a lying or semi-sitting position. A sensor is attached to the pregnant woman's stomach in the projection of the fetal back (for twins - one for each child), and she is given a button in her hands, which she must press as soon as she feels the fetal movements (kicks, turns, stretching). This will help you better assess heart rate variability.

Based on the CTG results, the following are assessed:

• basal rhythm (averaged heart rate over 10 minutes of measurement);
• variability (the degree of deviation from the basal rhythm) - the number and amplitude of instantaneous oscillations are calculated;
• acceleration (heart rate acceleration by 15 beats/min or more for more than 15 seconds);
• decelerations (slowing down the rhythm) - types Dip1, 2, 3.

The obtained indicators are converted into points according to Fisher's criteria (Fig.).

Signs of a normal CTG:

• basal heart rate 110-150/min;
• variability 5-25 beats/min;
• no decelerations;
• more than 2 accelerations in 10 minutes.

If the above criteria are met for 20 minutes, the CTG is not recorded further.

Tactics for managing a pregnant woman depending on the number of points:

1. 9-12 – satisfactory condition. There is no threat to the fetus.
2. 6-8 - signs of fetal hypoxia. CTG registration is carried out daily.
3. 0—5—severe fetal distress, threat of antenatal death. Urgent hospitalization and delivery.

If CTG results are questionable, functional tests are additionally performed to assess the reserve capabilities of the fetal circulatory system and increase the reliability of diagnosis.

1. Non-stress test (NST). Tracking changes in the fetal heart rate in response to its own movements, thereby assessing the work of the myocardial reflex and, accordingly, the baby’s nervous system. Absence of heart rate response is an indication for an oxytocion test.
2. Oxytocin contractile test. Monitoring the fetal heart response to uterine contractions.
3. Sound stimulation test. Using a vibroacoustic system, the doctor wakes up a sleeping baby, thereby potentially increasing his activity and the information content of the study and reducing the frequency of false-positive CTG results.

But it is worth noting that cardiotocography registers disorders only at the time of recording, and the scoring system has a reliability of about 75%. To predict the outcome of pregnancy, these data can be used exclusively in combination with other diagnostic methods.

Fetal heartbeat study 7-8 weeks video

The fetal heartbeat during pregnancy is checked for every woman registered. This indicator allows you to:

• confirm the fact of pregnancy. After the first delay, the woman is sent for diagnostics. According to ultrasound, from the 3rd week you can hear the heartbeat. If fetal cardiac activity is not observed, an ultrasound scan is performed again after some time. The absence of a heartbeat indicates a frozen pregnancy;
• assess the condition of the fetus. The child's heart is sensitive to changes. Stress, maternal illness, the amount of oxygen in the surrounding space, sleep and rest phases are immediately reflected in the heart rate. If the heart beats too fast for a long time, the blood supply to the fetus is disrupted. If it is slow, this indicates a deterioration in the baby’s condition. Correction methods largely depend on the period at which the heartbeat became pathological;
• monitoring the condition of the fetus during labor. During the birth process, the baby experiences severe stress and lack of oxygen. Heart rate monitoring allows you to identify difficulties such as umbilical cord compression, placental abruption, and take emergency steps to eliminate the consequences. During labor, the baby's heart rate is checked after each contraction.

There is a belief that the sex of the child can be determined by the fetal heart rate. Allegedly, girls have a heartbeat of 150-170 beats per minute, and boys - 130-150. Therefore, many people think that if, according to an ultrasound, the fetal heart is 146 beats per minute, or, for example, 137, 143, then a boy will be born. And who will be at 167 blows, or 158, 172 - a boy.

This hypothesis is not scientifically confirmed in any way. Gender can only be determined by heart rate with 50% confidence. Heart rate in boys and girls reflects the ability to fight the lack of oxygen. And gender has no influence on this ability.

If you want to find out the sex of your unborn child, contact an ultrasound specialist. Gender can be determined from 15-16 weeks.

The heart rate changes not only according to the baby’s activity phases, but also depending on the stage of pregnancy.

• at week 7 the norm is 115 contractions;
• on the 8th, the heartbeat can jump to 170 beats per minute;
• at 11 weeks, the heart rate usually remains at 150 beats. Minor deviations up or down are acceptable.

Starting from the thirteenth week, doctors constantly check the heart rate using ultrasound, checking the character and rhythm, location of the heart.

From the second trimester, the contraction frequency stabilizes and is 140-160 beats. If the pulse is fast, for example, 170-180, this indicates oxygen starvation. If it is low, less than 120, this indicates fetal hypoxia.

Observation by a doctor

Thus, the number of 125 beats is the norm for the initial stages of pregnancy. At later stages, it is considered weak and requires additional examination.

A pulse of 153, 162, 166 beats per minute is natural for periods of 11-40 weeks, for 4-7 weeks it is pathological.

You can find out the sex of the fetus

When determining the heart rate, the doctor evaluates not only the fetal heartbeat, but takes into account additional factors: the presence of a disease in the mother, listening time, whether the baby is sleeping or is in an active state.

When the expectant mother wants to listen to the baby’s heart beat, it is not necessary to visit the clinic. The sound of embryonic development can be heard in the following ways:

• stethoscope. A regular obstetric tube is inexpensive and allows you to listen to the baby’s heart. A patient assistant will be required. It is important to learn to distinguish the heart from the sounds of the baby’s movements, pulse, and mother’s peristalsis. Effective from 18-25 weeks;
• fetal doppler. Suitable for those who do not have time to master a stethoscope. A portable ultrasound detector works on the CTG principle, but does not provide a graphic image. The kit usually includes headphones. This device is effective from 8-12 weeks, and you can use it until the 38-39th;
• putting your ear to your stomach. The method is suitable for late pregnancy, in the 3rd trimester. The place of application depends on the location of the fetus. If your baby is lying head down, place your ear below the navel. With breech presentation – higher. Usually this method is used by men to hear the life emerging in the womb.

• After the fusion of male and female reproductive cells occurs, young parents are waiting for a real little miracle. They want to quickly see his tiny body during an ultrasound examination and listen to his heartbeat.

• The fine structures of the tiny heart will be fully formed only by the 22nd week of pregnancy, after which the network of heart vessels and the entire body of the baby will grow. The cardiac mass will increase, and the circulatory system will be increasingly trained every day for life outside the mother’s body.
• The pulsation of the future tiny heart can be noticed even at the stage of embryonic development. And this is the 22nd day from the moment of fertilization. In other words, at the 5th or at the beginning of the 6th obstetric week, the fetal heartbeat is already clearly recorded.

How many weeks and days of pregnancy does the fetal heart begin to beat?

Why is the fetal heartbeat determined?

According to this theory, if the fetus's heart beats more than 140 times per minute, then there is a high probability of having a girl. Lower contractions produce boys. But numerous studies have been conducted that have proven that these indicators have no connection with each other.

Most women are in an interesting position, and even some medical professionals believe that the baby’s heart rate in the womb can be used to determine its gender. For some reason, there is a belief that girls’ hearts “accelerate,” that is, beat 150-160 times per minute, while boys’ heart rate is 135-150 beats. This hypothesis has no scientific basis, so gender can be guessed with only 50 percent confidence in this way.

The fetal heart rate reflects the body's ability to cope with oxygen deficiency. Gender does not affect this ability in any way. If the expectant mother wants to know in advance what color diapers to buy, then you can contact a good ultrasound specialist who will be able to determine the sex of the baby with great accuracy.

In case of deviation

Often in the second trimester, a woman is prescribed a repeat ultrasound examination. This is necessary in order to promptly identify possible pathologies and help the child. At 18 weeks, when the fetus’s heart begins to beat, women who are at increased risk should undergo an ultrasound:

• Those who suffer from heart disease.
• Women over 37 years old.
• Those who suffer from diabetes, rubella, hypertension and similar diseases.
• Women who have taken medications with side effects such as the development of heart defects.
• Those who became pregnant using IVF.

If problems are identified in a timely manner, doctors will be able to pre-prepare for the upcoming birth and surgery.
Perhaps in such a situation, the doctor will prescribe medications to the patient that reduce the risk of developing pathology in the child, but at the same time do not in any way affect its formation. As you can see, it is not enough just to know when the fetal heart begins to beat. It is also very important to take into account additional factors and heart rate indicators, which play a significant role.

How not to miss pathology: common signs of problems

Usually, auscultation with an obstetric stethoscope and CTG at an appointment with a gynecologist can promptly show disturbances in the cardiac activity of the fetus.

In case of complicated pregnancy, from the second trimester, a woman can keep a daily diary of fetal movements (Pearson test). It helps to monitor the baby’s condition in order to seek medical help in time.

If your child moves less than 10 times in 12 hours, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Also, relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use portable fetal monitors will help a woman independently listen to her baby’s heart rate at any time of the day. You can ask the doctor to write out the fetal heart rate norms by week and compare the results obtained with the table ones.

Signs of possible deviations:

• rare fetal movements;
• insufficient weight gain;
• the volume of the abdomen stopped increasing;
• nagging pain appeared in the lower abdomen;
• persistent uterine tone;
• suspicious vaginal discharge.

Expert advice

1. Plan your first ultrasound at 8-12 weeks. Then you will definitely hear and see the fetal heartbeat on the ultrasound screen.
2. Tell your obstetrician honestly and fully about even minor changes in your health.
3. Complete all necessary tests and studies on time.
4. Try to lead a healthy lifestyle. During the first trimester, “slow down”, get more rest, and minimize stress.
5. Listen to your body.
6. Observe your baby's movements as soon as you begin to feel them (this is his universal language of communication with you).
7. Regularly attend antenatal clinics.

If threatening signs appear, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Why is it important to monitor the fetal heartbeat?

It is necessary to observe the contractions in order to:

1. Confirm that conception has occurred and the embryo is developing. If the first signs of pregnancy appear, the woman is recommended to have an ultrasound examination to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. With the help of modern technologies, fetal heart contractions can be recorded three weeks after conception. If the examination was able to confirm pregnancy, but the pulse is not detected, there is no need to be nervous. Repeated examination after a week helps to hear the heartbeat. But, if in the future nothing can be heard, fading of pregnancy is detected. It is impossible to help in this situation, so the uterine cavity is cleaned.
2. Assess the condition of the fetus. Stressful situations, maternal illness, physical activity, oxygen levels, periods of sleep and wakefulness affect the fetal heart rate. But these are temporary changes. If the pulse is too fast for a long time, fetoplacental insufficiency is diagnosed, when the embryo does not have enough oxygen. This problem is often chronic. If the heartbeat slows down, this indicates depletion of compensatory mechanisms and a deterioration in the condition of the fetus. Therefore, you will have to resort to emergency delivery.
3. Monitor the condition of the fetus during labor. This period is characterized by a significant increase in the load on the baby’s body. It is compressed by the birth canal and suffers from a lack of oxygen. In most cases, the body tolerates stress well, but with placental abruption, clamping of the umbilical cord, and in other cases, urgent help is needed.

Methods for listening to the fetal heartbeat

This is the very first method used during pregnancy. When conducting a study, along with determining the heart rate, the doctor evaluates the size of the fetus, the condition of the placenta and gives a comprehensive conclusion. Listen especially carefully to heart sounds and study the structure of the heart in case of developmental defects in a pregnant woman and the birth of children with defects of the cardiovascular system in the past. It is very important to identify abnormalities in the structure and functioning of the heart in cases of infections suffered by the mother during pregnancy.

Auscultation

This is listening to heart sounds using a special obstetric stethoscope. You can determine your heartbeat in this way starting from 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. An experienced doctor can use a tube to determine the approximate heart rate, clarity of tones, and the best place to hear them. But even a person without medical education is able to detect heart sounds and count their number per minute using a stopwatch.

In some cases, auscultation with a stethoscope is difficult or impossible:

• for overweight pregnant women
• when the placenta is located on the anterior wall of the uterus (then vascular noise interferes with auscultation)
• with too little or too much amniotic fluid

A very informative method that allows you to assess the baby’s heartbeat. Using this procedure, it is possible to identify oxygen starvation of the fetus in the early stages and take appropriate measures (see interpretation of fetal CTG during pregnancy).

The CTG machine is an ultrasound sensor that sends and receives reflected signals from the fetal heart. All changes in heart rate are recorded on film. Together with the main sensor, a uterine contraction sensor is also installed. It shows the activity of the uterus, which is especially important during childbirth.

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In recent years, devices have special sensors for fetal movements; sometimes, using a separate button, a pregnant woman can record them independently. All information coming from the sensors is displayed on the tape. The duration of the CTG procedure is 50-60 minutes. This time is usually enough to catch the baby’s moments of activity and sleep. In special cases, sensors are attached to the pregnant woman’s belly and left for a day.

For fetal heartbeat analysis, gestational age plays a very important role. The first CTG study is carried out after 32 weeks, since before this period the data will be uninformative. It is after 31-32 weeks that the connection between motor activity and cardiac activity of the fetus is formed. Typically, a woman undergoes CTG twice during pregnancy (at 32 weeks and immediately before birth). According to indications, CTG can be performed an unlimited number of times, since the procedure is harmless.

The CTG tape is deciphered by a doctor who compares the results of this study with the data of ultrasound and tests. Cardiotocography itself is not a source of definitive diagnosis.

• The normal fetal heart rate is on average 120 to 160 beats per minute.
• in response to movements, the heart rate increases
• There are no decreases in heart rate or they are present in minimal quantities

The device independently analyzes all these parameters and produces the result in the form of a special bandwidth index. Normally it does not exceed one. But the functioning of the baby’s heart is influenced by many other factors, which only a doctor can evaluate.

• Hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the fetus is the most common cause of changes on CTG.

If the baby experiences a lack of air, then his heart begins to work harder and the frequency of contractions increases. In response to a contraction or his own movement, the baby may react by slowing down the heartbeat, which is also not the norm.

• Pressing the umbilical cord against the fetal head or bones causes short-term changes in the band. They look the same as during oxygen starvation, but the child feels good and does not lack oxygen.
• Incorrectly attached sensors

If, when listening to the fetal heartbeat, hypoxia is detected, confirmed by other methods, then the doctor prescribes treatment or performs an emergency delivery (depending on the period and condition of the fetus).

Echocardiography

Echocardiography is used at 18-28 weeks of pregnancy only if the development of heart defects in the child is suspected. This is an ultrasound method that studies the characteristics of blood flow and the structure of the heart. It is indicated if:

• the woman already has children with heart defects
• the mother herself has congenital heart defects
• past infectious diseases during this pregnancy, especially in the 1st trimester
• woman over 38 years old
• pregnant woman has diabetes mellitus
• intrauterine growth restriction
• detected malformations in the fetus in other organs and there is a suspicion of congenital heart defects

The echocardiography method is also used as two-dimensional ultrasound, and other modes of the ultrasound scanner are used: one-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler mode. This combination of techniques helps to thoroughly study both the structure of the heart and the nature of blood flow in large vessels.

What does heart rhythm disturbance mean?

If the diagnosis of the heartbeat reveals its deviation from the norm, then both the expectant mother and the doctor are concerned about the question of why this is happening. The causes of heart rhythm disturbances can be different, they depend on the nature of the deviation and the duration of pregnancy.

Heart is beating

The fetus goes through a number of stages in its development - from a point barely visible on the screen to a child weighing up to or more than 4 kilograms. Its life arises during the fusion of male and female cells. For a few more days, the future person makes his way to the place where he will spend 9 months before birth. The embryo then strengthens in the uterus.

Pregnancy begins. By the end of the first month of gestation from conception or at 5–6 weeks of obstetrics from the last day of menstruation, the embryo becomes longer, the brain and spinal cord are formed, still in the form of a neural tube. Blood circulation begins in a small body. And also the fetus’s heart begins to beat.

At 7 weeks you can hear the fetal heartbeat

Even 200 years ago, the only way to hear the heartbeat was with the sensitive ear of a doctor. The fact of pregnancy and the number of fetuses were determined by the heartbeat. Since then, the techniques have improved: now there are gadgets with which you can enjoy the sound of your baby’s heart at home.

In the 19th century, the world of medicine was enriched with a stethoscope - a tube with a large bell at the end. It was made of wood, most often birch. With its help, doctors listened to the heart, intestines and lungs of patients. And obstetricians-gynecologists auscultated the pregnant woman’s abdomen, determining the tones and rhythm of the fetal heart, and also captured the sounds created by the uterus and its vessels.

Ultrasound is the best way to not only hear the heartbeat, but also see it from all sides. Up to 13 weeks, the embryo’s heart rate is constantly changing, first increasing to 180 beats at week 10, and from the 11th week falling to at least 150 beats per minute. Such changes are associated with the functional features of the formation of the ANS - the autonomic nervous system.

In subsequent trimesters, an ultrasound scan can show the location of the heart. To identify defects and anomalies of an organ, a so-called four-chamber section is performed, which gives an idea of ​​all its structures. Seventy-five percent of pathologies - this is how many anomalies in the development of the fetal heart can be seen with routine two-dimensional ultrasound.

When does an embryo have a heartbeat?

development of the fetal heart
The formation of the heart begins already at 2-3 weeks of intrauterine development , that is, during the period when the woman does not even suspect a possible pregnancy. During this period, the heart has the shape of a simple tube, which by the beginning of 3-4 weeks begins to bend in an S-shape. That is why at this stage of development the heart is called sigmoid.

After 4-5 weeks of gestation, the primary septum between the atria is formed, as a result of which the heart of the embryo becomes 3-chambered. It is at this stage that the first heartbeats appear. However, in order to reliably record the heartbeat of the embryo at the 5th week of pregnancy, an expert-class ultrasound machine is required. But it is important to remember that in the absence of special indications, performing an ultrasound scan at such an early stage is unreasonable and is not recommended.

In this regard, indirect confirmation of the normal development of the embryo and its heart at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy is the determination of the level of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) over time, after 2-3 days. At week 5, the level of this hormone ranges from 1000 to 3100 mIU/ml. During a normally developing pregnancy in the early stages, the hCG level doubles every 2-3 days. But you need to know that the determination of hCG is reliable only up to the 10th week of pregnancy, because at later stages the level of this hormone begins to fall, which is the physiological norm. Therefore, this diagnostic method is relevant only at the very beginning of pregnancy, as an alternative to ultrasound in very early stages.

Deviations from norms

The process of formation of the cardiac system occurs in three-dimensional space every minute, and this requires complete synchronization of all the details of the future heart and its system so that they come together correctly. But if this does not happen, then the heart will not stop moving, but the parts will not attach correctly.

For example, the growing heart septum will have nowhere to attach, and the valve will have nothing to support it. In this way, cardiac congenital defects will form.

In order for the heart to become four-chambered, and not remain two-chambered, it is necessary for all its partitions to grow. Next, the common arterial trunk should divide into the aorta and pulmonary artery, and inside the cardiac ventricle there should be a division into left and right.

The aorta must connect to the left ventricle in order for the heart valves to form. This entire synchronous process occurs between 4 and 8 weeks.

If unforeseen disturbances occur at an early stage during the formation of the heart, then this is worse for the child. The heart becomes deformed, the heart defect becomes more complicated. The later a violation in the connection of parts occurs, the smaller the congenital defect will be, and it can be corrected surgically in the future.

The normal fetal heart rate is 120 to 160 beats per minute. Less than 120 or a decrease occurs in cardiac abnormalities. A frequency above 160 or an increase is observed in stressful situations of the mother, during childbirth, or as a reaction to a contraction.

Methods for determining heart rate

The fetal heartbeat by week, the norms of which must correspond to the established parameters, is determined using diagnostic devices.

Ultrasound

Hardware examination is carried out as planned, at various stages of pregnancy. The heart rate is measured using an ultrasound probe that is moved across the mother's abdomen. The device tracks waves emanating from internal organs, which are converted by a computer and displayed on the screen.

A transvaginal ultrasound is also performed to check the heartbeat. A special probe is inserted into the mother's vagina. Sound waves reflected from the uterus are converted into images of the heartbeat, and the readings are displayed on a monitor.

Using the devices, detailed information is obtained about the functioning of the heart, disturbances in its functioning and the structure of blood vessels.

Auscultation

The study is carried out using a plastic or aluminum tube through which the doctor listens to the child’s heartbeat and counts the beats using a stopwatch. This procedure can be performed at any stage of pregnancy and does not require prior preparation.

Cardiotocography

This method is based on recording the heartbeat using ultrasound. It is carried out only in the third trimester, when it becomes possible to control and compare the frequency of contractions of the child and the uterus.

Cardiotocography

An ultrasound sensor is attached to the mother's abdomen, and a gel is applied to the surface. During the session, a cardiotocogram is recorded, and the heartbeat is heard not only by the doctor, but also by the mother.

Echocardiography

Women after 32 weeks of pregnancy or who have disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands or cardiovascular system are diagnosed using an echocardiograph. Sensors connected to a device are placed on the pregnant woman’s stomach.

After each movement of the baby, the woman must press a button on the device, after which the heart rate is recorded. The procedure is long, carried out within 1 hour.

Features of heartbeat at different stages of pregnancy

In the early stages of pregnancy, even specialists cannot detect the presence of heartbeats during external diagnostics. The heartbeat begins to be audible well around the 20th week. Throughout pregnancy, your heart rate (HR) changes. It is better for the expectant mother to know such features of the baby’s development in advance so as not to worry when receiving the examination results.

At 6–8 weeks, the normal heart rate is 110–130 beats per minute. The next 2 weeks - 8-10, the frequency increases to 170-190. And from the 11th week it decreases to 140–160 contractions, and already remains at this level until delivery. If these numbers deviate from the norm, the doctor will immediately prescribe additional studies to find the cause of the change in heart rate.

Experts focus on heartbeat numbers as one of the indicators of the baby’s condition

When the rate decreases to 85–100 beats per minute or when it increases to 200 beats, you should under no circumstances hesitate, as life-threatening complications may develop for the fetus. If the size of the embryo is over 8 mm and there are no heartbeats, then this may be a sign of a frozen pregnancy. Then, a repeat diagnosis over time is prescribed as quickly as possible.

At a later stage - during the 2-3 trimesters, the diagnostician evaluates not only the heart rate, but also the shape, location of the heart and its volume. Such principles allow him to identify congenital defects of the baby’s heart muscle in time and plan in advance the most appropriate birth tactics.

In modern medicine, the transabdominal ultrasound method is most often used. Its essence lies in the fact that the sensor is applied to the surface of the woman’s abdomen. This technique allows you to determine the baby’s heartbeat 6–7 weeks after conception.

At different periods after fertilization, the baby’s heart contracts at different frequencies:

• 6-8 weeks – the baby’s heart rate fluctuates between 110-130 beats.min;
• 9-10 – 170-190 beats per minute;
• after 10 weeks – 140-160 beats for 1 minute.

Carrying out an ultrasound during pregnancy makes it possible not only to determine the heart rate, but also its condition, size and anatomy. Therefore, under no circumstances should this procedure be neglected.

For a large number of women who cannot become pregnant using the traditional method, in vitro fertilization offers a chance for motherhood.

The essence of this method is that at a certain period of ovulation, the mother's eggs are collected, and the man donates sperm. Several eggs are fertilized artificially. At the moment of embryonic cell division, specialists implant a fertilized egg into the woman’s uterine cavity.

21 days after the implantation, the first vaginal ultrasound examination is performed, the main purpose of which is to determine the woman’s pregnancy. If the embryo has implanted and the woman becomes pregnant, specialists constantly monitor the woman.

You can hear the fetal heartbeat after IVF at 31 weeks after embryo transfer. If a baby's heartbeat is detected, the pregnant woman is registered with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

At the earliest stages, determining the heartbeat is necessary in order to establish the fact of a developing normal pregnancy. After a delay, many expectant mothers, especially those whose pregnancy is planned and long-awaited, go for an ultrasound examination. Moreover, this often happens immediately after a positive test result appears.

For those who are very worried or have a history of ectopic pregnancy, doctors recommend taking a test for human chorionic gonadotropin - hCG. If the indicators double within 48-72 hours or faster, then this indicates that the pregnancy is developing normally. When the hCG value exceeds 2000, the first ultrasound can be done.

You can't hear a heartbeat on this ultrasound yet, but you can rule out one of the biggest risks - an ectopic pregnancy. If the embryo is in the uterus and everything is in order, then the woman is recommended to contact her after 7-10 days in order to exclude anembryonia and frozen pregnancy, at which time the baby’s heartbeat is determined for the first time.

Another purpose of determining the heartbeat is to assess the condition of the unborn child. The fetal heart rate changes with the mother's physical activity, physical activity or condition. When its condition changes, the oxygen concentration in the blood changes, which is reflected in the heart rate, but these changes are temporary.

If cardiac activity increases for a long time, this indicates that the blood supply to the fetus is impaired. Then they can make a diagnosis: fetoplacental insufficiency.

Most often it is chronic. Very rarely, the baby’s compensatory capabilities can become so depleted that the heart begins to beat slower than normal. This already indicates a deterioration in his condition. In this case, a decision is made on immediate delivery or treatment. The method of treatment depends on at what week of development the fetal heartbeat becomes pathological.

The last thing that monitoring the fetal heartbeat provides is monitoring its condition during childbirth. During childbirth, the child, like the mother, experiences very serious stress. It is subject to compression and often lacks oxygen. In most cases, the cardiovascular system copes with this successfully.

Is it possible to determine the sex of a child by heartbeat?

Medical workers, based on their experience, predict the sex of the child based on the number of heartbeats. No scientific studies have been conducted that could confirm or refute these results. Doctors' predictions sometimes came true, but there is no scientific evidence for this.

The embryo's heart begins to beat early, but doctors give a detailed assessment of cardiac activity at 19–21 weeks. The fetal heartbeat determines the normal or abnormal development of the child each week, which is why it is so important to undergo mandatory screening for early detection of anomalies.

Heartbeat as an indicator of normal fetal development

• at 6-8 weeks – from 110 to 130 beats/minute;
• at 9-10 weeks – from 170 to 190 beats/minute;
• from the 11th week until the moment of birth - from 140 to 160 beats/minute.

Such changes in heart rate are explained by the constant development and formation of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the coordinated functioning of all internal systems and organs.

Of all the developing systems of a child, only the cardiovascular system can be tracked by sound, and with the help of ultrasound, hearing the fetal heartbeat is quite simple and painless for the mother. A heart examination will immediately show whether there are abnormalities in the development of the embryo and whether it is comfortable for it to be in the mother’s womb.

The period of 3–5 weeks is of great importance for the development of the embryo - at this stage the formation of the main organs occurs. The embryo itself during this period has an S-shape and resembles an auricle. At this stage, the rudiments of the baby’s head, torso, legs and arms appear. At the same time, from weeks 3 to 5, the dorsal chord develops and separates, as a result of which the spinal cord and spine begin to form.

The brain also develops, and this is evidenced by the growth of the neural tube in the widest part of the embryo. An ultrasound examination will show the diagnostician the formation and rapid growth of somites (tissue segments), which are responsible for the growth of all tissues of the body, including muscle.

At the same time, the cardiovascular system begins to develop, and therefore experts pay increased attention to this period.

When and why is it measured?

From the end of the 5th week until the moment of delivery, the fetal heart rate is measured at each ultrasound examination. This is not a tribute to tradition, but an important characteristic of the baby’s condition at the time of the examination. The frequency with which the baby’s heart beats is indicated in the ultrasound protocol by the abbreviation HR – heart rate.

At different stages of pregnancy, additional methods of listening to the child’s heart appear. From approximately 18 obstetric weeks, echocardiography can be performed. Ultrasound with Doppler and in color gives an idea not only of how well the heart is formed and how it beats, but also of how blood circulates in the great vessels.

From the middle of the second trimester, the auscultation method is used - listening using an obstetric tube with a wide distal end (stethoscope). There is one in the office of every obstetrician-gynecologist, and every scheduled appointment with a pregnant woman usually begins with the listening procedure. This method does not allow you to calculate the heart rate in a numerical value, but it gives the doctor an idea of ​​how rhythmically and clearly the baby’s heart is beating, and also to suggest its presentation - when a heartbeat is detected below the navel, women speak of a cephalic presentation; when beating in the navel area, to the right or to the left of it, suggest a transverse position of the baby, and if the heartbeat is heard above the navel, with a high degree of probability the baby is in a breech presentation.

From the 30th week of pregnancy, another method becomes available - CTG (cardiotocography). It is done both according to indications and for control of all expectant mothers. The method is based on recording two indicators with sensors: the heartbeat and movements of the fetus are recorded, and the connection between movements and increased heart rate is monitored (this is typical for babies).

During childbirth, there is also often a need to record heart rate and contractions by attaching CTG device sensors to the mother’s abdomen. This is how the condition of the fetus is monitored during childbirth.

At home, a woman can hear the baby’s heart beating in several ways, but all of them are intended solely to satisfy her curiosity and that of the future father. A woman needs special medical knowledge to understand what a particular change in the rhythm of a child’s heartbeat means. We are not talking about situations where home heart rate monitoring is recommended by a doctor - in this case, special portable fetal monitors are used, which are temporarily given to the expectant mother so that she can follow the doctor’s recommendation.

An obstetric stethoscope can also be used for home listening - after the 24th week of pregnancy, but this method is not available to the woman herself, since someone else, for example, her husband, will listen. Today, fetal dopplers are available for sale - small devices with an ultrasound sensor. You can use it at home from 13-14 weeks of pregnancy.

Heart rate is an indicator about which doctors do not have a consensus. It is more often believed that it does not have high diagnostic accuracy, since there can be many reasons why the heartbeat can slow down or speed up, and even the mother’s usual excitement or poor health will certainly affect the heart rate result. Why then measure heart rate?

Firstly, to diagnose the pregnancy itself - at 5 weeks. A small fertilized egg may be invisible in the uterine cavity, but its beating and characteristic sound will not allow the doctor to see the baby. Secondly, the baby’s heart muscle reacts to any changes in its condition, which can be important as part of a comprehensive assessment of the fetus’ condition. Heart rate measurement does not act as an independent measure that allows making a diagnosis. But it beneficially complements the information that can be collected during ultrasound and laboratory tests.

Stages of heart development

Women wonder when they can hear the baby's heartbeat, and at what time the heart appears. This organ in babies is formed over a long and complex period; its rudiment develops already at the beginning of the second month (4-6 weeks). In terms of external characteristics, the heart at this stage resembles a hollow tube. It is considered the primary circuit of the cardiovascular system. In the future, the rudiment will become an independently functioning organ.

You should know! At 4 weeks of pregnancy, a specialist can use medical instruments to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. But this process is not yet controlled by the cells of the central nervous system. At week 6, you can listen to more intense heartbeats.

At what age does a baby's heart begin to function? The organ chamber is formed by 5 weeks of the baby’s life. At this stage of development, the heart is able to independently pump blood throughout the fetal body with a set rhythm.

It is possible to hear a heartbeat with a fully formed heart (four-chamber) at the 9th obstetric week. By this moment, the child has time to form the following parts of the circulatory system:

• valves,
• ventricles,
• partitions separating the chambers,
• vessels for moving blood in different directions.

Full formation of heart structures is completed at 22 weeks. After this period, only an increase in the mass of the organ and the growth of the network of its vessels are observed. The structure of a child’s heart has its own characteristics:

• unclosed foramen ovale, which is located between the atria,
• The ductus botallus connects the pulmonary trunk and the aorta.

These elements function because the fetus receives oxygen and nutrients while in the womb through the placenta, and its lungs do not work. After the birth of the baby, the listed features of the circulatory system disappear on their own. By this time, the oval window and ductus arteriosus are no longer necessary.

Is it possible to hear a baby's heartbeat at home?

The presence of a heartbeat and the rate of fetal heartbeat are determined during pregnancy for a specific purpose.

After the expectant mother takes a pregnancy test and it comes back positive, the woman goes to the hospital to have an ultrasound scan. Modern ultrasound machines make it possible to hear the heartbeat of the embryo already during the first examination - at 4-5 weeks. But if you can’t hear the baby’s heart at the first ultrasound, you shouldn’t panic.

As a rule, when the procedure is repeated, you can hear the expected sound. However, sometimes a heartbeat does not appear, and the fertilized egg becomes deformed. This condition is defined as frozen pregnancy. In such a situation, medical termination of pregnancy is performed using special drugs. If such a situation occurs, then the woman is not recommended to become pregnant for about six months after this.

There are clear indicators of what is considered normal heartbeat at what stage. That is, a normal heartbeat per minute is determined depending on the period of development of the baby. The embryo's heart reacts to any changes in the world that surrounds it. After all, stress or illness of the mother directly affects children.

If the heart rate is too high for a long time, the doctor may suspect a disturbance in the blood supply to the fetus, so-called fetoplacental insufficiency. As a rule, this condition is chronic. Sometimes, when the child's compensatory capabilities are depleted, the heart rate is too slow.

During childbirth, the baby experiences very strong stress, lack of oxygen and compression. If everything goes well, then his heart and blood vessels cope normally with such loads. However, sometimes emergency conditions occur, for example, placental abruption, umbilical cord compression, in which prompt medical attention is needed.

Many women at a certain period of pregnancy are actively worried about how to determine the sex of the child by the fetal heartbeat. Indeed, among pregnant women and even among some medical workers, “there is a legend” that such a determination is possible, as well as the assumption that the size of the fetus can help determine who will be born - a boy or a girl.

It is believed that girls' hearts beat faster, and at 13 weeks or later their heart rate is up to 160 times per minute. According to this “belief,” boys’ heartbeat is 135-150 beats. But those who actively ask doctors questions: “How to find out the gender of a child by heartbeat at 12 weeks” or “At what age is this possible”, you need to take into account that this method is not scientifically based. Although there is an opinion that this method is only relevant up to 20 weeks.

The question of how many weeks it is possible to determine the sex of a child in this way is not relevant in principle, and heart rate is not a determining indicator. After all, it is possible to determine whether a boy or a girl is a boy or a girl by frequency only with an accuracy of 50%.

True, there is an opinion that in this case the fetal heartbeat is also important. Some “experts” claim that in boys it is more rhythmic, and in girls it is more chaotic.

There is one more sign: in boys, the heart rhythm coincides with the rhythm of their mother, but in girls it does not. But all these methods have nothing to do with medicine. After all, heart rate reflects the fetus’s ability to overcome a lack of oxygen, and not gender. Therefore, for mothers who begin to “guess” the gender immediately when the embryo’s heart begins to beat, it is better to get a high-quality ultrasound from a good specialist who will help find out the baby’s gender with high accuracy.

Possible pathologies

A child who is still in the womb is extremely sensitive to changes in her mood and well-being. Therefore, the heart rate after the 11th week of conception can fluctuate between 140–160 beats. The maximum permissible vibration amplitude should not exceed 5 to 25 shocks.

If the amplitude is greater than the permissible norm, it is worth determining the cause of the rapid heartbeat. These may include a woman’s nervous state, insomnia or bad mood. If the cause is something else, it is necessary to immediately find out its origin and, if necessary, begin treatment.

One of the most common causes of increased heart rate (tachycardia) of the fetus is hypoxia (oxygen starvation of the child). By frequently contracting the heart, the child’s body tries to replenish the insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood.

No less dangerous is a slowing of the fetal heart rate. If this indicator reaches 120 or less, we can say that the child is developing bradycardia.

The possibility of detecting a muted heart tone cannot be ruled out. The reason for this situation may be the woman’s obesity, incorrect position of the fetus in the womb, insufficient water, etc. In any case, it is necessary to determine the cause that provoked the pathology as soon as possible.

You should also not neglect the weak heartbeat of the embryo. In the early stages, this may indicate a miscarriage. If this pathology was detected in a woman in the later stages, this may signal increasing and progressive fetal hypoxia.

It happens quite often that the fetal heartbeat is not heard on an ultrasound from the 12th week. This indicates that the woman is not developing a pregnancy. In this case, you should immediately take all necessary measures to accurately determine whether the pregnancy is frozen and, if so, get rid of the fetus surgically.