Low Fetal Heart Rate in Early Pregnancy
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I had an ultrasound last week when I was 6 weeks pregnant. We saw the baby, yolk sac, and heartbeat!! However, the ultrasound tech was concerned that the baby's heart rate was low, 86. She said this can be normal early in pregnancy and will hopefully pick up by the time I have my follow up ultrasound in 1 week.
I am trying not to worry, but I know 86 is a very low number. Is there any hope that this can still be a viable pregnancy? Is it true that it can be normal to have a low heart rate early in pregnancy and have it pick up?
Thanks! :)
Jessica
ANSWER
Sure, it can be normal. I even had a newborn who was that mellow :-). It is definitely premature to worry; you will know a lot more next week.
Good luck!
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
