Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Wild guess on the low heart rate: maybe the baby was sleeping during
    the low readings (and woke up for the 130 reading).
    
    When I was pregnant I got a special stethoscope at a local drugstore 
    (not a chain, a mom & pop type which featured lots of hospital-supply type
    stuff).  It was about $8 (in 1984) and had two ?sensors? (I don't know 
    what you call the input device!) on the business end; you just swivel 
    to activate the one you want.  (If you're not sure which one is "on", 
    just listen and tap lightly on one, then the other.)  One was the 
    standard, flat sensor for listening to the lungs, and the other (the one 
    you want) was concave.
    
    You do have to move it around a lot and you should be in a *silent*
    room, especially the first few times you try to hear it.  I know that
    at 7 months I could get the heartbeat with that scope.
    
    Best of luck,
    Leslie 

    Don't be alarmed if you have trouble finding the heartbeat 
    - I am under the impression that it is still not an easy thing
    to do, because unlike YOUR heart, putting the thing to your belly
    will not guarrantee that you've put it in the right place: the baby
    may be in a position that will give you difficulty.
    
    (my first impression upon reading your note was that if you go
    and get a 'scope, and have trouble getting the heartbeat, you'll worry
    yourself into a frenzy!) 
    
    My suggestion is to be honest with your doc about how much this 
    worries you -- don't let up until he either explains his rational 
    about "everything being normal" when you think it is not; or have
    him make some special arrangement with you for more visits; So that 
    you can sleep nights. 
    
    Monica

Thank you for the replies.

I did find a stethoscope, but I think it is the wrong kind.  It does have a 
flat sensor, and I was unable to locate the heartbeat with it.  I will look
for a concave sensor and try that.  I do understand that the heartbeat will
be hard (if not impossible) to find.  

During my last two Dr appointments, I don't THINK the baby was asleep.  The
baby kicked at the sensor a few times when the doctor was checking the heart
rate (maybe this was a reflex and the baby was really sleeping?).  

When the doctor checks the heart rate, I am lying on my back.  Is it possible
that this would slow the baby's heart rate?  I know it can reduce the amount
of oxygen that the baby receives.

At my next appointment, I will ask more direct questions about this situation.
If there is a POSSIBILITY that there is something wrong, I want to know NOW,
not later.  If anyone has any more information on this topic, I'd really 
appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,

Kerrie

Kerrie,

I don't have any information on heartbeat rates, but I wanted to urge you
to go ahead and call your doctor *now* to ask questions - there's no need to
wait for your next appointment.  I have also found that often I can get a good
answer from one of the nurses when I call in with a "dumb" question, so I don't
have to wait for the doctor to call back.  It's good to get in practice now for
calling in about anything that worries you, since you'll probably be doing
plenty of that after the baby's born (I sure did with my first! "Hello, this
is Cheryl again.  Is *this* normal?..." ).

					cheryl

    RE: Stethoscopes...
    
    My husband has a cardiology stethoscope ($150) and we very rarely can
    hear the hearbeat (if at all) and I am 34 weeks....this isn't even 
    a top of the line stethoscope (he's a paramedic)
    
    I really suggest you talk to your dr and forget the stethoscope thing..
    There is a prenatal stethoscope that is very very expensive...I
    think Lynn Tripp, are you out there? can verify what I'm saying...
    By trying to find the heartbeat (if you'll excuse the expression,
    with a cheap stethoscope) you'll have all kinds of anxiety attacks
    and become stressed out.  They are trained to listen for all kinds
    of things and you won't know what you're listening for...work with 
    your dr to calm your fears and save your sanity....8*)
    
    I apologize if this comes across so negative, but I have been worrying
    about one thing after another...now that it is almost over I wish
    I would have enjoyed it more rather than waste all this time worrying.
    
    I know many of you told me the same thing, but I guess you have
    to actually go through it to realize....
    
    Again, talk to your dr and let him help...that's why you are paying
    him..
    
    Keep us updated...Kristen
    
    
    

    
    I agree with everyone else here.  If this is bothering you, forget
    the stethoscope and pursue it with your doctor.  On a lighter note,
    however, I've always heard that fetal heart rates on the low side of
    the range mean.....it's a boy!
    
    Carol

    My third child had a fetal heartbeat in the "girl" range (140 - 160)
    right up until the 8th month when it slowed down DRASTICALLY!  I'm not
    sure how slow it got but I could actually hear the valves working when
    my midwife was taking the heartbeat.  It HAD to be below 120 because my
    middle son always had a fetal heartbeat around 120 and this was much
    slower.
    
    Anyway, my third SON (so much for girl ranges!) was born 4 days late
    and was absolutely perfect!
    
    So, talk to your doctor - press for answers - don't bother with a
    stethescope (sp?) but know that perfectly healthy kids can have really
    slow heartbeats and be FINE!
    
    Linda

    Hi Kerrie!
    
    As for the slow heartrate, it could be a boy, but that is not definite.
    My first two had rates of 165-175...as you know, both were girls...the
    third had a heart rate of 120-130...also a girl!!!  Can't always tell
    by the heartrate, but good luck.  Boy or Girl, they are terrific!
    
    Take care, don't worry and keep us posted!
    Lisa

    My brother's daughter had a very slow heart rate -- I don't
    remember how slow but it was enough the doctor was mildly
    concerned about it until he found out that my brother's resting
    heart rate is about 62.  (Average is 72.)  That doctor thought
    heredity was a factor.  And our grandfather's heart rate was 65,
    which is probably why he lived to be almost 80 despite severe
    emphysema.  
    
    --bonnie 

    Moderator's note:
    
    There are extensive discussions at notes 542 and 673, of folk myths
    regarding the determination of the unborn baby's sex.  The heart
    beat:sex discussion is located in one or both of these notes.
    
    Laura

    Yup! I'm out here....still catching up after being out for a few days
    with AJ's surgery last week!  In response to the quesition directed
    towards me.... and from personal experience.....  You really need a
    dopler type of device to hear the heartbeat. The kind that's like a
    microphone with speaker, and the doctor puts the utrasound goop all
    over your belly to make it work.
    
    Yes, I've had experiences with moms in labor, and distress, and it is
    nearly impossible under the best of conditions to hear a fetal
    heartbeat.  What I own is a double barrel (two large black rubber hoses) 
    with both the flat and cup shaped sensors, and NO you can't hear a 
    heartbeat in most cases!  
    
    From personal experience, both of my pregnancies I had non-stress
    monitoring at one point every other day.  They would put the monitor on
    my belly and we'd hear the heartbeat just fine, then he would move and
    it would disapear.  We'd either wait for him to "come back" or move the
    sensor to where it could be heard again, sometimes it was only a matter
    of moving it an inch or so, that's how hard it is to keep monitoring
    the heartbeat.
    
    Since we had an in-utero death the first time, I was just an awful
    patient for my OB the second time, I was on the phone with him at least 
    twice a week when I didn't think I was feeling enough or any movement, 
    fortunately AJ is proof that my worrying wasn't necesary.  I echo most 
    everyone's sentiments, Call your doctor if you have doubts, that's what 
    he's there for!
    
    Now do you have any thing that would put you into the "high-risk" group
    for pregnancy, such as over age 35, high blood pressure, history of
    miscarriage etc.  If you can answer no to these questions my opinion is
    that you've just got a nice relaxed baby.  108-110 is not that awfully
    low, especially for the 7 to 8 month range.  To answer you other
    question, yes laying on your back during and exam can slow down
    circulation just a bit, but unless you've got some major heart problems
    it shouldn't slow down the fetal heart beat.
    
    What I used to do what upon arrival for the NStest I would eat a piece
    of hard candy, the sugar would wake him up and get him moving, yes they
    do infact move around while sleeping, just like the rest of us!
    
    Relax, this is supposed to be a happy time for you!
    Lyn