How many weeks of pregnancy should I check the fetal heart rate

Generally speaking, the fetal heart rate can be detected normally after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The fetal heart rate is an important way for mothers to observe the health of their babies. When the fetal heart rate appears, the baby's fetal heart rate is relatively regular. If it is too fast or too slow, you must be alert. The baby may be suffering from hypoxia in the uterus. At this time, you must go to the hospital for examination in time to avoid harm to the baby.

How many weeks of pregnancy should I check the fetal heart rate

As the embryo develops, the gestational sac is formed in 30-40 days, the fetal bud is formed in 40-50 days, and the fetal heart is formed in 50-60 days. Therefore, B-ultrasound should generally be done around 60 days. At this time, you can see whether the gestational sac, fetal bud, and fetal heart are normal.

1. Characteristics of the embryo bud. The first month of pregnancy is the embryonic stage, during which the new life grows the fastest in its life. The sperm and egg combine at the end of the second week of pregnancy. About 4 days after fertilization, the sperm and egg, which have split into cell clusters, travel along the fallopian tube to the uterus. In the third week, the cell mass sheds its outer membrane in preparation for implantation. By the fourth week, the blastocyst has been firmly implanted in the uterus. During this period, the prototypes of the fetal nervous system and blood circulation organs (the basic tissues) have almost appeared, and the liver begins to develop significantly from this period. The prototypes of the eyes and nose have not yet been generated, but the prototypes of the mouth and chin can be seen. The umbilical cord connecting the baby to the mother also begins to develop during this period.

2. Fetal heart rate. The fetal heart rate is the heartbeat of the fetus, which can usually be heard in the abdomen with a regular stethoscope between 17 and 20 weeks. The fetal heart rate is 120-160 beats/minute, sometimes even faster and less regular. It becomes more regular towards the end of pregnancy. Sometimes there may be a brief pause in the heartbeat, or the heart rate may reach 180 beats per minute, which is normal. However, if this phenomenon occurs frequently or for a long time, you should seek medical attention in time.

Reasons for no fetal heartbeat or embryo

1. Chromosomal abnormality . As long as there is an abnormality in the chromosomes that carry genetic material, even if an embryo is formed, it will not develop normally.

2. Contact with toxic substances. Hazardous substances include toxic chemicals, inferior decoration materials, etc.

3. Exposure to radiation or large amounts of electromagnetic radiation. Expectant mothers are exposed to large amounts of radiation by taking X-rays without knowing it.

4. Taking drugs that interfere with fetal development. Some of expectant mothers’ early pregnancy reactions are very similar to cold symptoms, and their menstrual cycles are also very irregular. Therefore, many people mistakenly take cold medicine without knowing they are pregnant. In addition, some patients with chronic diseases are not prepared for pregnancy while taking long-term medications.

5. Smoking or drinking. Smoking and alcoholism not only interfere with women's reproductive ability, but also affect the quality of sperm, thereby affecting the development of the fetus.

6. The expectant mother is infected with the virus. For example, rubella, cytomegalovirus, etc. After being infected with these viruses, expectant mothers do not have very obvious symptoms, and there is no significant interference to their bodies, but they may be fatal to the fetus.

7. The expectant mother suffers from a chronic disease. For example, severe diabetes, hypertension, viral hepatitis, etc.

8. Abnormal maternal immune system. Antibodies are produced in the expectant mother's body against the embryo, preventing the embryo from developing.