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Baby -
Development
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Pregnancy Baby Heartbeat.My doctor told me that my baby's heart starts beating very early. When does this happen?
By the 6th week of pregnancy (age of fetus is 4 weeks), the heart tubes fuse and contractions of the heart begin. This can be seen on ultrasound.
When will I be able to hear my baby's heartbeat?
With doppler ultrasound, it is possible to hear the heartbeat as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy. It may be possible to hear your baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope at around 20 weeks. If you can't hear it, don't worry. It's not always easy, even for a doctor who does this on a regular basis. While I was listening to my baby's heartbeat the other day at my doctor's office, I heard it skip a beat. Is this serious?
An irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias in a fetus are not unusual, so don't be overly concerned about it. The equipment could also be faulty, or there may be some other problem transmitting the sound.
If my baby has an arrhythmia, what can be done about it?
Arrhythmias are not usually serious in a baby before birth; many disappear after the baby is born. If an arrhythmia is discovered before labor and delivery, you may require fetal heart-rate monitoring during pregnancy. When an arrhythmia is discovered during labor, you may need a pediatrician present when the baby is born.
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