- Written By: N. Madison
- Edited By: Jenn Walker
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2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
It is not common for a woman to have a miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat in the developing baby. In fact, a woman may have less than a 10-percent chance of having a miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat on an ultrasound. It is important to note, however, that this percentage is valid when the heart rate of the fetus is noted to be healthy. If the heart rate is below the minimum rate that is regarded as healthy, a miscarriage may be more likely. Additionally, the presence of a visible heartbeat does not mean a woman will not have a miscarriage; some women do miscarry, even after reaching this pregnancy milestone.
In most pregnancies, the sighting of the fetal heartbeat is an important milestone. In fact, this may be one of the first signs that a pregnancy is viable, which means there are no obvious signs of approaching pregnancy loss. Often, a developing baby’s heartbeat can be seen before it can be heard in a doctor's office. As such, many doctors recommend ultrasounds at around the eighth week of pregnancy in order to check on the development of the baby. This is particularly true when problems are expected or the pregnant woman is over the age of 35, which is often considered advanced maternal age.
Since miscarriage after seeing a fetal heartbeat is fairly uncommon, some women feel more comfortable about announcing their pregnancies once doctors have seen the fetal heartbeat. Some women may even become more emotionally attached to their developing babies at this point, as seeing the heartbeat may make the pregnancy feel more real. This may be especially true for first-time mothers, women who've had previous miscarriages, and those who aren’t experiencing the typical symptoms of pregnancy.
While miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat isn’t common, women should be aware that it is still possible to miscarry after seeing one. For example, a woman may experience a miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat if the fetal heart rate was below the normal range. Some miscarriages also occur when the developing baby’s heart rate was well within the normal range. This may occur because of a chromosomal abnormality in the baby; a maternal infection or health condition; a hormonal imbalance in the mother; or a structural problem with the uterus. In some cases, however, doctors are unsure of the cause of a miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat in the fetus.
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Mae82
Post 7 |
Miscarriage can be a very real fear for many mothers and I think a good relationship with your doctor is an excellent way to help you feel more at ease with your pregnancy. While you may have heard the heartbeat, I know you can still feel anxious about your baby's health even with this reassuring sign. Your doctor will give you plenty of advice, often without you asking for it. If he or she tells you to rest, it is a good idea to follow the doctor's orders exactly. Also, if you have been given things like prenatal vitamins, make sure you take them as instructed.
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Sara007
Post 6 |
If you are worried about a miscarriage even after seeing a heartbeat there are some simple things to do to make yourself more comfortable and healthy during your pregnancy. Diet is a big part of the health of you and your baby, and many suggest that lowering your fat intake is a good idea. Your doctor can help you with a nutrition plan that will make sure you both get everything you need. Exercise is another thing that can help you. Once again, ask your doctor if walking 30 to 40 minutes is a good plan for you. Keeping your fitness levels up has been shown to improve a mother's help and make pregnancy easier. |
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Bertie68
Post 5 |
I wonder why miscarriages don't usually happen after about the eight week mark, or when the heart begins beating?
I always thought that miscarriages usually happened because something with the fetus or the environment of the fetus or the mother's condition was not working right. If there was something fundamentally wrong, why would the risk of miscarriage go down so much as soon as a heart beat was detected? |
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lovealot
Post 4 |
I had two healthy children with no threat of a miscarriage. I am very grateful for this. I feel very badly for anyone who experiences a miscarriage.
When I had my children, there were no ultra sounds, so it was difficult to monitor the health of the fetus, and to tell when the heart began beating. It seems strange now, but we couldn't even tell the sex of the fetus until birth. |
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sneakers41
Post 3 |
@Crispety - I didn’t know that. I wanted to say that many women experience additional symptoms after a miscarriage. I have a friend who continued to bleed even after she miscarried and was given a prescription for Methergine in order to stop the bleeding.
She also told me that a doctor can tell if you are in danger of having a miscarriage because of the HCG levels in the bloodstream. This is the pregnancy hormone that has to be within a certain range to denote a healthy pregnancy.
A spotting miscarriage is the most common way that a women knows she is having a miscarriage. The symptoms also include strong stomach cramps and lower back pain as well. There may also be additional vaginal fluid because the membranes may have been striped. It is a really sad feeling to have a miscarriage and anyone experiencing one should seek a support group so that you don’t experience the grief alone. |
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Crispety
Post 2 |
@Sunshine31 -Wow, I am so sorry for your sister. That is so sad. I wanted to say that your sister should not blame herself because unfortunately things like this do happen and I am sure that she will be an even better mother as a result of this miscarriage.
A lot of people begin trying after a miscarriage, so I am glad that she did not give up hope and had a baby. I also wanted to add that miscarriage symptoms also develop as a result of some medications. It is really important to let your doctor know all of the medications that you are on because some women have reported miscarriages for taking certain prescription drugs.
I read that the prescription drugs are listed in various letter categories to let the pregnant women know how harmful the drug is on the fetus. The categories range from A to X with X being the most dangerous of all prescription drugs. Your doctor should be able to tell you if it is okay to continue to use your prescription drugs while you are pregnant. It is better to be safe than sorry. |
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sunshine31
Post 1 |
I think that it must be so heartbreaking to have a miscarriage after hearing the heartbeat because you have so much hope regarding the birth of the baby and don’t expect to have a miscarriage.
My sister had a miscarriage in her first trimester and it was devastating because it was her first time being pregnant. She was working as a manager of a retail store and began lifting heavy boxes. I think that this was the reason for her miscarriage.
It was really hard for her because she felt a lot of guilt and often second guessed her actions by blaming herself for the miscarriage. She was out of work for like a week because of her grief. She was able to have a baby a few years later and was overjoyed as you can imagine. |
