Heart rate (HR) is an important indicator that allows doctors to determine the health of the unborn child.
You can hear the fetal heartbeat already 1 month after conception, but at this stage it is impossible to count the number of beats without special equipment. Heart rate is different at different stages of pregnancy. Accordingly, heart rate norms are determined by weeks.
Methods for measuring heart rate:
- Ultrasound (ultrasound examination). The most common way to evaluate the size of the fetus, the gestational age, the condition of the placenta, etc. With the help of ultrasound, they listen to heart tones, examine the structure of the heart, and detect abnormalities;
- auscultation. It involves listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope. Determines the approximate heart rate, clarity of tones and presentation of the child. The device can be used even by a person without a medical education, but it is effective only from the 3rd trimester. In some cases, auscultation is not possible. For example, with an overweight pregnant woman, a small or large amount of amniotic fluid;
- cardiography (CTG). An informative method that allows you to determine the baby's heartbeat, oxygen starvation and take timely action. The CTG device is equipped with sensors for uterine contractions and fetal movements. They record the activity of the uterus, explore the phases of wakefulness and sleep of the embryo. The first CTG is performed after 32 weeks. The second - immediately before childbirth. In rare cases, CTG is done during the entire period of pregnancy according to indications;
- echocardiography. It is carried out in the 2-3 trimester with suspected heart defects in the fetus. EchoCG is an ultrasound examination that studies the structural features of the baby and blood flow.
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Embryo heart rate table by week
The fetal heartbeat during pregnancy is checked for every registered woman. This indicator allows:
- confirm the fact of pregnancy. After the first delay, the woman is sent for diagnosis. By ultrasound, from the 3rd week you can hear the sound of the heart. If the fetal cardiac activity is not observed, after a while, an ultrasound is done again. The absence of a heartbeat indicates a missed pregnancy;
- assess the condition of the fetus. The heart of a child is sensitive to changes. Stress, maternal illness, the amount of oxygen in the surrounding space, the phases of sleep and rest are immediately reflected in the heart rate. If the heart beats too often for a long time, the blood supply to the fetus is impaired. If slowed down, this indicates a deterioration in the condition of the baby. Editing methods largely depend on how long the heartbeat became pathological;
- monitoring the condition of the fetus during childbirth. During childbirth, the baby experiences a strong load and lack of oxygen. Heart rate monitoring allows you to identify difficulties such as cord clamping, placental abruption, and take emergency steps to eliminate the consequences. In childbirth, the baby's heart rate is checked after each contraction.
There is a belief that the sex of the child can be determined from the fetal heart rate. Allegedly, girls have a heartbeat of 150-170 beats per minute, and boys - 130-150. Therefore, many people think that if, according to ultrasound, the fetal heart is 146 beats per minute, or, for example, 137, 143, then a boy will be born. And who will be at 167 strokes, or 158, 172 - a boy.
This hypothesis is not scientifically supported in any way. Gender by heart rate can only be determined with 50% confidence. The heart rate in boys and girls reflects the ability to combat the lack of oxygen. And gender has no effect on this ability.
If you want to know the sex of the unborn child, contact an ultrasound specialist. Gender can be determined from 15-16 weeks.
The heart rate changes not only according to the phases of the baby's activity, but also depending on the duration of pregnancy.
- at week 7, the norm is 115 contractions;
- on the 8th heartbeat can jump up to 170 beats per minute;
- at 11 weeks, the heart rate is usually kept at 150 beats. Minor deviations up or down are allowed.
Starting from the thirteenth week, doctors constantly and heart rate by ultrasound, check the nature and rhythm, the location of the heart.
From the second trimester, the frequency of contractions stabilizes and is 140-160 beats. If the pulse is fast, for example, 170-180, this indicates oxygen starvation. If low, less than 120 - about fetal hypoxia.
Doctor's observation
Heartbeat control is mandatory during childbirth, especially in the presence of any pathologies. The normal heart rate is 140 beats. But sometimes it can reach 155.
Baby's heart rate:
Thus, the number of 125 strokes is the norm for the initial stages of pregnancy. In the later stages, it is considered weak and requires additional examination.
And the pulse is 153, 162, 166 beats per minute, natural for the terms of 11-40 weeks, for the 4-7th it is pathological.
You can find out the sex of the fetus
When determining the heart rate, the doctor evaluates not only the fetal heartbeat, but takes into account additional factors: the presence of a disease in the mother, the time of listening, the baby is sleeping or is in an active state.
When the expectant mother wants to listen to the baby's heart beat, it is not necessary to visit the clinic. The sound of embryonic development can be heard in the following ways:
- stethoscope. An ordinary obstetric tube is inexpensive and allows you to listen to the baby's heart. You will need a patient assistant. It is important to learn to distinguish the heart from the sounds of the movements of the child, the pulse, the peristalsis of the mother. Effective from 18-25 weeks;
- fetal doppler. Suitable for those who do not have time to master the stethoscope. The portable ultrasonic detector works on the principle of CTG, only it does not give a graphic image. Headphones are usually included. This device is valid from 8-12 weeks, and you can use it up to the 38-39th;
- put your ear to your belly. The method is suitable for late terms, in the 3rd trimester. The place of application depends on the location of the fetus. If the baby is lying head down, place the ear below the navel. With breech presentation - higher. Usually this method is used by men to hear the life emerging in the womb.
Important seven days
The heart of the fetus is one of the first to form. His work is a special indicator of the development and general condition of the child. Therefore, listening is carried out throughout pregnancy and during childbirth.
Regular monitoring of the heartbeat allows you to detect cardiovascular pathologies in the early stages.
Expressed work of the myocardium begins from the 3rd week, but you can calculate the heart rate from 5-7 days on ultrasound. At this time, the heart turns into a full-fledged four-chamber organ.
On the early dates a transvaginal sensor is used to listen to the heart rate, and an abdominal sensor can be used as early as 6 weeks.
Expecting a healthy baby
When determining heart rate during pregnancy, the following indicators are important:
- contraction frequency. Too fast heartbeat, up to 200 beats / min and above or slow, less than 100 - these are pathologies that require examination and diagnosis;
- tone character. A healthy heart sounds loud and clear. Lubricated and deaf tones indicate a disease;
- rhythm. Normally, the heart repeats beats at regular intervals. In acute and chronic hypoxia in the embryo, valve defects, arrhythmia is observed.
Women who are expecting a baby undergo 2 screening ultrasounds, which also determine the heart rate during pregnancy.
The first examination is carried out at 12-13 weeks, the second on the 21st (some pass on the 24th), the third screening is performed on the 32nd.
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With the help of ultrasound, the size and condition of the fetus and placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid, the place of its attachment in the body, as well as the normal heart rate of the fetus or there are deviations are determined.
Starting from the 19th week, heart beats are heard in a simple way- a stethoscope. Auscultation is carried out at each visit to the pregnant antenatal clinic.
If defects are suspected during ultrasound, echocardiography is used. It is done on terms of 18-28 weeks. The method allows you to study the state of the heart and features of blood flow.
Indications for echocardiography are women over 38 years of age who have children with defects, diabetes or infectious diseases during pregnancy. Another indication is intrauterine growth retardation.
At 30-32 weeks, CTG is performed - they record the heart of the unborn baby. In the early stages, CTG is meaningless, since the result will be difficult to decipher. CTG allows you to determine the rate at 32 weeks, namely 140-160 beats per minute.
CTG may also be prescribed at other times if other methods for determining heart rate in boys and girls do not work. Indications for it are late preeclampsia, a scar on the uterus, early aging of the placenta, chronic diseases, insufficient or excessive amount of amniotic fluid, intrauterine growth retardation, infections, gestational age.
: Borovikova Olga
gynecologist, ultrasound doctor, geneticist
The heart rate (HR) of a child is one of the important indicators of the normal course of pregnancy. You can listen to the beat of a child's heart as early as 6–8 obstetric weeks after conception during ultrasound diagnostics. As the baby grows, the heart rate changes. Special tables have been developed from which you can find out the value of this indicator. What characteristics are important when listening to the heart of the embryo and for what reason do deviations occur?
When does an embryo's heart begin to beat?
The fetal heart is one of those important organs, which are formed and function from the first weeks of intrauterine development. Registration of its rhythm is one of the reliable criteria for fetal cardiac activity:
- an early knock is evidence that the fetus is growing and developing;
- heart rate values at different points in pregnancy are different, which allows you to constantly monitor the development of the baby;
- according to the characteristics of the heart rate (rhythmic, arrhythmic, clear, muffled), it is possible to identify intrauterine pathologies and take the necessary measures to preserve the pregnancy.
The laying of the heart occurs at 2-3 weeks of the life of the embryo. Initially, it has the shape of a small hollow tube and eventually transforms into a miniature full-fledged organ. The first shocks are observed at 4-5 weeks. The heart begins to beat gradually, soon its rhythm improves. Initially, the organ occupies 10% of total area body, by the end of gestation, the indicator is reduced to 1%.
How can you hear a baby's heartbeat?
The heart rate of one baby or twins can be recorded by the following methods:
- Ultrasound diagnostics. Ultrasound is performed from 4–7 weeks, it allows you to determine the size of the organ, listen to tones, and identify gross malformations. If necessary, it is prescribed at 12, and at 20, and at 23, and at 32, and at 37 weeks.
- Listening with a stethoscope. It is performed by an obstetrician from the 20th week to assess the timbre, frequency and rhythm of the knock, to determine the noise.
- Echocardiography. It is carried out from the 20th week if fetal malformations are suspected. Allows you to study the blood flow, the structure of the muscular organ. The indications for the study are the age of the mother over 35 years old, the birth of children with a history of heart defects, and infectious diseases in a woman.
- Cardiography. The method is effective from the 30th week. It helps to determine the degree of oxygen starvation by the nature of the pulse and movements of the crumbs. These parameters fix sensitive sensors and display the result in the form of a graph.
If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, the woman should do control ultrasounds three times: at 11–14, 18–21, 30–34 weeks. Listening with a stethoscope occurs every time at a planned visit to the doctor from the second half of gestation in order to determine the rhythm and heart rate of the fetus. The obstetrician first determines the position of the baby in the uterus and then applies a stethoscope to the woman's stomach closer to the head of the fetus from the side of its back. The frequency, rhythm and sonority of tones are evaluated.
Cardiac monitoring is carried out at 30–32 weeks. In the pathological course of pregnancy (polyhydramnios, hypoxia, gestosis), the study is performed as often as necessary to determine the condition of the child: at 32, 35, 38, 40 weeks. The CTG apparatus is also used in childbirth in order to determine the baby's heartbeat, the contractile activity of the uterus.
During the first four weeks of pregnancy, the fetal heartbeat is not heard. To determine its viability and the successful course of pregnancy, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine is ascertained. In the absence of conception, the hormone level is not higher than 5 mIU / ml. If the fetus develops correctly, the hCG indicator will increase and will be (mIU / ml):
- 1-2 obstetric weeks - 25-156;
- 3–4 – 101–4800;
- 5-6 weeks - 2560-82300.
In what cases is it necessary to calculate the heart rate of a child in the womb?
Listening to the heartbeat of the fetus or twins is aimed at monitoring the growth of the baby. Counting the contractions of the heart muscle allows you to monitor the formation of the fetus during the gestational age and control the delivery process at 38–40 weeks.
Calculation of heart rate makes it possible to determine a number of pathological conditions:
- Heart defects. With abnormal development of the organ, a change in rhythm is noted - arrhythmia is observed. What caused the anomaly? This allows you to find out additional examinations. Also, the presence of extraneous noise indicates the pathologies of the organ.
- Fading pregnancy. The method allows to detect the death of the fetus in the womb in the early stages. If, with an embryo size of 4–5 mm or more, there is no heartbeat at 6–12 weeks, the hCG level is close to zero, which means that the embryo does not develop.
- Fetal hypoxia. Insufficient oxygen supply is compensated by more intense blood flow and an increase in heart rate. With hypoxia, the heartbeat is weak, slow, its indicators are below normal.
The rate of fetal heart rate by week (table)
Indicators of changes in the heart rate of the child in the womb are shown in the table:
| Obstetric week of pregnancy | Heart rate (bpm) |
| 4–5 | 90-120 |
| 6–7 | 100–125 |
| 8–9 | 120–150 |
| 10–11 | 125–160 |
| 12–13 | 130–170 |
| 14–15 | 140–180 |
| 16–17 | 135–170 |
| 18–19 | 135–165 |
| 20–21 | 140–170 |
| 22–23 | 130–160 |
| 24–41 | 120–160 |
The highest heart rate values are observed at 8–12, 14–15 weeks of gestation. Then they gradually decrease. By the 13th–15th week, the organs and systems are finally formed, from this time the active growth of the fetus begins. At the end of the term, the heart rate is 120-160 beats per minute.
The heart rate of a child during fetal development depends on a number of significant factors:
- physical activity;
- hemoglobin level;
- uterine tone;
- emotional state of a woman;
- pathologies of gestation: Rhesus conflict, bleeding;
- individual characteristics of the myocardium;
- period: sleep or wake time.
If a woman is carrying twins, each baby's heart rate is usually at the lower limit of normal. Good performance of each of the children at the time of birth is 110-150 beats per minute. Tachycardia is indicated by parameters of 180 beats per minute or more. Bradycardia in one or two babies is diagnosed with a pulse of 100 beats per minute or less.
Heart rate does not depend on the sex of the child. On average, a baby's heart beats twice as fast in the womb as that of its mother. However, there is a belief that the heartbeat of boys is 120-150 beats per minute. In girls, the figure is higher - 150-170. It is believed that in male children the nature of the heartbeat is measured, while in girls it is more chaotic. This information has not been scientifically confirmed. You can accurately find out the sex of the child during an ultrasound scan from the 18th week. The error in the determination is 10%.
What characteristics are taken into account when listening to the baby's heart rate?
When examining the work of the heart of the embryo with one of the above methods, the doctor draws attention to the following indicators:
- Heart rate. The rapid beating of the child's heart is a symptom of tachycardia. A rare and muffled knock is observed with bradycardia. Both conditions need close monitoring and correction after finding out the causes of occurrence.
- Rhythm. The norm is equal time intervals between heart beats. Heart valve defects, fetal hypoxia, intrauterine infection and other pathologies lead to arrhythmia.
- The nature of the tones. Clear and sonorous beats are evidence that the heart is healthy. If deaf, blurred shocks are heard, pathology is possible.
What can deviations from the norm signal?
The main criterion that doctors are guided by when assessing the intrauterine development of the fetus is the heart rate. As a rule, an increase in this indicator compared to the norm is detected, and this is not as dangerous as a slowdown.
An increase in heart rate is evidence of fetal oxygen starvation, which can occur for the following reasons:
- malformations of intrauterine development;
- anemia (in mother or fetus);
- uterine bleeding, the threat of miscarriage;
- acute diseases of the mother, in which there is intoxication, fever;
- nodes and abnormal length of the umbilical cord;
- placental insufficiency;
- intrauterine infection;
- preeclampsia and any pathology that leads to circulatory disorders in the placenta;
- hereditary factor.
A decrease in heart rate compared to normal values (bradycardia) is evidence of the following disorders:
- severe hypoxia;
- increased levels of potassium in the mother's blood;
- improper metabolism in the maternal and child body;
- severe pathology of the fetal heart.
Errors in the study of the pulse should not be ruled out, the cause of which may be:
- the location of the placenta in the anterior uterine wall;
- multiple pregnancy;
- polyhydramnios;
- maternal obesity;
- increased activity of the child.
The reason for a short-term slowdown in the fetal heartbeat or irregular contractions of the heart muscle can be the long position of the mother on her back during the examination. If a pathology is detected, in many cases delivery will be indicated by caesarean section. In case of difficulties in the study, arrhythmias or other deviations, the doctor will appoint a second time for the examination, send for additional tests.
If the causes of the pathological change in heart rate are identified, treatment will be prescribed. It depends on the duration of pregnancy, the nature of its course, the severity of the pathology and other factors. Usually, a pregnant woman is hospitalized or sent to a day hospital.
Therapy includes medication, vitamin complexes, mental decline and physical activity, stress prevention. Regular monitoring of the condition of the fetus is carried out. In severe situations, a caesarean section is performed.
The table of heart rate indicators is informative, but only a doctor can draw conclusions about the child's condition based on it. The task of the mother is to strictly follow his recommendations, if necessary, undergo the necessary examinations and the prescribed treatment.
Neither the older generation nor smart medical professionals can understand the desire of young families to plan a son or daughter or find out the sex of a child by heartbeat as early as possible. This is only justified if there is a risk of transmission of a hereditary disease to children of a certain gender. But such cases are extremely rare.
Without going into the reasons for the increased interest in determining the sex of a child by heartbeat at 12 weeks or a little later, we will tell you what doctors say on this topic. Perhaps the opinion of experts does not coincide with your information on how to determine the sex of a child by heartbeat, but who can you trust if not professionals? Let's reckon with the fact that the 21st century is in the yard and believe grandmother's tales just unworthy.
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When studying the norms of the heart rate, first in the embryo, and then in the fetus, pay attention to the fact that there are no reservations about gender or the dependence of heart rate on gender anywhere.
There are limits on the maximum allowable lower and upper pulse values for determining pathologies of perinatal development:
- intrauterine bradycardia - heart rate less than 110 beats / minute;
- tachycardia - heart rate of 180 beats per minute or more.
There are also data such as fetal heart rate by week in the table. The gender of the child is also not considered in these data. The explanation for this is very simple.
Heart rate is an individual and variable indicator, depending on many factors, including maternal health and congenital fetal abnormalities.
Therefore, some of the future babies can have a heart rate of 80-85 beats per minute, and someone - 150-170.
By changing the parameters of the heart rate, the doctor is able to assume the presence of intrauterine diseases of the fetus, but it is impossible to determine the sex of the child by the heartbeat.
When does the fetal heart begin to beat?
Questions like “is it possible to determine the sex of a child by heartbeat” arise due to ordinary illiteracy and lack of understanding of the physiology of intrauterine development. But it's quite fixable. If you sincerely want to give birth to a healthy child, you will definitely find time to read about the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy, about when the mechanism of a barely formed heart starts and whether it is possible to find out the sex of a child by heartbeat.
The parameters of the pulse of the future man are regularly measured in the antenatal clinic as part of the "pregnancy management". This is done not in order to find out the sex of the child by the heartbeat, but to monitor the vital activity of the fetus and timely detection of problems with its health. This is especially true in women at risk for cardiovascular and other pathologies (with heart failure, hypertension, etc.).
Reliable determination of the sex of the unborn child is not an easy task.
In obstetrics, the beginning of contractions of the myocardium of the embryo is considered the 3rd week from conception. But to hear it at this time, and even more so to determine the sex of the child by heartbeat at 12-14 weeks or any other period, is impossible.
Listening to the fetal pulse becomes possible only by the beginning of the 6th week of pregnancy (the so-called obstetric, which is calculated from the date of the last menstruation) during the procedure. During this period, the baby's pulse should match the mother's pulse (normal value is 83 +/- 3 beats / minute). Is it possible to determine the sex of a child by the fetal heartbeat? You can’t, but you can calculate his gestational age, knowing that the heart rate increases by 3 beats every 24 hours with optimal development.
Gestational age is the total number of weeks of pregnancy from the beginning of the last menstruation, which makes it possible to calculate a more accurate time of delivery.
Table of fetal heart rate by week
As follows from the above, the pulse rate in the fetus is steadily changing, which is associated with its intensive growth inside the womb. Throughout the entire period of bearing a child, this indicator is periodically measured in the antenatal clinic and compared with the optimal indicators, the benchmarks for which are indicated below.
| Obstetric gestational age (full weeks) | Heart rate limits (beats per minute) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 104-127 |
| 7 | 127-149 |
| 8 | 149-173 |
| 9 | 154-194 |
| 10 | 160-178 |
| 11 | 154-176 |
| 12 | 150-174 |
| 13 | 147-171 |
| 14 | 146-168 |
| 20 | 140-170 |
Many sources claim that the sex of the child can be determined from the heartbeat, believing that in such tables the heart rates of children of different sexes are indicated. They base their theory on the fact that boys supposedly have a rarer pulse, and the paired numbers above are taken as a basis.
But these numbers are just ranges - within which numbers can a pair 
heart rate meters. Such a heartbeat occurs in both boys and girls; the sex of the child cannot be determined by the heartbeat or at any other time.
The parameters of the infant pulse in the perinatal period are correlated (interrelated) with many factors:
- mother's hormonal background;
- individual characteristics of myocardial innervation and conduction;
- activity of fetal movements;
- the amount of hemoglobin in the blood of the child and mother;
- the state of wakefulness or sleep of the baby during the study;
- possible perinatal pathologies - Rh conflict, bleeding, severe preeclampsia, fetal hypoxia.
Therefore, all questions on the topic - how to determine the sex of a child by a heartbeat at 12 weeks or 20 - are untenable.
How to know - a boy or a girl - by heartbeat?
In order to finally dispel the myth about the existence of such a technique as determining the sex of an unborn child by heartbeat, even a small study was conducted with a group of women expecting a baby.
The researchers tried to determine the sex of the baby by heart rate at 20 weeks and earlier, but the results showed that the predictive value of this technique was only 50%. What does this number mean? The same as the statement of fairy-tale characters: "One of two things - either the patient is alive, or he is no longer breathing." So there can be no positive answer to the question - is it possible to determine the sex of the child by heart rate?
Test the technique for yourself
The best way out is to wait for the deadline, not by heartbeat at 15 weeks, but by ultrasound. But if you can't wait, you can check for yourself - how to determine the gender of a child by heart rate. To do this, return to the weekly heart rate table.
Of course, this method cannot be taken seriously, but as an additional entertainment during pregnancy, you can try. In the end, you have nothing to lose if the ultrasound matches your predictions or, conversely, shows a different result.
So, it gives us two heart rate values for each week - the minimum allowable and the maximum allowable. Proponents of the method are sure that girls' hearts beat faster (oh, how they can't wait to be born into the world!).
Let's determine which values in our table "can" be considered girlish and which are boyish. To do this, you have to remember arithmetic.
- When calculating how to find out the sex of a child by the fetal heart rate at 12 weeks, find the heart rate values for the 12th week in the table: 150-174 beats / minute.
- Now calculate the difference between the larger and smaller values - 24 beats per minute.
- Divide the difference in half and get 12.
- Now add 12 to your minimum heart rate: 150+12=162 beats.
So you can listen to the fetal heartbeat
Well, here we have found the maximum value of the pulse, which is inherent in future men at the 12th week - no more than 162 beats. All heart rate readings above this value will mean that a future lady lives in your womb (do not forget, this technique is not scientifically confirmed).
Make exactly the same calculations for each subsequent period. Let's break it down for another week.
- To calculate how to determine whether the unborn child is a boy or a girl - by heartbeat at 13 weeks, find the heart rate norm for the 13th week in the table, it will be 147-171 beats.
- Subtract from 171 ( greater value norms) 147 (lower value), get again 24.
- Divide 24 in half = 12, and add this number to the minimum value of the norm: 147+12=159.
In this case, it turns out that if the fetal heart rate is above 159 beats per minute, then you will have a girl, and if it is less than 159 beats, then there will be a boy.
Congratulations, now you know exactly how to determine the sex of a child by the fetal heart rate using a method of unknown origin.
Surprisingly, despite the variety of medical articles on the topic of sex determination, giving a qualified answer about the gender of the baby, many parents are still looking for detours and dumbfound the doctors with questions.
The most popular of them:
- how to find out the sex of a baby by heartbeat at 13 weeks (the sooner the better!);
- how to determine the sex of a child by heartbeat at 20 weeks (for some reason, this period is considered the most suitable for calculating sex by heartbeat).
There are also such young parents who are trying to calculate the gender of the child. For a doctor, this is a bit strange wording, but it’s enough to look and read the so-called “mom forums” to see how popular the question is, how to calculate the sex of a child by updating the parents’ blood.
Every mother wants to hear the sound of the heartbeat of her unborn baby as soon as possible. Of course, this is one of the most pleasant and exciting experiences. After all, if you hear how the heart beats, it means that the fetus is growing.
But the sound of the fetal heart not only indicates that new life actively developing, but can also give a lot of important information about the health of the baby.
The question of when a fetal heartbeat appears is relevant for every expectant mother, like this important point, like fetal movement during pregnancy, the norm of which for each woman may be different. The heartbeat can also be heard for the first time on different terms.
Women who are interested in how long a heartbeat appears should understand that the fetal heart does not start beating at one moment. When the laying of this organ begins, then a part of the tissue, which will subsequently develop into the ventricles of the heart, makes contractile movements. Of course, the period when the fetal heartbeat is heard on ultrasound comes later.
The gynecologist will tell you what week this sound is heard: it can sometimes be heard already in the very early stages. At what hCG it is audible and for how long the heartbeat is “seen” on ultrasound, it also depends on the power of the apparatus that is used for the study. Using a conventional abdominal ultrasound probe, the doctor can hear heartbeats as early as 5 weeks. And with the help of a vaginal sensor, beats can be heard as early as 3-4 weeks, that is, immediately after the heart of the fetus begins to beat.
The heart rate depends on which week the heart beats. It is different at different stages of pregnancy.
- When the period is 6 weeks - 8 weeks, the fetal heart rate is 110-130 beats per minute.
- In the period from 8 to 11 weeks - heart rate can increase to 190 beats.
- Already from 11 weeks, the frequency is 140-160 beats.
The table below shows the heart rate for different periods of gestation. It is very easy to understand how many beats per minute the baby's heart should beat in different periods pregnancy.
Fetal heart rate table by week:
Those who are interested in the table of fetal heart rate by week by sex of the child should know that both girls and boys have the same heartbeat.
The doctor evaluates not only the fetal heart rate by week, but also additional factors, such as the phase of the child's activity, diseases of the mother and fetus, the time when the frequency is determined, etc.
If the fetal heart rate is disturbed by weeks, this may be due to various reasons.
Why is the heart rhythm disturbed
If heart rate is less than 120 beats per minute
- The causes of a weak heartbeat in the early stages can be associated with various reasons. It can be fixed for a short period of time - up to 4 weeks. At week 6, the embryo's pulse can be 100-120 beats. A pulse of 130 beats also indicates that everything is fine with the baby. But if a very low heart rate is recorded, less than 80 beats, then there is a risk of pregnancy loss.
- If an ultrasound scan of 12 weeks or more indicates a low heart rate, this may be due to chronic hypoxia fetusbut or his reaction to the fact that the umbilical cord is squeezed. If the heartbeat is 120 beats per minute, what to do, the doctor should tell, guided by the results of the research.
- Before childbirth, a weak rhythm may be evidence of acute or chronic fetal hypoxia, as well as compression of the umbilical cord during contractions.
If the pulse is 160 beats per minute is exceeded
- In the first weeks of pregnancy, this is usually a variant of the norm, but in some cases it indicates a violation of placentation.
- After 12 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus can react in this way to its own movements or to the stress experienced by the mother.
- fetus on later dates may be a consequence of chronic fetal hypoxia or a reaction to movement or contraction.
Sounds are muffled, tones are hard to hear
- If listening is performed in pregnant women in the early stages, this may indicate that the period is too short or the study is carried out by a faulty sensor, or the listening device is outdated. This is also possible if mom has. But also poorly heard tones in the early stages may be evidence that the baby has blood vessels.
- After 12 weeks, dull tones can be heard if the mother is obese, as well as feto-placental insufficiency , presentation (if the placenta is located on the anterior wall), oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. Sometimes deaf tones are fixed if the location of the child in the womb is inconvenient for listening. However, malformations of the heart or blood vessels are also not excluded.
- In late tones, this phenomenon indicates that active contractions have begun or fetal hypoxia is noted.
No heartbeat
- In the earliest stages, the sound of a heart beat is absent if the period during listening is very short, or an outdated sensor is used. However, sometimes this is evidence that the pregnancy has stopped or is starting.
- For a period of 12 weeks or more, as well as in the last weeks, the absence of a heart sound can either be evidence of an incorrect auscultation site or a breakdown of the CTG sensor, or to talk about what has happened antenatal fetal death .
The presence of a heartbeat and the rate of the fetal heartbeat is determined during pregnancy for a specific purpose.
To establish that a pregnancy is developing
After the expectant mother has taken a pregnancy test and it is positive, the woman goes to the hospital to undergo an ultrasound. Modern ultrasound machines make it possible to hear the beat of the heart of the embryo already at the first examination - at 4-5 weeks. But if the baby’s heart is not heard on the first ultrasound, you should not panic. As a rule, when the procedure is repeated, you can hear the expected sound. However, sometimes the heartbeat does not appear, there is a deformation of the fetal egg. This condition is defined as missed pregnancy. In such a situation, it is medical interruption pregnancy with the help of special drugs. If such a situation occurs, then a woman is not recommended to become pregnant for about six months after that.
To assess fetal development
There are clear indicators of what is considered a normal heartbeat at what time. That is, a normal heartbeat per minute is determined depending on the period of development of the baby. The heart of the embryo reacts to any changes in the world that surrounds it. After all, stress or illness of the mother directly affects children. Also, the rate of heart beats per minute varies depending on the period of activity or sleep of the fetus. The oxygen level in the air also affects the heart rate. However, any disturbances associated with exposure to such factors are temporary.
Provided that the heart rate is too high for a long time, the doctor may suspect a violation of the fetal blood supply, the so-called fetoplacental insufficiency . As a rule, this condition is chronic. Sometimes, when the child's compensatory abilities are exhausted, too slow heart rate is noted. This indicates that the condition of the fetus has worsened. In such a situation, sometimes a decision is made on emergency delivery. The doctor takes into account what the heartbeat should be in which week, and from when exactly the pathology manifested itself, determines the tactics of treatment.
Determination of the state of the fetus in childbirth
During childbirth, the baby experiences very strong stress, lack of oxygen and compression. If everything goes well, then his heart and blood vessels normally cope with such loads. However, sometimes emergencies occur, for example, placental abruption , clamping of the umbilical cord that require immediate medical attention. That is why, during childbirth, the doctor determines how many beats the heart rate is after each contraction, so as not to miss the development of an acute lack of oxygen.
Ultrasound procedure
The first method to determine if the heart rate is normal or not is an ultrasound. During an ultrasound, along with an assessment of the heartbeat, the doctor assesses the condition of the placenta, the size of the fetus. 
Heart sounds are listened very carefully, and its structure is studied if a woman has already had children with vascular and heart defects. If the mother suffered infectious diseases during pregnancy, special attention is paid to the work and structure of the heart.
If necessary, an ultrasound of the fetal heart is performed during pregnancy. At what time to do an ultrasound of the fetal heart, the doctor determines. Most optimal time for the study of echo CG - 12 weeks. But a woman can also conduct an echocardiogram at her own request to make sure that everything is fine with the child.
This method involves listening to heart sounds using a special obstetric stethoscope. True, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to hear a heartbeat in the early stages with a stethoscope is negative. The period when you can hear with a stethoscope is 18-20 weeks. A doctor with experience can determine a number of indicators using such a device. He will listen to the approximate frequency with which the heart beats, determine the clarity of the tones and find the place where they are heard best. The algorithm for listening to the fetal heartbeat and determining the heart rate is simple: this can be done using a stopwatch. 
But sometimes auscultation with a stethoscope is difficult or even impossible. This is likely if the mother has a very large weight, if the placenta is located on the anterior wall of the uterus (in this case, vascular noise interferes), if there is very little or a lot of amniotic fluid.
Cardiotocography (CTG)
This is an informative method by which the fetal heartbeat can be assessed. This procedure allows for early stages determine the oxygen starvation of the fetus and timely eliminate this problem.
The CTG machine is an ultrasound transducer that sends and picks up reflected signals from the heart. In this case, all changes in rhythm are recorded on tape. During the procedure, the doctor installs not only the main sensor, but also a uterine contraction sensor, with which you can determine the activity of the uterus. The most modern devices have fetal movement sensors, and sometimes there is a special button so that the woman herself can record the movements.
The entire process of CTG examination takes about 60 minutes. During this period, in most cases, it is possible to fix the period of sleep and activity of the fetus. But sometimes there is a need to examine the condition of the fetus throughout the day. Then the sensors attached to the stomach are left for a day.
Heart rate analysis is carried out taking into account the gestational age at which the study was performed. The first CTG is performed at 32 weeks. If it is carried out earlier, at 30 weeks or even earlier, the results will be uninformative. When 31 weeks pass, a relationship is formed between cardiac activity and fetal motor activity.
Most often, a pregnant woman undergoes this study twice - at 32 weeks and just before the birth. This procedure does not harm either the woman or the baby, so it can be done as many times as needed.
The specialist deciphers the CTG tape, compares the results with the data from the analyzes and ultrasound. However, cardiotocography is not a source of definitive diagnosis.
What is a "good" CTG
A “good” KGT is considered if the indicators are as follows:
- Heart rate is normal - from 120 to 160 beats per minute;
- when the baby moves, the heart rate increases;
- there is no decrease in heart rate or it is observed very rarely and in small quantities.
The apparatus analyzes these indicators and, based on its results, issues a special PSP index. If the condition of the fetus is normal, then this index is not more than one.
However, it must be taken into account that a variety of factors affect how a child's heart works. And only a specialist can correctly evaluate them.
Why is "bad" CTG determined?
- Most often, changes on CTG are determined if there is fetal hypoxia . An increase in heart rate is characteristic of a condition when the fetus does not have enough oxygen, and the heart is forced to work very intensively.
- When a contraction or movement occurs, the baby's heart rate may slow down, which is not a normal condition.
- Short changes on the tape are fixed if the umbilical cord is pressed against the fetal head. At the same time, the results look the same as with oxygen starvation, but the baby feels normal.
- If the sensors were attached incorrectly, the results obtained may also be "bad".
In case of detection hypoxia when listening to the fetal heartbeat, the doctor conducts additional studies to confirm or refute the diagnosis. If hypoxia is confirmed, treatment is carried out, or the doctor decides on an emergency delivery.
echocardiography
Echocardiography is used if there is a suspicion of heart defects in the fetus at 18-28 weeks of gestation. Using this method, you can determine the features of the structure of the heart and blood flow. This procedure is carried out in the following cases:
- the expectant mother already has children who are diagnosed with heart defects;
- during pregnancy, infectious diseases were transferred, especially in the first weeks;
- the mother has congenital heart defects;
- the future mother is over 38 years old;
- a woman is diagnosed;
- there is a delay in intrauterine development of the fetus;
- the fetus has malformations in other organs, and there is a possibility of developing birth defects hearts.
This method is used both as a two-dimensional ultrasound, and using other modes of an ultrasound scanner: Doppler mode, one-dimensional ultrasound. With this combination of techniques, it becomes possible to carefully study the structure of the heart, the features of blood flow.
Is it possible to determine the sex of a child by the heartbeat?
Many women in a certain period of pregnancy are actively worried about how to determine the sex of the child by the fetal heartbeat. Indeed, among pregnant women and even among some medical professionals, there is a "legend" that such a definition is possible, as well as the assumption that the size of the fetus can help determine who will be born - a boy or a girl.
It is believed that in girls the heart beats faster, and at 13 weeks or later, their heart rate is up to 160 times per minute. According to this "belief", in boys the heartbeat is 135-150 beats. But for those who actively ask doctors questions: “How to find out the sex of a child by heartbeat at 12 weeks” or “How long is this possible”, you need to consider that this method is not scientifically sound. Although there is an opinion that this method is relevant only up to 20 weeks.
The question of how many weeks it is possible to determine the sex of a child in this way is not relevant in principle, and the heart rate is not a determining indicator. After all, it is possible to determine whether it is a boy or a girl by frequency except with an accuracy of 50%.
True, there is an opinion that in this case it is also important what kind of heartbeat the fetus has. Some "experts" say that in boys it is more rhythmic, and in girls it is more chaotic.
There is another sign: in boys, the heart rhythm coincides with the rhythm of the mother, in girls - no. But all these methods have nothing to do with medicine. After all, heart rate reflects the ability of the fetus to overcome the lack of oxygen, and not gender. Therefore, mothers who begin to "guess" the gender immediately, when the heart of the embryo begins to beat, it is better to do a high-quality ultrasound in a good specialist which will help to find out the gender of the baby with high accuracy.
Can you hear heartbeats with a phonendoscope? Those who are interested in how to listen to the heartbeat at home can use several methods. You can hear this pleasant sound for parents at home with a stethoscope, a portable device - a fetal doppler, and, finally, simply putting your ear to your tummy. 
How to listen to the heartbeat at home, we will discuss below. For this there is no need to visit women's consultation. If the expectant mother and her entourage have experience, the heart can be heard earlier. After all, a more experienced woman notices the movement of the fetus earlier during the second pregnancy. The heart rate, however, must be monitored by a doctor.
With a stethoscope
You can listen to the heart with the most common obstetric stethoscope. It is necessary to purchase an obstetric tube and use someone's help. Of course, the fetus at 12 weeks of pregnancy at home will not be able to listen. If this person has no experience, then it will not be possible to hear anything earlier than at 25 weeks. But if the fetus is heard for 30 weeks, then it is much easier to hear the beats. You just need to practice a little and get the hang of it. In this case, it is necessary to clearly distinguish what it is - the pulse, the peristalsis of the pregnant woman, the movements of the fetus, or yet its heartbeat.
Using fetal doppler
If you wish, you can buy a special device - a fetal doppler. This is a portable ultrasonic detector that works like a conventional CTG machine, but the image is not captured on the film. Sometimes headphones are included so that you can clearly hear the sounds. With the help of a doppler, you can hear heart sounds starting from 8 weeks. However, it is better to start using this device a little later. It is important that the study itself does not last longer than ten minutes.
As the advantages of this device, it should be noted the ability to listen to the heartbeat in the early stages, as well as the ease of use and the ability of a woman to do this without help.
The disadvantages of using Doppler are its high cost, limitations in use. In addition, this device should not be used without measure.
Putting your ear to your belly
Sometimes you can hear the heart by simply putting your ear to your tummy. This is possible in the last weeks of gestation. However, a positive result can only be obtained if the expectant mother does not have too much fat.
You need to listen to the heart in a certain place in the abdomen, depending on how the baby is located. If he lies upside down, then you need to listen to the heartbeat below the woman's navel. If the baby's head is at the top, then it is advisable to listen to the tones above the mother's navel. At multiple pregnancy the heartbeat of each fetus is heard in different places.
conclusions
Thus, the level of heart rate is a very important indicator of the development of the child. controlled by a doctor during pregnancy. Future mothers should know that severe heart pathologies are very rare, and in most cases, babies are born healthy. But, nevertheless, it is important to regularly undergo all studies, control the heartbeat. The rate of beats per minute in women and in a child is an important indicator, and the doctor takes this into account. But the future mother herself should be very careful about her own health and “listen” to the baby.
When a representative of the weaker sex receives a positive pregnancy test, she has a number of questions and doubts. So, a woman thinks about how fast her tummy will grow. future mother interested in their own well-being. Also an important issue that worries a woman is determining the sex of the unborn baby. Will a boy or girl be born? This article will tell you about how sex determination is carried out. You will learn the features of the rhythm of muscle contractions in boys and girls. It is also worth saying that at 12 weeks it is determined more accurately than earlier or later.
Gender of the child: a general description of the formation
At the moment of fertilization of the egg, only one spermatozoon penetrates into its cavity. It can carry sex gametes with an X or Y chromosome. Accordingly, the sex of the future baby is laid already at this moment. The embryo during this period has not yet been fully formed, and you will not be able to determine its gender in any way.
Around c the reproductive organs begin to form. Girls and boys at this moment they look the same. However, in the future there will be a strong transformation, and perfectly distinct sexual organs will appear.
Determination of the sex of the child by the heartbeat in the womb
To begin with, it is worth saying what values exist, and how this affects the gender of the baby.
Rhythm of contractions. Boys can boast a measured and clear rhythm. Their heart beats smoothly and evenly. In future girls, the muscle contracts chaotically and excitedly. It seems that girls in the womb are more emotional personalities.
Dependence on the maternal pulse. There is an opinion that the boyish heart beats not only clearly and monotonously, but also much louder. Also, all contractions coincide with the maternal pulse. Girls, on the other hand, do not have any dependence on the beating of the parent's heart. Tones of muscle contractions of future daughters are more muffled and not so clear.
Side of the abdomen. There is a version that a boyish heart beats on the left. If the sound comes from the right, then, most likely, a girl will be born.
true or myth?
Is it possible to believe the above regularity? Many use this method in order to find out as early as possible who will be born to them. However, the probability of a correct answer is only 50%.
Doctors, on the other hand, say that research in this way is nothing more than simple entertainment. Officially, this technique is not recognized and has no reasonable confirmation.
How can heart rate be calculated?
So, you already know how the sex of the child is determined by the heartbeat. The options proposed above can be grouped and combined with each other. However, to draw any conclusion, you must first count the baby in the womb. This manipulation can be carried out in several ways:
- using a stethoscope (this option is suitable for measurements after 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the reproductive organ leaves the boundaries of the small pelvis);
- using a tube (this method is used after 20 weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus is already quite large);
- cardiotocography apparatus (examination and measurements are made after 30 weeks of pregnancy);
- with the help of a doppler (the device is used after 15 weeks of child development and looks like a miniature ultrasound machine);
- during ultrasound (diagnosis can be carried out at the earliest stages of pregnancy).
How to determine the gender of the crumbs at 12 weeks?
If you want to know the sex of the baby by heartbeat at 12 weeks, then you need to do an ultrasound. During diagnostics, the specialist can turn on the sound of the device. This will allow not only to calculate the number of contractions, but also to hear them.
Also, the doctor can display a curved line of the cardiogram. Special Program measures and counts heart beats. The work of the technique allows you to avoid the error that could be when counting human strikes. So, how to determine the sex of a baby by heartbeat at 12 weeks?
What is typical for girls? During this period, the frequency of muscle contractions is in the range from 150 to 170 beats per minute. The knocks are fast and muffled. The rhythm is chaotic, and it's hard for you to catch the monotony. Also, an experienced specialist may have their own ways to determine the sex of the baby by the sound of his heart.
What is typical for boys? The beat of the heart is observed from 120 to 140 times per minute. The sound produced is clear and loud. The contractions are more like the beating of an adult's heart. A special rhythm is also determined. With an increase in pressure or excitement of the mother, the baby's heart begins to beat faster. This pattern is present in most cases.
Summing up and a small conclusion
So, now you know how to determine the sex of a baby by heartbeat at 12 weeks. Remember that with increasing duration, the number of muscle contractions gradually decreases. By the time of delivery, it reaches 100-120 beats per minute.
Also, too early measurements can lead you to wrong result. In the period from 8 to 10 weeks of development of the baby, his heart can beat at a frequency of up to 180 beats per minute. At the same time, boys are practically no different from girls.
Remember that an ultrasound examination, which is carried out after, will help to more accurately find out the sex of the unborn child. That is why you should not be too gullible about all methods of early diagnosis of the child's sex. Good luck and have healthy babies!
