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The normal fetal heartbeat for weeks

The heartbeat of the fetus, doctors determine the health status of the unborn child. The heart of unborn babies hear in about a month after conception, but in the early stages to count the number of strokes without special equipment is impossible. The frequency of contractions is different in different stages of pregnancy.

Standards fetal heart rate during different periods of gestation

Abrupt changes in the indices due to the development of the division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the functioning of internal organs.

A fetal heartbeat by weeks is presented in the table below:

Period for weeksHeart rate (beats/min)
5-Ifrom 80 to 85
6-Ifrom 102 to 126
7thfrom 126 to 149
8-Ifrom 149 to 172
9thfrom 155 to 195
10-Ifrom 160 to 179
11-Ifrom 153 to 177
12-Ifrom 150 to 174
13-Ifrom 147 to 171
from the 14th until the birthfrom 146 to 168

On the fifth week heart rate of the baby has the same meaning as in the mother, and is about 80-85 beats. Throughout the month every day, this figure will increase by three strokes. For the ninth week, the heart rate reaches 175 beats.

15 weeks and Yes the birth the doctors using ultrasound continuously monitor the heart rate, character rate, a rhythm, a heart.

Second trimester heart rate should be between 140 to 160 beats. If the heart rate exceeds 160 beats, it speaks of the beginning of oxygen starvation, if fell below the 120 – about the acute hypoxia. While heart rate is constantly changing depending on sleeping the fruit or awake, moving or remains stationary.

Heart rate monitoring is necessary in childbirth, especially if there are any pathological phenomena. If a pregnant it came time to end, the fetal heart rate during childbirth in norm equal to 140 beats, if not denounced, this figure can reach up to 155.

Continuous measurement of heart rate at birth is shown in the following cases:

  • chronic hypoxia and developmental delay;
  • the birth of a premature baby or the period of gestation is exceeded;
  • conduct induction of labor;
  • conduct of epidural anesthesia;
  • preeclampsia;
  • multiple pregnancy;
  • severe chronic illness in the mother.

Ways of listening to heart

There are several ways of determining the fetal heart rate. At different times doing different methods.

  1. Ultrasound. In the period from 4 to 20 weeks to hear the heartbeat, you can onlyusing ultrasonic equipment. At the beginning of pregnancy, 5-6 weeks, to determine the presence of a heartbeat or the lack of it, as well as the number of strokes. In the second and third trimesters, the doctor monitors the location of the heart and the structure of its departments. Using this method revealed more than 70% of heart defects.
  2. Fetal stethoscope is used, starting from the 20th week until birth. Listen in childbirth every 20 minutes, assess the indicators before each battle and after it.
  3. Stethoscope from 20 weeks until delivery.
  4. Echocardiography shown in the later stages of gestation.
  5. Cardiotocography is used primarily during childbirth. During pregnancy, for all future mothers once, since 28 weeks. In addition to frequency of attacks, record the contractions of the uterus and determine if there are any changes in the heartbeat, for example, of deceleration or acceleration.

Listening allows you to measure and monitor the fetus throughout the gestation period. Fetal heart reacts to any changes around you, whether it's physical stress woman, stress or disease. The frequency and nature of heart rate change depending on the phases of rest or sleep, from changes in the concentration of oxygen in the air that breathes his future mother. All these phenomena lead to temporary changes in the baby's heartbeat. Usually wary of doctors stable deviation from the norm, for example, when the heart often beats for a long time. As a rule, such violations indicate hypoxia, or oxygen starvation. If the heart of the baby begins to decline is too slow, it is a sign of deterioration of his condition. Treatment depends on the duration of pregnancy. Sometimes you have to induce labor.

Heart rate monitoring is required directly in the process of childbirth, not to miss acute hypoxia, so the audition is held after every fight. The child's body in childbirth are subjected to enormous loads. This is hypoxia, and compression, and in some cases detachment of the placenta and clamping of the umbilical cord. Usually in such cases require immediate assistance.

You pay attention when listening?

Formation of the heart in the fetus begins one of the first, and his work is the most important indicator of the development of the baby and its General condition. Listening to carried out for the entire pregnancy and during childbirth. Thanks to heart rate monitoring detect pathology of the unborn child early on.