No Heartbeat at 6 Weeks and 1 Day

When it comes to a healthy pregnancy and labor, research has shown that using continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) does not improve the outcome for the baby. For women who are healthy and have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, intermittent auscultation is recommended as the best way to listen to their baby's heartbeat during labor.

Intermittent auscultation involves listening to your baby's heartbeat at regular intervals using a Pinard or a small hand-held ultrasound device called a Doptone. Alternatively, continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) can be used, which continuously monitors your baby's heart rate and rhythm.

To monitor your baby's heartbeat, healthcare professionals will listen to the heart rate in several ways, including intermittent auscultation and EFM. If your baby is not coping well, this may be reflected in their heart rate pattern. Healthcare providers will also check your pulse (heartbeat) to distinguish it from your baby's.

It's normal for babies to have a variation in their heart rate due to the uterus contracting, which affects blood flow to the placenta (afterbirth). The normal range for a baby's heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. If the heart rate is higher or lower than this range, it does not necessarily mean that the baby is in difficulty.

The best way to identify babies who are having trouble is to listen to every baby's heartbeat regularly throughout labor. Most babies come through labor without any problems, but there are a few babies who may run into difficulties. Major part of midwifery care during labor is listening to and recording your baby's heartbeat to help identify if there are any problems.

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No heartbeat at 6 weeks 1 day