Normal fetal heart rate

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Lai Thi Nguyet Hang - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
The fetal heart forms very early, usually around the 6th or 16th week of pregnancy. The normal heart rate of the fetus is a signal to help the mother know that the fetus is developing well.

1. How does the fetal heart rate develop?

The fetal heart forms very early, usually around the 6th or 16th week of pregnancy. At that time, the embryo has appeared 2 blood vessels, forming 2 ducts leading to the fetal heart. Although the fetal shape is not complete at this time, the fetal heart is well formed and contracts, beating like a real human heart. By the end of the 5th week of pregnancy, this is an important milestone, if the fetus sees the heart, it shows that it has risen into a living germ.
By the 7th week, the fetal heart rate increases and begins to divide into the left and right chambers. You can even see and measure the flashing lights on the ultrasound machine. Beats per minute start at 90–110 beats/min and increase every day. Fetal heart rate continues to increase until it peaks around week 9, between 140–170 beats per minute for boys and girls.
Fetal heart begins to beat slightly at 11 weeks of pregnancy and by about 12 weeks it is almost complete. At the 14th week of pregnancy, the fetal heart beats more clearly. By the 16th week, you can already pump blood with an amount of about 24 liters / day and this amount will continue to increase with the development of the baby. At this time, the heart is complete in terms of structure and assumes its functions.
From the next weeks of pregnancy until the baby is born, the fetal heart rate continues to increase in size and volume. Normally, the fetal heart beats between 120 and 160 times per minute.

2. When is the fetal heart heard?

From the 6th to 7th week of pregnancy, doctors can help mothers hear their baby's fetal heart. However, in some fetuses, it is not until about 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy that you can hear the fetal heartbeat.
By the 20th week of pregnancy, the fetal heartbeat is stronger and you can hear it with just normal headphones. The louder and easier the beat you hear, the more likely it is that the fetus is very healthy and developing normally.

3. Normal fetal heart rate

Equipment serving ultrasound from the outside will support the doctor to measure and monitor the fetal heart rate. Besides, the doctor can attach a device used to monitor directly on the fetal scalp, ensuring more accurate fetal heart rate measurement results.
Therefore, the doctor needs to measure the fast or slow fetal heart rate, to capture all the changes related to the heart when something unexpected occurs. This is the most obvious manifestation of the health status of the mother and baby, and the risks that may be about to happen. From here, the doctor will take immediate measures to help ensure the safety of mother and baby.
3rd trimester fetal heart rate monitoring along with signs of labor is extremely important to ensure that the fetus is always in the best condition.
Normal heart rate One thing that pregnant women need to pay attention to when having a fetal ultrasound is the fast or slow heartbeat of the fetus. Because if the fetal heart beats too fast compared to the normal threshold, it is very likely that the health of the mother or the fetus is having problems.
Around the 12th week of pregnancy, the fetal heart is almost complete with clearer beats. By the end of week 16, the fetal heart is structurally complete and can function as a normal heart. At this time, the fetal heart can pump about 24 liters of blood per day. The average fetal heart rate can fluctuate from 120-160 beats/minute but the heart rate can increase as fast as 180 times/minute if the baby is moving a lot.
By the 20th week of pregnancy, the fetal heart beats faster. At this time, you just need to use normal headphones to hear your baby's heartbeat. The louder and easier the beat, the more it shows that the fetus is very healthy and developing normally
Obstetricians say that the fetal heart rate is between 110-160 beats per minute at the stage of labor is the best . Your baby's heart rate changes as naturally as your own. Movement, sleep, and other activities can cause changes to normal. Talk to your midwife or doctor about your concerns about your baby's heartbeat.
Fast heart beat

During the mother's labor, the doctor continuously measures the fast fetal heart rate. Here, we can understand, fetal tachycardia is when the heart rate can increase by at least 15 beats per minute, usually lasting at least 15 seconds. This situation is completely normal. The reason why the heart rate tends to increase rapidly is because the fetus needs enough oxygen to breathe.
A sudden rapid increase in fetal heart rate occurs many times during different periods of labor and delivery. During this process, if there are abnormal signs of heart failure, the heart rate slows down, most doctors will usually make the fetal heart beat faster by the following ways:
Gently shake the mother's belly. Put your finger through the cervix, press on the head of the fetus, for the lateral position. Creating short dynamic sounds These methods, if they help to increase the heart rate quickly, show that the fetus is still healthy.
Slow heart rate It is important to note that bradycardia is more dangerous to the fetus than tachycardia, because it may be a sign of fetal distress. Therefore, when the heart rate is too slow, only 80 times / minute, the mother needs to know it is dangerous to go to the emergency room right away.
Watch to know the development of the fetus week by week:

4. Fetal heart rate predicts gender?

Mothers often whisper stories around pregnancy that: fetal heart rate can predict sex as early as the first trimester. If the heart rate is above 140 beats per minute, the baby is a girl, and less than 140 beats per minute is a boy. However, the truth is that you cannot predict the sex of the fetus from the fetal heart rate, but must undergo an ultrasound image.
Monitoring the fetal heart rate is very important, it reflects the health status of the baby during pregnancy, abnormally fast heart rate warns of heart failure, slow heart rate warns of fetal failure. Therefore, pregnant women should have regular antenatal check-ups according to the doctor's appointment and check the fetal heart rate; especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy to have timely intervention if any abnormalities occur. In addition, during pregnancy, it is necessary to pay attention to:
Know the real signs of labor to get to the hospital in time, affecting the health of the fetus. Differentiate between amniotic fluid and vaginal discharge for timely handling to avoid premature birth, fetal distress, and stillbirth. Be especially careful when bleeding in the last 3 months of pregnancy needs urgent emergency care to ensure the life of both mother and baby. Monitor the amount of amniotic fluid regularly and continuously. Monitor fetal weight in the last 3 months to assess baby's development and predict possible risks at birth. The special monitoring group is the same as the striker, and the fetal growth retardation needs to be closely monitored by the doctor and given appropriate indications. Distinguish between physiological contractions, labor contractions and mechanical pregnancy to get to the hospital in time. Maternity services at Vinmec make the pregnancy process easier and safer for pregnant women. During pregnancy, pregnant women will be examined by top doctors in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department with high professional qualifications and experience, giving the best advice and treatment for the health of both mother and child. little.
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