What causes the fetal heartbeat to emerge in the sixth week of pregnancy but vanish in the ninth?
Ask:
Dear doctor,
I went for a check-up at 6 weeks and there was a fetal heartbeat. Now I am 9 weeks pregnant and I went for a check-up again and there is no fetal heartbeat. Doctor, can you tell me why there is a fetal heartbeat at 6 weeks but no fetal heartbeat at 9 weeks? Thank you, doctor..
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem (1984)
Answer:
The answer belongs to Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen, MD, specialist level 1 - Gynecologist - Gynecology Department, Vinmec Nha Trang International Hospital.
Hello,
I’m going to answer this question “What causes the fetal heartbeat to emerge in the sixth week of pregnancy but vanish in the ninth?”:
During fetal development, the heart begins to form quite clearly and beats around 22 days after conception, usually before the mother realizes she is pregnant. The fetal heartbeat usually appears in the 6th - 7th week of pregnancy, at which point, with modern ultrasound techniques, we can already hear the fetal heartbeat.
However, in many cases, it is not until the 8th - 10th week of pregnancy that the fetal heartbeat can be heard, depending on the menstrual cycle as well as the development of the embryo. During this stage, the heart develops from a simple tube shape, then twists and divides, eventually forming 4 heart chambers and heart valves (which open and close to release blood from the heart to the baby's body). From the 20th week onwards, the fetal heartbeat has become strong and at this time, it can be heard with just a normal stethoscope.
A 9-week embryo has a clear image of the embryo, so observing fetal heart activity and recording fetal heart doppler is very easy. When fetal heart activity and fetal heart doppler are not recorded, it means that the fetus has stopped progressing. As for the reason why the fetus is stillborn and how to handle the stillborn, the obstetrician will advise you in detail. Therefore, you should visit the doctor for specific advice.
If you are still concerned about “What causes the fetal heartbeat to emerge in the sixth week of pregnancy but vanish in the ninth?”, you can visit our Vinmec healthcare system for examination and consultation. We appreciate your confidence in Vinmec and your question. Wish you good health.
Sincerely!
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