How long does it take for the fetal heart rate and embryo to appear?

Generally speaking, the fetal heartbeat of the fetus will appear between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, at which time the fetal heartbeat can be measured using instruments. At present, the most widely used high-sensitivity Doppler instrument can hear the heartbeat like the sound of horse hooves. However, some hospitals may use general auscultation. In that case, it will take until 17-18 weeks to track the fetal heartbeat. So, how long does it take for fetal heart rate and embryonic heart rate to appear?

During the development stage of sperm and egg combination, the first two weeks are called fertilized eggs. After that, various organs are gradually formed. Before 8 weeks of pregnancy, it is called the embryo (or embryonic bud and fetal heart); the third to the first month and fourth week of pregnancy is called the embryonic bud and fetal heart period. Due to the growth and development of the test tube embryo, the gestational sac is produced on day 30-40, the embryonic bud and fetal heartbeat are produced on day 40-50, and the fetal heartbeat is produced on day 50-60. Therefore, the general B-ultrasound should be done around day 60. At this time, you can see whether the gestational sac, embryonic bud and fetal heartbeat are normal.

The fetus may begin to have a heart rate as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. However, due to the principle of auscultation, the fetal heart rate cannot be amplified. Therefore, if the fetus is too small, the heart rate is not obvious and cannot be heard by auscultation. Generally, the fetal heartbeat can be measured with a Doppler fetal heart monitor around 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, but it is not easy to hear the fetal heartbeat with a normal stethoscope at this time. The fetal heartbeat can only be heard with a stethoscope after 18-20 weeks of pregnancy.

It should be noted that most people cannot hear the fetal heart rate with a stethoscope, but pregnant women can try to use a stethoscope to listen to the fetal heart rate under the guidance of a doctor. Before 24 weeks of pregnancy, the fetal heart rate is usually just below the navel. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, as the baby grows, the position of the fetal heart will move upward. Because the baby's fetal movement is usually the movement of the baby's hands and feet, when you feel frequent fetal movements on the right side, the fetal heartbeat is usually on the left; when you feel frequent fetal movements on the left side, the fetal heartbeat is usually on the right side. Head and breech presentation can also affect the location of the fetal heart. In the head position, the fetal heartbeat is below the navel, and in the breech position, the fetal heartbeat is above the navel. Pregnant women can use auscultation to listen to their abdomen to see which part can hear the baby's heart rate.