At week 7, I think we saw the heartbeat. I say “saw” because the embryo was far too small to use a typical listening device (i.e. Doppler) to heat the heartbeat.
What precipitated the visit was bleeding and slight cramping. At this point, we had switched doctors three times – moving from a midwife, to the head of the practice, to a newer doctor who we fell in love with at this very same visit. We’ll call her Dr. F.
That Sunday evening, when my wife had some spotting that showed up on toilet paper and in her underwear, we called the emergency nurse line to ask about it. We were told that it was most likely nothing, but to schedule appointment immediately.
I was concerned that H. (my wife) had done too much activity over the weekend. I immediately ordered her to cease and desist all activity and TAKE IT EASY. Believe you me, that appointment couldn’t come soon enough.
We luckily got into the doctor – a new doctor – the next day. She had a wry wit and a very no-nonsense air about her, but she was young and inspired confidence. She was exactly what we needed. Dr. F. ordered a vaginal ultrasound.
As a tech broke out something that looked very much like a small boom mic – which she officially termed a “wand,” H. and I held our breath. What came up on the screen didn’t exactly look like baby – more like a wee-beety alien Quasimodo (we later found out the hump was the “yolk sak”). In the center of the image of the mini-martian on the screen was a pixelated flutter in the center of the thing. It was a heart beat.
Though statistics arguably vary due to when the heartbeat is discovered, one statistic notes that the rate of miscarriage during the first trimester (first 12-14 weeks) drastically reduces – by ~70% – once a strong heart beat is heard. Our little martian had a 170+ beat-per-minute heart rate. Strong. Very strong.
H. choked down tears, not sure if crying was permitted in the exam room (we are just so new to this). Me? I just held my wife’s hand and tried to wrench my mouth closed from the wide-open, lock-jaw position it had been in for the last fifteen minutes.
As H. and I continued to stare at the screen, the tech printed the first picture we’d have of our baby.
Baby McG at 7 weeks, 4 days
A very common occurance, what H. and I had experienced was implantation bleeding. As the ovum (the egg cell – the largest cell in the female human body) begins its decent from the fallopian tubes to the uterus, it plant itselt into the uterine wall where it will develop along with its placenta. This nestling into the uterine wall creates some rupture of blood vessels as the egg works its way into the wall of the womb. The blood eventually works its way out. In our case, it worked it’s way out seven weeks and 3 days after implantation onto H.’s underwear and toilet paper. Happily, we now know that implantation bleeding is one of the only times bleeding is welcomed in pregnancy. It means the young baby has snuggled into the womb and has found itself a warm, welcome home to begin growth and development. It’s a good thing, people.
I guess the point of the story for us was that pregnancy marks a very weird, wild time for the female body. All kinds of crazy stuff is happening in there. If something seems wrong, off kilter, or just unusual, DO NOT FREAK OUT. The stress is bad for the mommy, baby and daddy (and dogs, cats, other family members, friends, etc.). Just calmly call the doctor and get in there to check it out. Some worry is natural; just try to keep it all in perspective. The doctor can tell you if it’s something to stress about. Try not to stress before you need to.
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(P.S. - We actually heard the heartbeat two weeks after this… 
)
-RookieDad Sean
