Maternity Nursing Q 61
FHR can be auscultated with a fetoscope as early as which of the following?
A. 5 weeks gestation
B. 10 weeks gestation
C. 15 weeks gestation
D. 20 weeks gestation
Correct Answer: D. 20 weeks gestation
The FHR can be auscultated with a fetoscope at about 20 week’s gestation. FHR usually is auscultated at the midline suprapubic region with a Doppler ultrasound transducer at 10 to 12 week’s gestation. FHR, cannot be heard any earlier than 10 weeks’ gestation.
Option A: A fetal heartbeat may first be detected by a vaginal ultrasound as early as 5 1/2 to 6 weeks after gestation. That’s when a fetal pole, the first visible sign of a developing embryo, can sometimes be seen.
Option B: With all the rapid growth, the woman will probably be able to hear her baby’s heartbeat for the first time around week 9 or week 10 of pregnancy, though it can vary a bit. It will be about 170 beats per minute by this time, a rate that will slow from here on out. Her doctor or midwife will place a handheld ultrasound device called a Doppler on your belly to amplify the sound.
Option C: The baby’s heartbeat may be heard as early as the twelfth week of pregnancy using a highly sensitive Doppler that allows hearing the baby’s heartbeat. The normal range for the baby’s heart rate is 115 to 160 beats per minute.