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What are the current standards for the fetal heart rate? Is it possible for a fetal heart to beat faster than that of an adult? Is a very high fetal heart rate cause for concern? The question is answered by the drug. Katarzyna Darecka.
What are the norms for the fetal heart rate?
Hello. I would not like to be smarter than doctors in this question, but in a few months’ time I will be a father for the first time in my life and I am concerned about my child’s health. Well, recently my wife and I did fetal heart examination. And our child has a result of 120 beats per minute. Initially, I was terrified – I often do a blood pressure test with an ordinary blood pressure monitor, which also measures the heart rate, and there I always get around 80 beats per minute. It seems to me that 100 beats per minute is a lot and 120 is terrible palpitations.
Even so, the doctor said everything was fine. I tried to find out why the baby’s heart beats so fast, but he said this was within the normal range. Is it true? What standards does it have fetal heart rate? Could it be that the heart of a fetus beats so much faster than that of an adult? I know I’m a bit oversensitive, but I’m worried, and even a doctor can sometimes get it wrong and get something wrong. I will be grateful for clearing up all doubts.
The doctor explains what the norms are for the fetal heart rate
There is one thing to remember – a child, and especially a fetus, is not a small adult, many things distinguish our bodies depending on their age. That it is correct for an adult heart rate at rest between 60 and 100 beats per minute does not mean that this is a normal heart rate for the baby or the fetus. The number of beats per minute for the fetus should be between 110 and 160 beats per minute. We test it using cardiotocography from the 6th week of pregnancy to its end. If a child had a heart rate like the Lord, which is about 80 beats per minute, it could be a sign of a very serious condition of the child and imminent asphyxia.
It should also be noted that after giving birth, the baby’s heart rate will not suddenly become “adult”. Children, depending on age, apply different standards, they also differ depending on whether the child is sleeping or awake. In infants up to 3 months of age, the heart rate may be between 80-205 / min, in a child up to 2 years of age. between 75 and 190 / min, between 2 and 10 years of age heart rate should be 60-140 / min, and only after 10 years of age she should imitate an adult.
Why is this happening? It is difficult to find an exact answer, but probably due to the fact that the growth of the child and the fetus at this time is significant, significantly exceeding that of an adult, which means that they need much more oxygen to develop properly – hence the heart rate of such a frequency to pump out blood oxygenated to the tissues at high frequency. In addition to the body’s high demand for oxygen, larger amounts of carbon dioxide are drained into the lungs along with the blood. This is also evidenced by the higher respiratory rate than in an adult. Such a system allows for an uninterrupted, healthy growth rate of the body. I hope now the difference between fetal and adult heart rate is understandable, if there are still any doubts, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
– Lek. Katarzyna Darecka
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