A normal heart rate for a fetus can range from 110 to 160 beats per minute (BPM).
Very early in pregnancy, it is typically around 110 BPM.
Fetal heart rate can provide lots of information about your babys health during pregnancy.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Healthcare providers usually start checking it at the 10- or 12-week prenatal visit.
From there, providers generally do so during each prenatal appointment and while monitoring labor.
This measurement helps healthcare providers determine the well-being of the fetus during prenatal visits or labor.
For most of your pregnancy, the fetal heart rate will average between 110 and 160 BPM.
Fetal Heart Rate Changes Throughout Pregnancy
The average fetal heart rate varies depending on thestage of pregnancy.
The heart rate increases while they are moving around and decreases while theyre asleep.
These changes are similar to what adults experience while exercising or at rest.
What Is an Abnormal Fetal Heart Rate?
An abnormal fetal heart rate is one that is either too fast or two slow.
Bradycardia
Bradycardia is when the fetal heart rate isslower than 110 BPM.
This is very uncommon and usually temporary.
Most of the time, fetal bradycardia doesnt need to be treated.
Sometimes, however, it will require interventions like medication or early delivery.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is when the fetal heart rate isfaster than 160 BPM.It is uncommon and usually temporary.
Sometimes, babies that experience tachycardia need follow-up care after they are born.
What Causes an Abnormal Fetal Heart Rate?
Sometimes a fetal heart rate is outside the normal range simply because the fetus is moving around.
Other times, it indicates a health concern for the baby.
This may have to do with something happening in the mothers body.
External Monitoring
External monitoring means checking the fetal heart rate through the mothers belly.
TheDoppler machineis an example of external monitoring and can be used during prenatal visits or labor.
The fetal heart rate and contraction information appear on an attached computer screen.
This technique is considered only after a mothers water has broken and the cervix is dilated or open.
It provides more precise readings that are not affected by the babys movement.
Who Should Monitor Fetal Heart Rate?
As such, fetal heart rate checks are best left to qualified medical professionals.
Home Monitoring Risks
Occasional use of Dopplers by a healthcare provider is considered safe.
However, the use ofover-the-counter handheld fetal Dopplerscan have negative consequences.
They continue to monitor it during prenatal appointments and during labor.
Normal variations in fetal heart rate occur when the baby is moving or asleep.
It provides your healthcare team with information so they can intervene, if necessary.
It is called fetal tachycardia when it is greater than 160 to 180 BPM.
This depends on the source and duration of your increased heart rate.
The fetal heart rate acts as a screening tool for the healthcare team.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.Fetal heart rate monitoring during labor.
2013;1:e82.
2015;131(1):13-24. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.06.019.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fetal heart monitoring.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Prenatal care in your first trimester.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fetal development.
Consumer Reports.Think twice before buying an at-home fetal Doppler.
2015;43(4):198-203. doi:10.1249/JES.0000000000000058.
