Picture this: You’re lying there, maybe in a softly lit ultrasound room, your fingers crisscrossed, waiting. You can hear your heart pounding in your ears—but you’re not listening for yours. You’re waiting to hear theirs.

When can you hear baby heartbeat? When Does a Baby Have a Heartbeat? What Does a Fetal Heartbeat Sound Like?

There’s something about silence that feels different when you're pregnant. Hearing the heartbeat for the first time changes something.

Let’s walk through what to expect, what science says, and what it feels like—because this journey is just as emotional as it is medical.

When does a baby have a heartbeat?

6 to 8 weeks is typically the period when you can expect to hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time during an ultrasound. But here’s the catch. Every pregnancy is different hence this time stamp can be changed for you. Here are some most common times when you can hear a heartbeat. 

Some transvaginal ultrasounds can pick up the first flickers of a heartbeat as early as 6 weeks. Although it is not as loud to be audible, you can see little rhythmic pulsing on the screen. 

Most parents hear that signature galloping sound around 8 weeks. It feels like a little horse running. That’s because early fetal heart rates are nearly double that of an adult's, often clocking in at 120–160 beats per minute.

If you haven't heard the heartbeat earlier, don’t panic. Many healthcare providers wait until 10 to 12 weeks to try using a Doppler device. The Doppler device is the handheld one you may recognize from prenatal appointments. 

And if you don’t hear it yet? It doesn’t automatically mean something’s wrong. It's just early. Your provider will guide you based on your timeline.

What does a fetal heartbeat sound like?

I won’t lie, but your first thought might be, “That doesn’t sound like a heartbeat at all!” Instead of the familiar “lub-dub” you’d hear through a stethoscope on an adult, a fetal heartbeat sounds more like:

• A galloping horse

• A distant train

• A fast, rhythmic tapping

Some parents say it sounds like a tiny drumline. Others describe it as the sound of hope in audio form. And once you hear it, it's hard to forget.

If you’re at an appointment and the doctor lets you listen in, it might come through the Doppler like a faint static noise, followed by a sudden clear “whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.” That’s your baby.

It’s also worth noting: a slower heartbeat isn’t automatically bad, nor is a fast one automatically good. The normal range for a fetal heartbeat changes slightly throughout the pregnancy. Your provider will tell you what’s healthy based on your baby’s age and development. No matter how early can you hear a baby's heartbeat, this moment is yours. Whether it brings relief, joy, or even tears—it’s part of your story now.

Take a breath. Enjoy your motherhood, you are doing just fine, Momma!