how early can you hear a baby's heartbeat

A baby's heartbeat can first be detected by ultrasound as early as 5.5 to 6 weeks after conception, with cardiac activity typically seen around 6 to 7 weeks of pregnancy. However, hearing the heartbeat using a Doppler device usually happens later, around 10 to 12 weeks, and a standard stethoscope can only hear it by about 20 to 22 weeks. Early detection is more accurate with vaginal ultrasounds, while abdominal ultrasounds tend to detect the heartbeat a bit later. Not hearing the heartbeat early on does not necessarily indicate a problem, as several factors influence detection times.