To doppler or not to doppler?

[Pheebe]

Hi All
I'm 7+4 and SIL brought my doppler back today. Couldn't wait to try it and found a heart beat really easily...phew! I found it a real comfort with ds after several mcs and an ectopic and am looking forward to being able to follow this one too (fingers knotted tightly it hangs in there!). Just wondering what everyone else feels about using home dopplers as I've heard mixed reports, especially from mws.

[PinkTulips]

at 7+4 are you sure it's baby's heartbeat your hearing and not your own?

afaik babies can't be heard with a doppler til 14-16 weeks

[lulumama]

how fast was it? would be amazed if a home doppler can pick up foetal hearbeat at 7 + 4when midwives can struggle at 16 weeks

these things scare me, for the simple reason, if you cannot find the heart beat, you are anxious.....when there is a valid reason for not hearing it, like uterus still too low in the pelvis

[tinkerbellhadpiles]

Umm I heard my baby's at 7 weeks and was addicted to the doppler, although there is some evidence that its bad for the baby's hearing so once I got to twelve weeks I limited myself to once a week or whenever I had a tizzy (oh all right once a day or so). It's just so reassuring to hear that fast beat isn't it)

Oh I feel all wistful now!!!!

[tinkerbellhadpiles]

Actually I'm wrong, it's ULTRASOUNDs that are apparently bad for hearing, not hand held dopplers. My MW agreed mine was one of the best she'd ever used (she kept borrowing it when I went to see her) and I got it on ebay!!!

[nickytwotimes]

put it away! mw is trained to use it. can be tricky to find the heart beat and you'll only poo yourself with fear!

[lulumama]

doppler uses ultrasound, no? what else is it they are called sonicaids....

[Pheebe]

I appreciate all your concerns, I am medically trained so I know it was bubs heartbeart, besides I spent months listening to ds. the difficulties mws often have is one of time not ability and as bubs get bigger it can be more difficult to get the right angle to hear so actually its sometimes easier to hear then when they're a bit smaller. you can easily hear the difference by listening for your own pulse, bubs is much faster. I agree though you really have to have the right attitude, if i hadn't heard anything today i'd have waited a few days and tried again so long as no other symptoms. I quite often couldn't hear ds at first attempt and just left it for an hour and tried again.

[tinkerbellhadpiles]

Pheebe - you go for it if it makes you feel better. Bond with yer bump I say.

[Pheebe]

Thanks tinks i will its a dangerous line though for me anyway cos of history of mcs i don't want to hear it but i don't want to get too attached ... i'm just not sure thats possible

[Pheebe]

er that should read i DO want to hear it

[tinkerbellhadpiles]

Sweetheart you know that there is sadly nothing you can do but hope (I've been there) and if hearing the heart makes you feel better the fgs do it! Bond anyway, you'll never regret the love you gave youur kids whatever the outcome (sad smile)