Why don't babies like dopplers?

[nehagarg]

I have noticed that my baby doesnt like dopplers at all.

Had to go in to hospital a few days ago because he wasn't moving and they put those round heartbeat monitoring devices on me for a 20 minute trace. He was upset, to say the least. Hadn't moved all day and as soon as the monitor was turned on, started rolling around and kicking the monitors like crazy until he managed to escape to another corner of my belly (I am only 28 weeks so there is space for him to move around). Once he was out from under the monitors, he calmed down and went back to sleep.

I tried my home doppler today (just for fun. I know I am not meant to rely on it if there is lack of movement) and the same thing happened. He was very quiet and as soon as I turned the doppler on, he tried to kick it off.

Any ideas why babies dont like dopplers? I wasnt digging it in or anything. Really seems like the sound waves are causing them major disturbance.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

It's restrictive for them I think. Our baby doesn't like it when my waist band goes over my bump in a certain way. They're very receptive to pressure.

[nehagarg]

Could be. He definitely moves if I poke my belly ... but the monitors and my doppler were not digging into my belly. Just sitting on top of it so not sure if it is the pressure that upsets him or the sound waves.

[Nicky333]

My baby kicks like crazy when I fold my arms across my bump, so I think it's the pressure. She also doesn't like it when she pokes a foot/leg/knee out and I poke it, but hey...

[nehagarg]

lol, mine is the same. Mine tries to kick my arms off of my bump too.

[ffauxlivia]

But how do we know a kicking means they don't like something? A nurse told me when they moved a lot it was their playtime, so what if when they kick in response to something they are just playing with us?! I always wonder this!

[nehagarg]

Good point ffauxlivia. The reason I feel they dont like it is because of their reaction time. Its literally instantaneous. In my case at least. And in the hospital, he did roll around and settle himself in another corner of my tummy. Usually he never leaves my right side but that day for the first time he migrated to the left.

Also when I put my doppler on today, i didnt put any pressure at all. It was a feather light touch and he reacted so unless its sound qaves, i dont see how he could know that something is touching the outside of my belly.

Dont know. Just asking why because it is a fascinating question to me. Obviously doesnt do the babies any harm since most babies undergo this kind of monitoring.

[princesspineapple]

I always thought it was the cold... They always put that freezing gel on for the doppler and the scans, and baby wakes up and shuffles over to the other side!
There's a lot less room for shuffling now I'm 39 weeks, but there's still a protest whenever we have a scan or a heartbeat check!

[mascaraisamust]

Cold?? I would have thought that'd be the reason?

[nehagarg]

They didnt put any gel on me with the hospital monitors when they did the trace though that was digging in a bit.

Maybe its a combination of factors.

[randomsabreuse]

My first noticeable kick was a large boot to the scanner at the 20w scan. Similar reactions to the mws listening devices at checks - was quite amusing

[ICJump]

I assume it's the sound waves

[bessie84]

i also think playtime, dopplers, scanners, pokes, tipping water on bump, theyre reacting to a sensation, id say its a good thing. very cute.

[malvinandhobbes]

If I roll onto my stomach in my sleep (I am only 20 weeks and the bump gets smaller over night) the baby wakes me up by kicking hard. It is the same kind of thing I do to DH when he snores.

[YeahNotTooBad]

I used to rest my iPad on my bump. I'd get away with it for about 10 mins and then it would get kicked off pretty hard! Really used to make me laugh.

They just don't like things pressing on them I think.

[nehagarg]

Lol Malvin. I am getting kicked if I squash him too.

Thabks everyone. Seems to be a combination of things then.