Fetal Heart Monitor...Anyone bought or tried one?

[koonelly]

Just found a site that sell fetal heart monitors, they are not the doppler or sonic ones the midwife use but small monitors with earphones. Has anyone tried these, how good are they and from when can you use them?

[bundle]

koonelly, why do you want to use one? advice on mn (from our resident midwife) has been basically that they only serve to increase anxiety.

[bundle]

koonelly, why do you want to use one? advice on mn (from our resident midwife) has been basically that they only serve to increase anxiety.

[bundle]

(sorry about that)

[Hanlou007]

I have the ones with earphones...it lovely to hear the heartbeat...I havent really got any anxieties so i am ok with it but if you have i wouldnt get one.....

It only really works after 20 wks

[bonym]

We've got one and it's brilliant. Would agree with Hanlou that only works after 20weeks or so but it's lovely to hear babe's heart thumping away and has been a great reassurance on the couple of occasions when I hadn't felt her move for while. As long as you accept that you can't always pick the heartbeat up (depending on babe's position) and it can often take a while and lots of moving it around before finding anything then I would recommend them. If, on the other hand you are the type who would panic if you can't hear anything, don't get one!

[koonelly]

hi bundle, thatmay be right, i am very anxious as i am 14 weeks pg and have had 3 previous m/c in last 2 years( all before or at about 12 weeks) I am delighted to have got this far but am finding it hard to just "sit back and relax"! I am not getting any extra antenatal appointments, have not seem a consultant and 21 weeks is my next scan which seems such a long way away. Just looking for a way to stop me worrying!

[bundle]

i think the midwife was advising on here that if say you failed to find the heartbeat because of positioning, it would freak you out and cause unnecessary worry. not that your worry is not important, anyone in your situation would feel like you do, i'm sure. why not talk to your gp about shared care, if they do it, so you could get to pee in a pot and check everything is ok a little more often than you're currently being offered.

[bundle]

well done btw, at getting to 14 weeks!

[bayleaf]

Hi
I've got a proper midwife type doppler thing - £70 new on ebay - and I think it's WONDERFUL.
I listen everyday- yes some people told me it would increase anxiety - bllcks! IT makes me so happy to know everyday that he/she is still there and ok ( I've had 3 miscarriges and for one she had died 3 weeks previously and I had no idea.)

[lilsmum]

i hired one when i was pg with dd, it was great as someone else said if i hadnt felt baby move for a while i could check myself, i too think rubbish about stressing you out, it was a great reassurance to me, and i never failed to find the heartbeat, found it straight away every time!!from around 16 wks

[Jimbob80]

I know this is a little off the subject but Can anyone help. I am as yet babyless but I'm on day 8 of being late. This morning I'm having slight bleeding, pregnancy test said neg. could it still be possible that I'm pg? or would it have been detected by the test by now?

[mears]

Jimbob80 - test should have been positive by now if you were pregnant.

As far as hand held monitors go, I do think that they can induce anxiety when the heartbeat cannot be found easily. That is common depending on baby's position. Another mumsnetter did experience that before when the heartrate did not sound right to her. I also think that exposing a baby to ultrasound waves every day is not necessarily a good thing either.

[pupuce]

I have to say I agree with Mears about the daily dosage of ultrasound... and can I ask, so if you do not hear the heartbeat... what do you do?
It won't prevent a stillborn baby anyway....

If you feel it reassures you then OK but I can't help but wonder about the downside....

[Jimbob80]

Thanks Mears.

[bayleaf]

That's interesting Mears - it hadn't occured to me - nor had I read it anywhere - is it just your suspicion or based on anything else? I'll definitely try and reduce my usage a little - altho I have to say that the extent to which it has allowed me to relax and enjoy the pregnancy has to be good for the baby too - yes I've had days when it's been harder to find - but as I know that this can mean nothing I haven't over reacted.

[kelb6180]

jus came across your message about the fetal heart listeners, I have one. I used it thru my pregnancy with my 3rd.Puts your mind at rest just to hear the heart beat and movements.

[mears]

bayleaf - here is a link for ultrasound

It is a theoretical risk where the jury is out really - ultrasound really should not be used where it is not necessary IMO.

[bayleaf]

Thanks mears - I'll try and keep it to an absolute minimum - just when I'm feeling really stessed.Hopefully soon I'll begin to feel movement and then I'll be fine!