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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Foetal/Fetal Doppler

26 replies

paternal · 29/01/2011 18:30

Hello everyone,

Are you able to buy foetal/fetal dopplers in any shops, or are they all on-line? And has anyone purchased one and wished they hadn't, can you give any advise/review? (what I'm trying to say is, are they worth the money?)

Thanks

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JimmyChoo17 · 29/01/2011 18:50

I wondered this. A friend bought one but rarely finds heartbeat but I have seen a hire company online with good reviews at 9.99 a month. I am thinking of trying it. Was so lovely to hear babies heartbeat this week at drs I want to listen at home!

Will be interested to hear how mums net users find them...

Yaya70 · 30/01/2011 09:45

I bought an Angel Sounds doppler from Amazon for less than 30 quid. It's pretty easy to use and have found the heartbeat within seconds every time (except the first time after which I checked some video on youtube about how to use them -- I was listening in completely the wsrong place!). As a born worrier and with a difficult pregnancy so far, it definitely puts my mind at rest while waiting for the 20 week scan, as it's still a bit early for me to feel movement yet.

You'll probably only need it for the few weeks until you start to feel movement, so 9.99 per month sounds like a good rate. NB. Once you start to feel movement, you should rely on that (rather than hearing heartbeat) to judge of whether things are ok. If movement stops or slows down in later stages you should always seek the advice of your midwife.

LDNlady · 30/01/2011 10:05

I too got the Angel Sounds one from Amazon and it was £24. It's lovely to hear baby's heart beat and to be honest even though I can feel her moving it's still nice to sit and listen as you can hear the movements as well as feel them. The only thing is that you do have to keep in mind that you won't always find the heart beat cos of baby's position and you have to try not to worry. Easier said than done but that's quite normal. I've been lucky so far in that I have always found it.

fifitot · 30/01/2011 10:08

www.annawiz.com They rent them out. I used them and found it reassuring but you have to be strong and not use it all the time. If you rent one for a few months it might make more sense. About 9.99 per month.

fifitot · 30/01/2011 10:09

www.anawiz.com/acatalog/fetal_doppler.html

Chynah · 30/01/2011 10:27

I had an Angelsounds one - very easy to use and always found heartbeat from about 12/13 weeks.

highheelsandequations · 30/01/2011 17:42

I bought an angelsounds one from amazon as well after quite a few incidents of spotting early on had me panicked (especially after last pg ended in mmc). Have found heartbeat every time really quickly, first time I used it was around 13 weeks. Really nice to have some reassurance little pip is still in there! Also have been able to record the heartbeat and send it to my parents who live 5 hours drive away, they loved that!

jasmine51 · 30/01/2011 18:52

I hired one from hi-baby who advertise on ebay - excellent service and easy to use

WorzselMummage · 30/01/2011 18:57

I had a hi bebe, cost £100 ish. Found the HB every day from 10 weeks with it ( 10+1 to be precise)

Brilliant bit of kit, if we have another one I'd buy the same :)

JimmyChoo17 · 30/01/2011 20:08

Thanks for recommendations I have just ordered an angel sounds one for £18 new on amazon and some gel.

Looking forward to receiving it!

How far were you all when you start using it? Reading reviews I have seen people picking up from 13 weeks. I am 16 w 2 days x

Chynah · 30/01/2011 20:14

You can use KY Jelly instead of the gel - much cheaper :)

I bought it around 13 weeks with #1 and got it straight away.

#2 got it once or twice from about 10 weeks but hard to find. by13 weeks could find her every time.

PS: make sure the beat you find is about twice the speed of your own and you've got it :)

JimmyChoo17 · 30/01/2011 20:38

Gel was only £2 but will bear that on mind when buoying next lot as I read you need to use plenty.

Did it take long to work out where to place it to hear babies heartbeat?

Got my 16 week check up tommorow so am looking forward to hearing it again.

mamadoc · 30/01/2011 20:43

Not wanting to be really negative but could I just say that please don't rely on these in late pregnancy to be sure your baby is OK.
It is quite easy to get it wrong and there have been some really sad stories where parents didn't seek medical/ midwife advice when they were worried about reduced movements because they thought they heard a heartbeat on a home Doppler and it turned out they were wrong. As Yaya says movements are much more reliable.
Lovely for early stages, playing to partner/ relatives etc but not to be completely relied on.

Chynah · 30/01/2011 21:25

mamadoc - think you said it all with "parents didnt seek advice when they were worried about reduced movements" If you are worried and don't seek advice then sadly that is not the fault of a doppler.

JimmyChoo17 · 30/01/2011 22:05

Agree chynah

Am buying this realizing may not always pick up heartbeat plus would never substitute for medical support. I'm in the early needy stage so I imagine it'll be on ebay by the later stages!

Paternal...have hijacked thread. U investing in one?

Yaya70 · 30/01/2011 22:29

Jimmychoo, I'm 17 weeks, so just a bit ahead of you, and found it directly under my belly button right down by my pubic hairline. Good luck. I think it moves up in later pregnancy, but at your stage it should be quite low down.

Original poster

paternal · 30/01/2011 23:13

JimmyChoo you are more than welcome to hijack the thread. :) ( I've actually been on the Relationship section of the forum. I started a thread with some positive replies)

I think I will, but OH is only 8+4 so will wait a couple of weeks. I will still be looking for your feedback though. :)

OP posts:

Original poster

paternal · 30/01/2011 23:19

I started a thread about positive relationships so of anyone has great stories of how you met your OH or how long you been together, please tell! :)

OP posts:

highheelsandequations · 01/02/2011 19:17

I've been finding it since 13 weeks, at first was very low down, just above pubic hairline. I'm now 16+6 and it seems to be a little higher. Seems to prefer being over to the left but sometimes I find it to the right! Can now tell when LO is squirming as the heartbeat moves around :) I used it first time with baby oil as the gel hadn't arrived and that worked fine too.

JimmyChoo17 · 01/02/2011 19:21

Had my 16 week appointment yesterday...what a disappointment that was!!!!! I'm so glas my dr played my heartbeat last week as my midwife said she wouldn't play me it due to trouble it causes....! She said wouldn't hear it so early. Anyhoo...my dr found it so am pleased to have heard it at some point.

Am patiently awaiting my Doppler now...I will of course supply a product review! X

MainlyMaynie · 01/02/2011 19:26

I've got an angelsounds. I didn't find a heartbeat until after 16 weeks and I still don't find it every time. One of the reasons was that the guidance (and lots of advice on the internet) says to listen low down, quite near your hairline, but I need to listen just under by tummy button! Only realised that when the midwife did it at the 16 week appointment.

I often hear the baby moving but not the heartbeat, so I think it also depends on the position they're in. I find it very reassuring, but you need to be able to relax if you don't find the heartbeat every time.

JimmyChoo17 · 01/02/2011 20:20

That's what annoyed me about mw I just enquired if they could let me hear heartbeat but she said it would only upset me...I think I should have had the choice!!

It's typical of my surgery so just left but would have been upset if dr had not played it to me the week earlier. I have been real poorly so to hear it was a big relief and she found it real easy just under bump straight away!

Am willing my Doppler to arrive!!

felicity10 · 01/02/2011 20:26

Why on earth did your mw say that? Insist, I wish I had when I had a similar experience because I worked myself into a frenzy for 24 hours before going to the doctor to ask her to check for me. I did get an angel sounds doppler but found it really hit and miss and then once I could feel the baby jumping about in there, I didn't use it again. As some have said, if you have even the slightest of concerns, just go and see your dr to check it.

LeroyJethroGibbs · 01/02/2011 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

JimmyChoo17 · 02/02/2011 19:36

I have no idea why mw said it. I would have been distraught if I hadn't already heard it via dr the week before. I have to say I hate how much care varies around the uk. Annoying and did not fill me with confidence.

Mine has been dispatched due to arrive Friday

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