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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

fetal heart doppler

16 replies

Laura05 · 25/02/2011 12:45

Hi all I was thinking about getting a fetal heart doppler but i'm unsure of the best ne to get that isn't going to cost me a bomb.

Has anyone else got one they could recommend?
Or do you think they're a waste of money?

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SelinaDoula · 25/02/2011 12:57

I have the angel sounds one (off amazon).
Its good. I heard the heartbeat from 10+2 (second baby) but it did take some finding (about half an hour and a youtube instruction videio). From 13 weeks I could find it pretty quickly and since 16 weeks sraight away.
Not great if you panic but I do find it reassuring!
Selina

LeroyJethroGibbs · 25/02/2011 13:00

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ShowOfHands · 25/02/2011 13:01

I bought an angel sounds one from ebay back in the day. Was fine and not expensive iirc.

Melly19MummyToBe · 25/02/2011 13:02

I have been looking at those too, and this seems to be the best one www.amazon.co.uk/Sounds-Doppler-Monitor-RECORDING-BATTERY/dp/B002YHQ524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298638655&sr=8-1
Just whatever you do, don't waste your money on the Summer Infants one. My friend had one and she said it was rubbish, and you only have to read the reviews about it to know that. Hope that helps

NewMummy5July2011 · 25/02/2011 13:35

Hi
I had the Angel Sounds one too, but unfortunately it didn't work properly and stopped working completely after only using a few times. It was great when it worked though! Amazon is really good because they will refund you with no questions asked if there are any problems.

Only thing to be mindful of is that if you can't find the baby's heartbeat right away (it took me a while the first time), don't panic. The equipment midwives use is far superior to these and it can even take them some time to find it.

Melly19MummyToBe · 25/02/2011 13:38

hahaha yeah, when I went to see my midwife the other day we only got the echo of her heartbeat because she kept wriggling away from the doppler bless her :) and the first time I went and heard her heartbeat it took about 15 minutes to find it!

LeroyJethroGibbs · 25/02/2011 13:42

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heffalumpbump · 25/02/2011 13:54

I bought the angel sounds one from amazon and love it! Have been using it everyday for the past couple of weeks - hubby thinks I'm a bit obsessed (maybe ). It took a while to find heartbeat on first attempt but usually able to find it now pretty quickly. Is very reassuring if not felt any movement during day or after I had a fall the other day. Would recommend, just be aware that it won't sound as clear as the one the midwive uses, still worth it in my opinion though. hth x

reikizen · 25/02/2011 14:04

Just a note of caution, as a midwife I advise people not to buy one for two reasons.

If you can't locate the heartbeat you panic (usually everything is fine, baby is just 'hiding')
There have been cases where parents have assumed the heartbeat is fetal but it is in fact the mother's and baby has died. It is only a soundwave that you hear, and there have been many cases of midwives and doctors mistaking mum's heartbeat for baby's. Always palpate your own pulse at the same time for reassurance. If you have not felt baby move or you have had a fall please contact your daycare unit (or similar). A doppler will not show you the pattern, if there are any decelerations for example.

But, having said all that, you are adults and can weigh the risks yourselves. A kitchen roll tube or pinard stethoscope is a cheaper and more reliable alternative but you won't be able to hear it, just your partner/friend etc.

Leilababyno1 · 25/02/2011 14:12

I agree with reikizen

Home dopplers are a bad idea, which can become an all-consuming obsession when trying to locate a hearbeat...but of course each to their own!

Probably best to leave it to the professionals though.

ShowOfHands · 25/02/2011 14:18

I think they're fine if you understand everything reikizen has said. I found it very reassuring after a miscarriage and difficult first trimester. Once I started feeling movement, I gave the doppler away.

But, kitchen roll tube? Is it like a glass against an adjoining wall?

reikizen · 25/02/2011 14:21

yes, very low fi isn't it? But that is what a pinard is in essence and that's the 'gold standard' when auscultating a fetal heartbeat! It's the only way you can be sure you are hearing baby not mum and is good practice to use one prior to commencing a CTG.

HLSalter · 25/02/2011 14:43

I completely agree with ShowOfHands. I bought the angel sounds one from Amazon and absolutely love it. I bought mine after my last midwife appointment as my 20 week scan wasn't for another month and a half and I literally was going crazy. Having previously had a MC it was nice when I wasn't feeling well or was particularly stressed to hear baby's heartbeat just to lift my spirits. Try not to worry or panic (I know it's easier said than done) if you can't find the heartbeat as you may just have a faulty doppler or baby may be in an awkward position. I would definately recommend the angel sounds one as well as the gel you can buy with it, best £20 I've ever spent.

Yaya70 · 25/02/2011 19:25

I also agree with ShowofHands. I have the Angel Sounds doppler and bought it at about 16 weeks after a previous miscarriage and a very difficult first trimester. I used it a couple of times a week for 2-3 weeks just for reassurance. Now that I can feel the little one moving, I don't feel the need to use it at all.

Sparklies · 25/02/2011 20:27

Yep, as ShowOfHands says, so long as you fully understand the doppler and the information it gives, they can be great for reassurance in those first few weeks before movement so long as you don't expect to find the heartbeat every time. After that point? Movement is a much more important indicator and if you're worried enough to bring out the doppler, you should probably be up at the hospital having a CTG to check the decelerations etc.

Too many people use the doppler "wrongly" and end up in a right pickle - whether panicking needlessly, or worst case - not panicking when they should be!

I bought the Sonoline B from eBay which is fantastic and only about fifty quid.

owlbooty · 25/02/2011 20:36

Having had a go on an angelsounds one this week I am glad I haven't bought one - I am almost 17 weeks and it was damn near impossible to find a heartbeat. I don't know whether that's because I have an anterior placenta which might be getting in the way but having found the heartbeat for all of two seconds after much faffing about, I actually felt the baby flip out of the way and then we couldn't find it again!

I'd been wondering whether or not to buy one for a while and have now decided it's not a good plan. We weren't using it wrongly; it was just really difficult to find. Even the MW took a while to find it with her better equipment last week. For me, it would just cause stress having one in the house.

Am definitely up for the pinard idea when I get a bit further along though, that sounds ace

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