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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Are dopplers ever a good idea? <sigh>

20 replies

mrsrobinredbreast · 31/03/2011 11:12

I am (or should be) 11 + 4 and for the past week have picked up bean's heartbeat on a doppler but last night and this morning haven't managed to pick anything up. Common sense tells me that this is because bean is hiding but I'm afraid common sense went out with window when the blue line appeared on the test! Previous MMC last year, not helping my stress levels.

Has anyone else been daft enough to used a doppler this early and had the same thing? I think I would be less panicked if I hadn't previously heard a HB.

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BarbaraBar · 31/03/2011 11:19

Put the doppler in the bin. It's a waste of money and does nothing but make you anxious. I doubt very much it was the baby's heartbeat you could hear anyway.

Are you using it every day? That's another 29 weeks of anxiety to get through and incredibly stressful for you.

Please, throw it away.

WidowWadman · 31/03/2011 11:20

All the midwives I've talked to didn't think that they were a terribly clever thing to use, and usually just end up worrying women more than reassuring them.

truthisinthewine · 31/03/2011 11:20

I tried one today for the first time 11+6. First time went upstairs on my own (just in case) found heartbeat easily within about 10 seconds.
Tried again about an hour later as DD wanted to listen and it took me ages to find it and then I had to press quite hard and it was a bit more muffled.

I think it's just a bit hit and miss at this stage as to where baby is lying at that precise moment. I am sure all is fine but I understand your worry.

truthisinthewine · 31/03/2011 11:22

Oh and it's very easy to differentiate between babies heartbeat and yours or the sound of placenta as they are totally different speeds. So should be easy to know what you are listening to.

Original poster

mrsrobinredbreast · 31/03/2011 11:23

Barbarabar and Widowwadman, I know, I know. They are evil and I really should bin it but I know that I won't. There's a reason why midwives don't try to find the hb until 16 weeks, its to stop stressheads like me stressing out!

I will refind my zen and put the doppler away for now.

OP posts:

PrettyVacant1 · 31/03/2011 11:23

When I begged asked my GP yesterday to let me hear the HB he was saying that he could not pick it up at times.

G1nger · 31/03/2011 11:25

I just know that I can't allow myself to get one of these. I'm such a worrier... I agree that you should get rid of it.

WorzselMummage · 31/03/2011 11:25

Yes,

I had one during my last pregnancy and it literally saved me from having a breakdown.

If you have had a miscarriage or otherwise complicated pregnancy I think they are worth their weight in gold.

If you are one of the lucky people to sail though pregnancies with nothing more worrying than a bit of puking and some sore ankles then i can see why you might think they are a waste of time.

I picked up my Ds's HB at 10+2 and listened to it every day till he was born. I could always find it, even when the midwife couldn't!

It is hit and miss at 11 weeks, Try not to panic :)

BarbaraBar · 31/03/2011 11:34

mrsrobinredbreast - I hope you manage to find your zen and can relax a bit.

I briefly had a doppler when I was pg with ds1 and it really stressed me out when I struggled to find the heartbeat. I had such a shitty time every time I was pregnant but felt that I had enough to cope with without adding to my stress when I couldn't find the heartbeat. If I couldn't find the heartbeat it didn't mean I'd had a miscarriage but it did mean I got so stressed about whether I had or not.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

VivaLeBeaver · 31/03/2011 11:36

Worzsel - I'm glad the doppler helped you but I do think you were lucky that you found the heartbeat every time. I see plenty of women coming into the antenatal ward totally hysterical as they haven't been able to find the heartrate and are convinced that baby has died. Chances are if we're busy they may have to wait a good few hours to be seen and then we find the FH and everything is fine. They tend to leave their dopplers with us as they go out the door.

SelinaDoula · 31/03/2011 11:37

I could hear mine from 10 weeks (ish) but some times it was hard to find, took over half an hour of fiddling. Make sure you have lots of gel and go slowly angling it about at each place you try.
There are some good videos on Youtube, and like thetruthisinthewine said its pretty easy to differentiate the babies heartbeat, its double the speed of your own.
From 12 weeks I could find it easily and I don't tend to use it now I can feel baby move all the time.
S x

Original poster

mrsrobinredbreast · 31/03/2011 11:38

Thanks everyone. I know I am being daft. I used it a lot when pg with my DD but never failed to find her hb so never stressed.

I will step away from it now and try to enjoy rather than stress.

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 31/03/2011 11:44

I wouldn't say a baby's heartrate is always double. A normal adult heartrate can be 95, a normal baby's can be 110. You're much better off taking your own pulse before using it and making sure you have 2 different rates.

MonkeeMummy · 31/03/2011 11:59

Being pregnant after having an mc is very scary...but your bean is probably fine just playing hide and seek. What else reminds you that your pregnant. Mine is brushing my teeth... if the toothpaste makes me gag I know all is well. Take care of yourself and try not to worry... the second trimester is in sight!

PS I had an mc followed by 2 healthy pregnancies (2 dds) and am on my third now and I'm no spring chicken

marigoldilocks · 31/03/2011 12:44

I wouldnt bother using one (and haven't apart from the GP using them at routine appointments). Also a GP told me that they are not meant to use them for long periods of time so she just checked me really quickly. She said something about the sound waves not being good for the developing brain???

Also I am 27 weeks and the 2 times the GP has listened it has been a really faint heartbeat and fairly hard for them to find so I imagine it would be even harder at 11 weeks.

Ilovekittyelise · 31/03/2011 12:58

I would say proceed with caution...my midwife came round when i was 13 weeks and found the heartbeat right away; i was of course delighted. However, this past week had been feeling a little off and that something not quite right, and she came round on saturday at 16 weeks exactly. she was down there for ages with the doppler and found nothing. she was concerned because i had already told her i was worried. so she phoned around to try to get me into somewhere for a scan and eventually i ended up in one of the local hospitals being scanned by a junior doctor who struggled to get the machine to work and it was all hugely stressful. eventually we saw the baby, and the baby's heartbeat, and everything was fine. but it was a hideous morning and caused a lot of undue worry.

as others have said try not to worry and just go with the flow. i have had a terrible experience in the past so am a bit more anxious about my pregnancy than is normal, but to be honest, in that first trimester if something is going to go wrong its normally for good reason, ie a chromosomal defect, a blighted ovum etc, and no amount of re-assuring yourself with a heartbeat is going to change the course of nature. im sorry if this sounds harsh but i have seen the crueller side of nature and 'get' from the other side now that this is something that you can't control, you just have to wait and see.

Original poster

mrsrobinredbreast · 31/03/2011 13:03

You are all right and speak sense.

Ilove, I can't imagine how stressful Saturday morning must have been for you and am glad to hear that all is okay. You are right of course, checking for a heartbeat won't change to outcome of the pregancy - what will be, will be.

I've put it away now, promise.

OP posts:

glitternanny · 31/03/2011 13:26

Maybe I won't buy one afterall!!!

Mum2Pea · 31/03/2011 13:30

not a good idea to own one, you will stress yourself for no reason

bear in mind you might pick up

babies heartbeat (fast)
mothers heartbeat (slower)

but also

baby's kicks
blood flow in placenta

Tamashii · 31/03/2011 13:34

I just recently got one and I searched to make sure I got the most recommended one on the message boards but I have decided just to use it "for fun" as I had NO idea that I might be hearing my heartbeat/placenta/amniotic fluid??!!? I have no idea now which wow-wow-ing sound could be the baby but I have started to feel little flutters now (14 weeks 2nd PG) so I think once I can really feel the baby moving I will be less likely to use it so maybe it was a waste of money. Each time I have used it though it's taken a while to find LO and he/she is always in a totally different place. Not sure how I would handle it if I couldn't find anything tho!!!

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