Fetal Doppler - bad to poke too hard?

[Whysoserious]

I had a go with a friend's fetal Doppler today and at 9+1 managed to hear a heartbeat. However, I had to move around a bit and press the probe fairly hard and am now concerned that I could have damaged/harmed the baby.

I was considering getting one myself because I was so impressed but am now concerned that I may become addicted and surely all that prodding and poking can't be a good thing? Is it safe to do this? Thoughts and advice appreciated - thanks ladies

Heya! I wouldnt worry too much - at my 20 week scan i thought the sonographer was trying to kill me as she was ramming the scanner so hard into my stomach to get the baby to move. I am currently 28+5 and the baby is getting me back. I think they are well padded in there! So you probably hurt yourself more than your baby. I would just give it a few more weeks and you wont have to be poking it in at all - you should just be able to hear it if the doppler is in the right position. You did well at 9 weeks to find it!!!

i have one and its been fantastic and i was pressing really hard, then went to mw and she found it in same place but didn't press down just waitss for it to come up, I've found now i dont press hard and still get it, i got mine off ebay and it tells you the hb reading, which helps as Im having twins :)

I wouldn't worry. At my 12 week scan I actually cried in pain and felt bruised afterwards for a day or 2 as she was pushing so hard. They are very well protected in there and at 9 weeks will be firmly hidden in the pelvis anyway.

x

Thanks ladies. Since I got back from my friends I started getting the Pregnancy Paranoia and thinking oh god what if I pressed too hard and burst its sac.

DH managed to bring me back down to reality and tell me how silly I was being and how protected it was. He even demonstrated by pushing on me through several layers of duvet haha!