Anyone use a Doppler??

[caija]

Hi I'm 13+4 tomorrow and tried using a fetal Doppler yesterday. Just so far managed to pick up my own hb...as i think it was too slow to be the baby's...anyone any advice? Am I too early yet? Thanks loads in advance :)

Hiya I used a Doppler when I was pg with DD didn't use it till I was nearer 20 weeks as MW said it may be hard to detect before 16 weeks so your prob just a few weeks early, I would wait and try it again in a few weeks xx

Hello, I was told not to use mine until 16 weeks as, before then, the baby is still too far down in the pelvis for you to pick up the HB. Not that I was impatient or anything but I managed to hear a little heartbeat at 15 weeks when I had a very full bladder!

I tried mine at 14 weeks and just got a faint and intermittent HB - so it could well be too early. Also make sure you're placing it just above your pubic hairline - baby is down very low at 13-14 weeks :)

I second what Fluffy says. I did find it at 13+ weeks eventually but it took a good 6 or so minutes of searching (and worrying!) and it was very low down near the pubic bone. What I did too was listen to my own hb first so I knew what the sounded like and could tell when I had found the baby's.

Once I found it though I could find it easier most other times and it was incredibly reassuring in those days before you feel the baby moving (I have had several miscarriages before and no baby as yet - but now over 26 weeks pg). I even still use it now when there has been a bit less movement and I need a bit of reassurance.

I for one have loved my Doppler but I know it does freak a few people out as they can't always find the hb and then end up in hospital getting checked and it's all fine. So bear in mind you might not always find it, but once you do you know where to look so it gets easier. Oh and it does move up as the baby starts to grow.

Good luck! And try not to get addicted to it :)

I first found the HB at 14 weeks with DC3.

Agree with pps that it can be very hard to find, even once I knew where I had found it before, there were times I couldn't manage it.

At that early stage, try right down on your pubic line, just off centre, and angle it downwards. It will be so much quicker than your HB that once you find it you'll know! Count each beat for 15 seconds then multiply by 4 - yours will be less than 100, baby's will be much higher, mine was always 160, but afaik, I could be wrong, it could be as low as 130. (I'm no expert!)

Good luck :)

And use lots of gel.

I have an anterior placenta but didn't know until scan and was really concerned that I couldn't easily locate the HB. I would leave it TBH as I found it quite stressful.

Aww thanks soo much ladies. Managed to hear baby's heartbeat! was soo fast. How do I work out the hb easily? I timed a minute on my fne n counted but it was do hard...trying to predict whether it's a Boy or girl using the hb lol xx

Oooooh how exciting! Yay!

Personally I count the beats in 15 secs then double it and double it again to get the beats per minute. My LO is a wriggler and won't stay still for a whole 60 secs!