Can you use a doppler too much?

[aMuminwaiting]

Hi everyone. I've had five unexplained miscarriages and am now 16.5 weeks with my sixth. I'm on clexane and aspirin this time, I've had three scans and the midwife listened in to the heartbeat last week. That should all be reassuring but not to me! I got the angelsounds doppler today and am not sure if the heartbeat I heard was mine or my baby's. I'd like my hubby to have a go later because he's far more level headed than me but there's nothing in the booklet about how many times you can use it. Is it once a day? Less?

I have one of those and from everything I read there is no evidence of it doing any harm at all. So I would use as much as you need to. I have found mine very reassuring.

The baby's heartbeat is much much faster than yours, it sounds more like a train or a galloping horse. Quite often you hear the placenta which is a whoosh-whoosh sound whereas the baby's hb is more of a bumpidybumpidybumpidy sound. (Not the world's most scientific explanation )

Oh and PS congratulations on getting to 16.5 weeks and so sorry to hear of your previous losses.

I have the angel sounds doppler and have not found anything to advise against using regularly.

"Minipie's" explanation is good as to what you should be listening out for though.

When I first started using mine I found it hard to find the heartbeat so don't dispair just try again.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry to hear of your losses previously, must be very hard not to worry too much.

Thank you both. I remember I said it sounded like a horse galloping when the midwife found it. I'm not convinced that's what I heard so the hubby will have a go later. This is the second furthest I've got and with my late mc had bleeds by now so I am hopeful...but I still have my dark days and need all the reassurance I can get!

My midwife said they don't usually listen to the heartbeat at 16 weeks as it can be hard to find which only causes concern. However I've noticed since that she always feels for my pulse at the same time as listening so she can be sure she's listening to baby and not me.

I used mine every few days. And then when i started feeling the baby move (around 18/20 weeks) i stopped using it. I see the midwife every 2 weeks now and she always listens, and i have a very active baby so am re-assured throughout the day that he's alright in there. :)

I think you're safe to listening as much as you need.

I always found the heart beat with mine, almost against my pelvic bone, a lot lower than I thought! As far as I am aware they don't do any harm.