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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 doppler?

15 replies

angeltattoo · 09/09/2012 15:41

does anyone have one/used one?

If so, which brand is best? The ones on ebay are approximately £30 - any idea if these are any good?

TIA

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SoYo · 09/09/2012 16:10

Don't get one!!! It gives you false reassurance because unless you're trained to use it you could be listening to your own heart rate or placental flow and be reassured by this when by far the safest thing to do is know your own normal pattern of babes movements and your own health and monitor well being by this!

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 16:35

Yes - I used an Angelsounds one, got it off Amazon, was cheap and cheerful -

I heard a HB from about 10 weeks, IIRCC. I think the point about not using them as medical reassurance is valid - if I had ever had any concerns ever during pregnancy, I would not have relied on it for any information.

I just found it really interesting - I never confused my heart rate with DS's heart rate as his was so much faster, mine was a great lumbering rhythm in comparison - you can hear all sorts in there, from the 'galloping horses' heartbeat to placental swooshings, and later in in pregnancy, the sudden 'doof' of a kick, which always made me laugh. And it was fascinating finding the heart rate in different places as the little bugger moved around.

My DP liked to listen in when I found a hb, and I think it helped him bond a bit with the baby during pregnancy.

So yes, as a 'toy' it was great fun, but I wouldn't use it in a medical way as 'reassurance'. If I hac any concerns I would contact the MW asap, not get a doppler out.

HeyMicky · 09/09/2012 16:39

I had an Angelsounds one too. Didn't hear anything till about 15 weeks though.

Agree that it's just for fun though

hzgreen · 09/09/2012 16:44

i have a Hi Bebe one that i have borrowed from my sister which is pretty good but to be honest i stopped using it so much after i started to feel baby movements.

i found it really reassuring in the first few months though and at one point i went to A&E because i was concerned that i was having a miscarriage, after four hours they sent me home without even trying to listen to the heartbeat and would only make an appointment for me for 2 days later which was really distressing. when i got home i dug out the doppler from the attic and found a heartbeat straight away which was such a relief and helped me calm down until i could get to see someone for a proper examination!

you need to be really careful not use it in place of proffessional medical support and it can be really nerve wracking if you don't find the heartbeat or the baby suddenly moves and you lose the heartbeat! but if you bear those things in mind and just use it for "fun" i think they can be useful.

i have no idea about brands though i'm afraid, i think mine is about £60ish new...

SlightlyBabyCrazed · 09/09/2012 18:13

I have a hi bebe one I bought second hand for £15, took a little while but found heart beat which DH found mesmerising! I'm 17+ weeks and have a tilted uterus still so doubt I would've found much earlier. Mine has a screen so you can tell what's you and what's baby.

VickyU · 09/09/2012 19:21

We bought a HiBebe one from Ebay. I think it was £20. It has been really wonderful to use from time to time and we have loved it to be honest. I think especially lovely for DH as it helps him feel more connected to it all. But, just to echo what others have said, it is really important to think about it as a nice thing to do rather than a way of checking whether the baby is ok. It is entirely possible to not be able to hear it sometimes and for the baby to be fine, just as it is possible to hear a heartbeat and for there to be problems. So don't rely on it for anything medical if that makes sense - just enjoy it. As others have said, just make sure you get the right heartbeat! There are some good examples of people using them on youtube if you need any help!

philbee · 09/09/2012 19:42

I felt they were a bit intrusive, tbh. Whenever the midwife would listen to DD's heartbeat at an appointment she would get very active afterwards. I think that they use soundwaves or something (sorry, memory!) and they can have an effect on the baby. It just seemed a bit much to be putting sensory input in there more than was necessary. But happy to be put straight if that's a load of crap!

katiecubs · 09/09/2012 20:07

Yep get one! I have an angelsounds one and found the heartbeat from about 9 weeks. I'm 16 weeks now and it's very easy to find and not at all difficult to distinguish from your own hb - it's twice as fast and you can listen to clips on YouTube if you do get confused.

IMO they are great for early pregnancy before you can feel the baby and you just want to check they are still with you. Obviously once you can feel movement, as others have said, you should use that to define well being.

GingerDoodle · 09/09/2012 21:37

I got a sonic-aid one from Amazon around 15 weeks; it was really useful before movements became regular.

It?s a digital one so I could fairly easily mine and baby?s hb.

Obviously if I was already anxious about something or something didn't sound right I would have got onto the midwife to investigate further!

Original poster

angeltattoo · 09/09/2012 21:56

Thanks everyone.

My only hesitation would be that I wouldn't want it to add any stress if I couldn't find a HB, which I could see would be possible. i would never use it instead of medical advice/help.

Hmmm...lots of food for thought!

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mom2rhysnruby · 10/09/2012 10:39

Ive got an angelsounds and its brilliant!
Ive got it for sale at the moment for £15 if tour interested inbox me, im ywt to stick it on ebay!
I paid £35 for it as the summer infant ones are supposed to be rubbish! X

Badgerina · 10/09/2012 12:27

philbee I've also heard the same.

I personally wouldn't get one. Movement is a far better way to monitor the baby's well being. Leave the heartbeat gadgetry to the professionals.

philbee · 10/09/2012 15:14

OK, I've looked it up more proper now. It's ultrasound, albeit at a lower intensity than a scan. But they don't really know what exposure to ultrasound does to a foetus (although they think that the diagnostic scans are safe, 2009 WHO systematic review on that, which seems pretty conclusive), and there are guidelines on limiting the amount of time that you use the doppler for because of that. Official position seems to be that ultrasound should only be used diagnostically, so the 4D 'entertainment' scans are also frowned upon.

I'm not saying this to be a pita or a killjoy, or to scare anyone, but you need to be aware of how the doppler works and the fact that it is focusing an ultrasound beam on your baby, rather than just 'listening in', and whether you want to do that more than is absolutely necessary.

Frootloopz · 10/09/2012 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

angeltattoo · 11/09/2012 14:01

Thanks everyone and philbee for the research info!

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