Doppler Advice

[itsmyfirsteek]

Hi. I'm 20+3 and have just been lent a doppler by a friend. I can't find the hb, should I be able to? How long should I be trying for?

Can you feel baby move? Honestly movements are a far better only way of assessing baby's wellbeing yourself.

If you can feel baby, then relax. If you can't, then you need to be phoning your midwife/gp. I don't think the labour ward would see you this early on - it's usually 28 weeks (or is where I am), but do phone for advice - if you can't feel baby moving anymore.

Later on in pregnancy please remember that fetal movements are the best way of checking on baby. If he/she moves less, or you have any change in their pattern, then seek immediate advice - don't rely on the doppler - fun, but potentially dangerous.

I haven't felt any movements yet and I thought I would be ok if I couldn't find the hb cause I know its skilled. I had my 20 week scan on monday and everything was fine, should I be worried?

no - get rid of the doppler is my advice. They seem to cause nothing but stress to me. If you have had your 20 week scan and all was well, you would have to be exceptionally unlucky for something to have gone wrong. Often you pick up the beat of the placenta or umbilical cord instead of the baby anyway.

Would I know, if something had gone worng? Is it likely to have all ended and have no symptoms?

I honestly don't know. As Haggisfish says, you would have to be very unlucky for something to go wrong after having a positive scan on Monday. Please give the doppler back to your friend - it seems to me that it is causing you to worry a great deal, and the likelihood is that it is unnecessary worry because, as you rightly say, it is a skilled thing to use. You will most likely start to feel movements in the next week or so which will put your mind at rest. For now, give the doppler back and try to take your mind off it. Easier said than done I know, but i too think these dopplers seem to cause stress and worry, neither of which is good for you.

Try not to worry I am 25 weeks and in hospital and they couldn't find a heartbeat with a hospital Doppler - baby is fine but the poor midwife was distressed she was worrying me. I can feel wiggles and had previously been hooked up to monitors so knew it was fine.
Can you hear movements with the Doppler sometimes you can hear the baby moving without locating a HB which is reassuring but I wouldn't use it if I were you not if it's going to stress you out.
If everything else is ok - good scan, no bleeding etc I wouldn't worry and 20 weeks can be early to feel movement as your placenta could be at the front making it harder.
Any genuine concerns please get in touch with your midwife but if it is just from not hearing HB chuck the Doppler away :)

My advice is to check for the heartbeat a lot lower (and higher!) than you think it should be.

My DS developed an irregular heartbeat when I was pg with him, if I didn't use my home doppler I would not have known.
He stopped moving twice (the 2nd time I was induced), using the doppler reassured me that he hadn't died before we made it to hospital.
So I think they're wonderful.

I still don't agree with this!

I'm glad it helped you Gary, but in other cases dopplers can lead to a baby's death!

Babies movements change before their heart stops (in a normal pregnancy where placental failure/cord accidents etc).

If you then use the doppler to 'reassure' yourself, you may not realise just how urgent the situation is.

Babies movements are far more important than a doppler.

One further thing - it is possible for even a trained midwife of decades experience to mistake the mother's pulse for a baby's heartbeat. If the mother is very worried/stressed worrying about her baby's health, it can cause her heart-rate to increase dramatically - very, very high. If the baby has died, it can be mistaken. So if midwives can & do get it wrong, it is possible to do so.

Please remember movements are the best indicator of fetal health.