Home dopplers and early heartbeat

[Jenjen85]

I'm 11 weeks today and thought I'd have a go at trying to find babies heartbeat with the doppler I have was bought for me when pregnant with DD wouldn't have bought one myself and I know it's still early as it says to use from 14 weeks but I managed to find little ones heartbeat after about 5 minutes definitely babies and not mine lol not told my husband yet going to surprise him later. Super excited

[lynholmerpark]

I see it as offering sensible and evidence based advice judge rather than scaremongering. Good luck with your pregnancy.

[JudgeBooby]

What's to stop a woman picking up a stethoscope during her later months, and using that instead of a doppler? Just because 'some' women will use a doppler to reassure themselves, it doesn't mean all will, and it doesn't mean they are dangerous and should be banned.

As I've said, there is more than enough information out there about the importance of monitoring movements. If that's something you ignore, then that is your prerogative, with or without a doppler in hand.

With all that said, I'll agree to disagree.

[TheDisillusionedAnarchist]

I am a HCP and don't have a problem with sensible use of home dopplers. I used my own in my pregnancy. I can't stand medical paternalism, the
'don't use this you're too stupid, they're only for us elite professionals' stuff.

HCP's should openly discuss home dopplers with parents in antenatal appointments, so they can make an informed choice about their use. They should be told that they tell you precisely nothing apart from the fact that there is a heartbeat present. Midwives can't tell variability from a doppler either, nobody can and infact midwives only listen with a doppler in pregnancy if the mother requests, there is no medical reason to do so. They can be used for fun only but is not clear whether there is any risks to the increased ultrasound exposure for the baby.

Home dopplers are not 'dangerous'. Using them for reassurance when there are signs of problems is dangerous. If health care professionals are clear about when women should seek professional advice and about the risks and benefits of a home doppler then this minimises problems. Banning them merely implies women are too stupid to judge risks and benefits for themselves and their children.

[SweetSuz]

Thanks Disillusioned for a very fair post. I have a doppler. Used it with DS in 1st pregnancy when too early to feel movements but wanted to know he was "there" and feel connected. I also had an anterior placenta, which made monitoring movements very tricky and as they were far more sparse to feel, it was lovely to be able to connect to him in this way.

Using again (though far less often) now pregnant with DD. It grates on me the amount of people who lash out at the majority of women who use them, who like me, are fully aware of importance of counting the kicks/monitoring movement (when this starts) but occasionally just feel like hearing their babies heartbeat. And if you get a decent one, no they are not hard to use, with regular use it becomes very clear what is what and when it is the babies heartbeat or something else.