Home Doppler

[NewMum26]

I'm thinking about buying a home Doppler so me and hubby can hear he baby's heartbeat in between scans. Anyone used one and know if they are easy to use? Just worried I will not find the heartbeat due to not knowing what I'm doing with the Doppler and it will cause me more worry! x

No she explained beforehand that there was a chance she wouldn't be able to find it and gave me the choice whether to have it or not. I imagine if I'd pushed she'd have sent me for a scan, she has a reputation around these parts of being very good with women suffering anxiety.

Actually chaseley can I apologise for using 18 weeks in my example. I checked and you're 17 weeks you say. I plucked 18 out of the air and I'd have used 16 weeks if I'd noticed.

I have one you could have. Pm me and if you are local you can have it.

I used to be a midwife.

The reason you can't usually find a fetal heart pre 16weeks is because the uterus is tucked down very low. Sometimes if you can get the correct angle onto the top of the uterus it can be just about found. But looking for it and not being able to find it (because it is too small) causes more anxiety than it relieves so isn't worth doing. Also, at that gestation it isn't a great indication of fetal well being. It is a snap shot in time.

When the FH is listened to in clinic, midwives aren't just finding that it is there. The speed, pattern, changes in the HR, how it changes - are all important. An untrained ear hearing that there is a HR present probably will think yep, it's there all good. I would have pre-midwifery training. It forms part of a clinical assessment, it isn't the whole thing.

On the whole, I don't think home dopplers are a good thing. I wouldn't advise using one.

GiddyOnZackHunt no worries! I'm not a major worrier and to be fair I hadn't noticed until you'd said! I use the Doppler only when with my mum, haven't used it over a week especially as I've had quite a few scans to date & have one in 2.5 weeks so I'm happy to wait, have only just had a scan Monday xx

Thanks for all your replies ladies! Im really impressed in this forum you seem to get a lot more replies than on NetMums.
I am going to leave buying one and wait until my midwife appointment in 2 weeks to hear the heartbeat I am such a worrier anyway I think I would freak out if I couldn't use it properly and not hear anything. Thanks again ladies x

I waited 5 years to get pregnant and was told it was a high risk pregnancy which made my extremely anxious. My Doppler was a godsend for my anxiety and I easily found the heartbeat from about 14 weeks and used it until I felt movement and now feel no need for it.