Doppler warning - BBC article *warning - stillborn baby*

[ThomasRichard]

There was an awful story on the BBC news website today about a mother who was worred about a her baby's movement and didn't seek medical help because she found a heartbeat using her doppler at home. Very sadly, the baby was stillborn. Link here.

I work for a company that makes dopplers and other hospital equipment. I'm not representing them in any way but if you ahve a doppler at home it really should only be used for fun/bonding and not ever to check that your baby is ok. It's really easy for someone without the extensive training that a midwife/doctor has to 'find' a heartbeat when it's actually the mum's heartbeat or the placenta. It's also possible to find the baby's heartbeat but not realise that it's abnormal. If you feel like there's something wrong, always phone your midwife or the hospital. They would so much rather check you over and it be a false alarm than not have you come in and something be the matter.

Sorry to be preachy, it just saddens me so much when I see stories like this.

Thank You.. I actually did not know the risks and used one for both my pregnancies. Appreciate the advice.

How many cases have there been where the baby could've been saved but wasn't because the mum felt reassured by the doppler and hasn't sought medical advice?

A sad story. Thank you for raising awareness of this. Until recently I hadn't considered the dangers of a home doppler until someone pointed out the obvious to me - when there's no heartbeat, it's too late. Just because there is a heartbeat does not mean everything is ok, and you need to seek medical advice without delay if concerned about reduced movements etc. A doppler can give false reassurance and cause the mother to delay seeking medical intervention at a stage when something could potentially be done to help the baby.

RebelRogue I've searched the US FDA's adverse event database for medical devices and not found any reports. They have the best database available to the public. My guess is that this is because the products sold for home use are not indicated for clinical use and so aren't regulated as medical devices. It seems a bit daft but if the manufacturer/retailer calls it a 'foetal listening device' rather than a doppler and it's being sold only for fun or bonding purposes then even stillbirths relating to their misuse won't be reportable to the medical device regulators.

Proper medical-grade dopplers will be marketed for professional use only.

So evidence is anecdotal as far as I'm aware but it's been a recognised issue for some time. There was an article on it in the BMJ in 2009: link.

I'm glad posters have found this useful

This is my first pregnancy and I was given a doppler by a friend who had recently given birth. At first I had no idea what I was looking for. I was using it one night and found a heartbeat, got all emotional and made DP listen to it. Turns out it was my own heartbeat....
I then researched the usage of them and learnt the risks and that they were mainly for fun use, to show family/friends the heartbeat.
I eventually found babies heartbeat and now I use it whenever I feel like I need to hear him. I judge how he's doing by the amount of movement and if I ever don't feel him move for a while, I'll get midwife called etc.

So thank you for raising awareness so that other first time mothers are aware.