Hb in 2 different places - home doppler

[heatherxo]

It's possible.... right?
Just found 2 different heartbeats, definitely baby as a LOT faster than mine.
Is it possible I'm picking up the same hb? One was about an inch to the right, and the other 3 inch to the left (of belly button).
I'm almost 12 weeks, not got scan till Tuesday.
Please tell me I'm delusional

[FlaviaAlbia]

People aren't accusing you of lying. You believe what you're saying, that's not lying.

People are pointing out that even trained midwifes can make mistakes and find it difficult to identify what if definitely a hb from the mother or baby or placenta so it's very unlikely that anyone will he able to answer your question accurately.

I hope time goes quickly until your scan

[Lj8893]

Sorry I misunderstood when you said belly button. Yes it is possible you could be hearing FH at 12 weeks, unusual to be able to but not completely impossible. Probably is your placenta or cord that is the 2nd "HR". Generally they will sound more whooshy/muffled, whereas a FHR should sound more clip clop or trainlike.

I appreciate you didn't ask for advice on using dopplers, but I stand by my stance and view that they can be dangerous and shouldn't be used by anybody other than a trained professional. I have seen 1st hand the trauma caused by a false reassurance. Heartbreaking.

Your midwife shouldn't be advocating your use of a Doppler either.

[DT2016]

I found my baby’s heartbeat fairly easily on a home Doppler at 10 weeks. I also knew there was a problem when I couldn’t find the heartbeat the following week. Confirmed mmc at private scan the following day

I found having a home Doppler reassuring during my first pregnancy. I can understand that they can cause undue stress however.

Perhaps the second heartbeat you can hear is the placenta or maybe you’re having twins?!

Good luck op xx

[Lj8893]

DT sorry to hear about your loss.

It's not about them causing undue stress etc.

For example a lady in later pregnancy might think she's not felt her baby move or the movements have changed. So not wanting to be a nuisance to maternity staff far too common a feeling women feel!) she uses her home Doppler, hears her babies heart rate and is reassured. However her babies movements have changed as they are distressed or the placenta is not functioning very well, which the woman has not picked up on in the HR. The baby continues to be distressed and sadly passes away in utero. If the woman had not used her Doppler and just gone to the maternity unit to seek advice they would have picked up on the distress occurring and delivered the baby, avoiding a stillbirth.

[VinIsGroot]

OP... How exciting !!???
I used Doppler's with 3dc and had no problems at all... I became an expert !!! When you've lost a child you need that reassurance !!!
Let us know how you get on!!!

[VinIsGroot]

OP... How exciting !!???
I used Doppler's with 3dc and had no problems at all... I became an expert !!! When you've lost a child you need that reassurance !!!
Let us know how you get on!!!

[MaryShelley1818]

I've lost a child and still would never ever even contemplate using one, extremely irresponsible and unprofessional of a MW to advise you to not only use one but to look for a HB that early - she should be struck off.
OP I hope you get some reassurance at your scan and all goes well. People are only meaning to be helpful even though it sounds harsh as it's well known not to use home dopplers, they really should be banned.

[orangeowls]

A home Doppler got me through my second pregnancy after a MMC in my first. They aren’t dangerous - people using them for false reassurance instead of getting symptoms like reduced movement checked out is dangerous. I used mine until I could feel my baby move, it kept me going through a very difficult time. Banning them is very unfair, what they need to do is educate people how to use them safely.

[whereisforever]

What were the rates of the heartbeats you could hear?

[thingymaboob]

One heart beat will be baby and another will be the placenta. My obstetrician always says "that's your placenta' then moves it and then finds the baby's heart rate. Home dopplers are a waste of money and cause anxiety in my opinion. Look how much anxiety it's causing you!

[MooChops89]

I'm a midwife, 12+5 myself and have been using a Doppler on myself successfully for the last 2 weeks. It's definitely baby I'm hearing.

[MooChops89]

And to add - I wouldn't advise any pregnant woman in my care to use one instead of seeking medical advice, like others have said, but until I am able to feel my baby move it reassures me that it's still alive every time I hear it.

[thingymaboob]

Yes @MooChops89 but that's different as you are a midwife and know what you're listening to. I'm a paramedic and do my own ECG etc, it's obviously different if you're trained to use it

[messyjessy17]

glastongal so you're saying I should just sit and let people tell me I'm pretty much lying

Yes. There is no way you are getting foetal heartbeats at home on a doppler you bought yourself.
You're not even in the right area!

[T00ManyB00ks]

I’m under the impression that the home dopplers are basically cheap versions of the professional (and very expensive) versions used by midwives. I know people are saying they are useful but i’m not sure i’d believe they are accurate!

[Esined1976]

Ive been picking up the fetal heartbeat clearly since 9 Weeks 3 days, always in a single very specific spot.

[Esined1976]

Mine is around 168 bpm. I had one last pregnancy too and found it from 10.5 weeks onwards.

[Esined1976]

Sorry, forgot to say that I am now 12.5 weeks and mine is much lower down than the belly button. It's Just at the top of the bone that's down there.

[buzzmoon]

How did your scan go OP?

[BabyDreams2018]

With the doppler you can pick up Mum's heartbeat, baby's heartbeat, pulse of the placenta so there is a lot of different rates going on. The baby's hr will change if they are sleeping. I'm sorry for your previous loss. Hope the scan went well and you got some reassurance.

[Sam91TRS15]

I haven't read all the replies but I'm sorry you are getting so much negativity about the Doppler. For what it's worth, I found the heartbeat in two really different places before my 9 week scan (defo baby), but I only have one baby in there! They aren't the best machines in the world, but even with feeling kicks now I still like to hear the heartbeat every now and again. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your twin

[AutumnLeavesandCandleLights]

You can definitely pick up the same heartbeat twice. I'm 31 weeks pregnant and most definitely only carrying one child, but at several midwife appointments a heartbeat has been found on both sides of my stomach.

[Loosemoose28]

I am going to be very blunt here.

A doppler tells you that baby has a heart beat. A dying baby or a baby in distress has a heartbeat and to a untrained ear may sound normal. If you are not trained to use one then please PLEASE don't use it for reassurance. Early pregnancy I can understand the reassurance and to play with its fun. But if your worried a sonicaid gives 0% reassurance.

[Loosemoose28]

And for those "playing" yes you can easily get heart beats in several places because a doppler is ultrasound technology and amniotic fluid allows baby heart rate sound waves to travel through if that makes sense?