Home use doppler

[Miajesse97]

Okay ladies so some may think I shouldn't use one maybe because I'm not professional and maybe because I will drive myself insane if I don't find heartbeat but I wanted to get a doppler to use at home to check on little ones heartbeat when I'm having my bad days( I have a severe anxiety disorder and trying to not medicacate during pregnancy) but anyway I thought this could be a good idea for reassurance? Anyone else got one and used it themselves? I'm 15 weeks on Saturday .. should I wait a little longer or is it okay now?

Please don't. They shouldn't be on sale, and it's dangerous to use one without the correct training

A home doppler is really not the fix for your anxiety and I would suggest speaking to your midwife or GP for further support

Please don’t get one, they really aren’t recommended. They can result in false reassurance with sometimes tragic consequences. It’s not just about hearing a heartbeat, midwives are trained to assess rate and rhythm to detect any signs of problems.

Are you seeing your midwife soon? They will check the heartbeat at around 16 weeks. Please have a chat with your midwife about all of this

I used one, I lost my first baby to a MMC and was very worried/depressed in my second pregnancy - it kept me sane in the early days. Yes they are dangerous later on if you have reduced movements and don't get them checked because you hear a heartbeat but early on I never found any reason not to use them. I knew it was difficult to find the heartbeat and I wouldn't always get it, it didn't worry me if I couldn't find it for a few days.

Also I found once I started feeling movements I hardly ever used it. When I had reduced movements I always got them checked out and my midwife never listened to the heartbeat so it was nice to hear her.

Please don't OP, you aren't trained to interpret what you hear, you may hear the cord not HB, you may pick up an artery in the area, and you don't know what a healthy heartbeat sounds like and what are the warning signs to look out for.

It could give you false reassurance when you should be seeking attention from medical professionals.

That's without the worry you'd feel not picking the HB up straight away

Oh please don’t lovey, I understand the anxiety but I really think at best you might drive yourself nuts, and at worst you could get false reassurance as pp have said. Talk to your midwife or gp about your anxiety, there is help available.

As others have said, they aren't recommended. It is not the best solution for managing anxiety. If it's becoming severe speak to your midwife or GP for help.

I’ll admit I used to one to combat my severe anxiety I had due to a MMC. I only used it until I could feel kicks and now I wouldn’t touch it if I had concerns. There were a couple of times I didn’t find a heartbeat and I tried my best not to panic and try shift positions to try and eventually find it.

I used one from about 11 weeks. I too had severe anxiety after multiple losses and it kept me sane. I asked my GP about it (at my dhs insistence) and he said if I was finding baby's heartbeat fairly easily and it was making me less anxious then it was ok. I never used it to reassure myself about movement though, a Doppler should not be used to ease your mind about reduced movement. I know my advice goes against the grain but some people don't know what it's like to be crippled with anxiety - you will do anything to ease it.

I commented earlier saying please don't get one.

I also have extreme anxiety following a number of unsuccessful pregnancies, (check out my freak outs on the mc thread to see what I mean!) There was a point where I wanted one but I knew it would make my anxiety worse.
I'd have ended up taking it to work so I could nip out and check mid day, then getting in a panic if I couldn't use it or couldn't pick up the HB

It's a peice of medical equipment that I am not trained to use. Much as I could probably use an ultrasound wand to pick up an image of my baby, I sure as hell couldn't tell you what that image meant, do you think you could?

Another no from me.
I had my lb on Thursday but had been admitted earlier in the week with preeclampsia and I overheard the midwife explaining to another lady why she shouldn't be using one at home.
The same reasons everyone has said here. They would much rather you went to the hospital 20 times to be checked than use a Doppler at home and misinterpret what you hear. A heartbeat doesn't mean everything is ok.

I got one and it panicked me as I couldn't find a heart beat. They aren't worth it. Just wait to see your midwife

No one has ever ever ever said this is a good idea. Try to listen to reason over your anxiety - after all anxiety is not reasonable!

You would be much better off starting some hypnobirthing anti anxiety meditations which will actually reduce your anxiety, prepare you for the birth and make you feel better.

Katharine Graves is the market leader - her tapes are on iTunes. Hypnobirthing is very beneficial for anxiety and for making the birth less painful.

At 15 weeks there is no point imo. I used one early in both of my previous pregnancies and earlier in this one (I gave up this time because I’m bigger so it was more hassle than it was worth!)... you shouldn’t use them once you can feel kicks because that should be your only real guide as to if baby is okay. A Doppler is great to stave anxiety early on, but shouldn’t be used later as it can give a false sense of security (if you’re concerned always go in and be monitored, don’t do it yourself).
TLDR; at 15 weeks i wouldn’t waste your money! You’ll be feeling kicks within the next few weeks

Please don't. I understand, I do, my first daughter died late in pregnancy and I spent my second completely and utterly terrified from start to finish. Have you thought about asking for extra monitoring/scans for reassurance?

As a PP have said, it's a piece of medical equipment that you are not trained to use. If you have an anxiety disorder it could make things worse not better.

Op I completely understand why you would be tempted - honestly I do - but please read this - www.kickscount.org.uk/want-ban-home-dopplers/

Please also explain how anxious you are to your midwife rather than using a Doppler. My community midwife has been more than happy to book extra appointments for me in addition to the routine one, and the midwives at the hospital have said to go in if I have any concerns - they are completely consistent about saying this to everyone and would ALWAYS rather see you if you’ve any concern.

I have a doppler. I think they are great if you are anxious. You won't use it once the baby settles into a regular movement pattern, there's just no need. But for between now and then they are great.

I think sometimes people assume you're going to use it if your baby hasn't moved in a while, but being anxious, you'd be straight on the phone to the hospital.

I use it between 9 and 20ish weeks whenever I feel panicked. I know it doesn't mean baby is 100% ok, but it does mean their heart is beating, and that means I can relax a little and breath!

Plus it's nice for your OH to listen too. Xx

I used it between like 7weeks and until I could feel movement and even then used it! It totally helped me with my anxiety and I knew that any reduced movement or any other concern I wouldn’t use it as a home remedy.
I really think it’s up to you as an adult to make an informed and sensible choice for yourself.
Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy