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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Doppler or no doppler?

37 replies

Cj0902 · 27/01/2018 10:33

Hi everyone I'm currently in two minds if i should buy a doppler, I'm 17 weeks 2 days and been feeling flutters for a few weeks on and off and very faint but the last two days I haven't felt anything and I've been so upset with worry, I have called the maternity assessment unit and they told me not to worry but I can't help it, it's really stressing me out and I'm so worried I feel like the only thing I can do to help me ease my worry is to buy a doppler but I've heard so many bad things about them! Shall I just ask the hospital to try and listen or shall I just try and put it all to the back of my head and have faith all is ok? I only had a scan 6 days ago and everything was fine but I still can't help worrying what a wrong with me!?! Hope you can all help

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Lillylollylandy · 27/01/2018 10:40

17 weeks is still very early for consistent movements. A Doppler will not help, because unless you’ve been trained in using it, you won’t know what’s normal and you’ll panic yourself even more. Try to relax - give it a few more weeks and you’ll find baby’s movements should be stronger and more regular.

Catatlarge · 27/01/2018 10:42

No! Don’t!
They can cause so much false panic. People who aren’t trained buy them. And then don’t hear anything and panic.

People also buy them, use them, think everything is fine but actually they have been listening to their own heart rate.
Don’t do it.
Stick to medical advice, go with your gut and seek more if needed. But please don’t buy one

greatbigwho · 27/01/2018 10:43

Please don't buy a Doppler. If you're worried, speak to your midwife - unless you're medically trained, you cant guarantee you're hearing the heartbeat and you won't be able to interpret what you hear.

stargirl1701 · 27/01/2018 10:46

Don't buy a Doppler. Talk to your midwife and your GP about your anxiety.

ChocolateButton15 · 27/01/2018 10:53

There's a charity called count the kicks which makes a good point about Dopplers. They say everyone has a heartbeat until they don't. A heartbeat doesn't guarantee everything is healthy and could lead to you putting off getting help, we aren't trained to know if the heartbeat is healthy. You could pick up your own heartbeat. 17 weeks is too early to be worrying about movement, the baby is tiny. They say to monitor movement after 24 weeks.

Buxbaum · 27/01/2018 10:59

If you’re already prone to worry then a home doppler will only make it worse.

I’m 18 weeks. I saw the community midwife on Tuesday who managed to find the fetal heartbeat immediately with a Doppler. Literally the next day I saw the consultant. Both he and the hospital midwife tried and failed for fifteen minutes to find the heartbeat, before nipping down the corridor to find a sonographer who quickly scanned me to show that all was well.

If an obstetric consultant and an experienced midwife struggled then I wouldn’t have had a hope with a home machine. Wait a few weeks and you will find that the kicks become stronger and more frequent, which is the most important and reliable reassurance of all.

Lilonetwo · 27/01/2018 11:00

I bought one. An angelsounds Doppler from amazon for about £30

It really gave me peace of mind. I could hear the heartbeat from 9 weeks.

However sometimes in early weeks I couldn't always hear it. So you have to bare in mind that if you can't find the heartbeat it doesn't mean it isn't there- it might just be hiding!

You also have to be able to distinguish between your (the mother) heartbeat and the baby's heartbeat. I am a HCP, but you don't need training to do this (on YouTube there will be videos that show you- baby's heartrate will be much much faster than yours- around 150 BPM)

Pugsleypugs · 27/01/2018 11:00

Don't get a Doppler, if you're as anxious as you already are it's not going to help you at all and likely will only add to your worry.

Early on I found I also had days when I didn't feel anything. I either had a sleepier baby or I was too busy to notice. I'm not saying ignore your instincts but I'm just trying to say that you should find that as your pregnancy progresses the flutters turn to kicks and then you'll notice them more and notice your baby's pattern.

mollifly · 27/01/2018 11:03

Don't buy one they are unreliable and a waste of time and money. My regular movements didn't start until 25 weeks and although I understand it's a very anxious time you do need to try and relax. Maternity wards won't monitor your movements until 28 weeks.

Girlwiththearabstrap · 27/01/2018 11:11

17 weeks is too early to notice any pattern of movements, and even midwives don't usually routinely listen in at the 16 week appt because finding it can be tricky. If trained medical professionals with proper equipment can't find it easily then an untrained ear with a bit of kit off of Amazon isn't going to manage either. I'm a bit at the poster above claiming to be a healthcare practitioner saying you can train yourself to hear the different sounds from YouTube. It's a bit more complex than just listening for 150 bpm. This article explains the dangers of home dopplers.

www.kickscount.org.uk/want-ban-home-dopplers/

Speak to your midwife or GP if anxiety is taking over.

LampHat · 27/01/2018 11:30

Please don’t rely on a Doppler for reassurance!

When I was pregnant, I couldn’t feel my baby moving at 36 weeks so went in for monitoring. His heartbeat on the trace looked fine to me (163 bpm), but that wasn’t what the midwives were looking for. The heart rate was static and he still wasn’t moving. It was actually an emergency situation as he was completely unresponsive, and they sectioned him out 30 minutes later. He was not breathing at birth, but after some oxygen a few days in neonatal was discharged and is now a happy healthy toddler.

It scares me that if I’d had a Doppler for reassurance, I probably would have delayed going to hospital as his heartbeat sounded fine to me, and he might well not be here today. I now completely understand why so many advise against having a Doppler!

If you’re ever worried about lack of movement (once it’s more consistent after 24 weeks ish) go and get monitored. They’d much rather see you and tell you that all is fine (which it normally is!) rather than have you jumping to conclusions at home. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

Original poster

Cj0902 · 27/01/2018 11:43

Thank you so much for all your advice I really appreciate it, I think I'm so anxious because I had a missed miscarriage last year and it just plays on my mind so much. I was ten weeks when that happend but I'm 17 weeks now and all scans have been perfect and we're having a little girl.
I won't buy a doppler and I will try and think positive from now on, my bump is getting bigger so I suppose that is a good sign.

OP posts:

Twitchett22 · 27/01/2018 14:51

I'm medically trained (although no clue about anything maternity related) and the hardest thing about the first two trimesters for me was just letting the midwives do their job. I felt helpless knowing that my baby's care was in their hands and i didnt know if my midwife was thorough/good at her job etc. But you have to just trust them, i phoned at 22 weeks to say i couldn't feel any movements and they told me it was too early for a pattern, i was beside myself but later that night she did her first visible kick. You just have to sit back and let them do their job, even though you feel completely out of control. Obvs still phone them if you are concerned though but trust what they tell you. It gets easier when babys bigger and their movements are completely obvious

Nikki2ol6 · 27/01/2018 14:53

I have a Doppler and I’m 16 weeks. I have been using it for a few weeks now to listen to my baby, you don’t need trained to use it, it’s not rocket science, my heart beat is around 80 and often picked up on the Doppler and of course I know it’s mine and not my baby. My baby has a heart rate of around 165 so I know when I find him. Don’t ever use it in late pregnancy if you are worried about movements always go to MAU, otherwise in early and middle pregnancy it’s fine

CL1982 · 27/01/2018 15:51

Oh I am so divided here! My head says no don't do it. BUT after x3 miscarriages and a LOT of anxiety the second hand Doppler I had actually was amazingly reassuring until the baby started moving and then I sold it ASAP. DH really didn't like me having it.

I think if you honestly think it will help reassure you do it. But don't rely on it. If you feel twinges/pains etc go straight to your midwives. And get rid of it as soon as bubs starts moving. Do remember you probs won't hear much before 14 weeks and have a good research online for whatbis the baby's heartbeat and what is the echo from the placenta.

CL1982 · 27/01/2018 15:52

As in I could FEEL the baby moving 😂 obviously it was wiggling around before that!!!!

Girlwiththearabstrap · 27/01/2018 16:18

I'm probably being irrationally grumpy here. But are people seriously saying that being trained to use a Doppler is just a case of googling sounds and using something you buy off of Amazon? Why on earth hasnt the nhs clocked on to this amazing money saving notion?
The link I posted upthread explains the possibility of hearing the maternal heartbeat doubled etc and therefore thinking it's baby's.

My SIL is a midwife. A few years ago she had a really sad case where a woman had a MMC before 20 weeks. She'd been using a Doppler as reassurance and thought she heard the baby. She clearly hadnt.

Obviously the home Doppler doesn't cause those things. But at best it provides no reassurance and at worst it's dangerous as it's put women off seeking help.

Passmethecakeplease · 27/01/2018 17:07

But are people seriously saying that being trained to use a Doppler is just a case of googling sounds and using something you buy off of Amazon?

You'd hope people weren't so silly, wouldn't you!

I've heard of people relying on Dopplers, thinking they know what they're doing when actually they're picking up their own heart beat or other movements which could sound like a heartbeat.

DeadButDelicious · 27/01/2018 17:37

But are people seriously saying that being trained to use a Doppler is just a case of googling sounds and using something you buy off of Amazon?

So glad someone has said this.

Google and YouTube are not a substitute for proper medical training.

Please don't buy one, I understand, I do, my first daughter died at 20 weeks, the pregnancy with my second was filled with worry. I was terrified the whole time. I get it.

A Doppler is a piece of medical equipment, that you are not trained to use. If you are worried, speak to your midwife they may be able to get you extra scans or monitoring as reassurance.

zaalitje · 27/01/2018 17:54

You do need to be trained to use a doppler FFS!
Do you know the difference between a good and bad heart beat?
Are you sure that what you are picking up isn't your own blood supply to uterus (my consultant checked this yesterday on a scan, I thought it was the heartbeat to start with) or that you are not listening to the cord or an artery?
I could probably use a scan machine to pick up an image, bet you could too, but could you honestly and safely understand what that image is telling you?
The sheer arrogance of people when it comes to these bloody things, it's dangerous.
There is a reason Count the Kicks want home use doppler banned, but still people think they know best!

1stX · 27/01/2018 18:09

Please take it from me, currently laying in a hospital bed and being monitored 2x a day now, LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

I’ve been watching babies heart pretty much all week and just when I think it’s normal the midwives have started worrying.

I’m not saying this to frighten you. What’s happening to me is rare but for goodness sake don’t try and work things out for yourself. Things can go very wrong that way.

user1499786242 · 27/01/2018 18:12

Lamphats post says it all really

Count the kicks absolutely do not recommend them, they are trying to get them banned! They are an incredible and knowledgable charity so I would be inclined to follow their advice

I also had a leaflet in my maternity pack warning against dopplers

I did actually have one in my first pregnancy, only used it before I could feel movements thankgod! Threw it in the bin once I saw the count for kicks campaign

Pregnancy is such an anxious time, but honestly, a Doppler isn't the way to ease that!

Passmethecakeplease · 27/01/2018 18:14

I really wish they would get banned from general sale.

Lilonetwo · 27/01/2018 22:49

It's very very easy to distinguish between a foetal heart beat and an adult heart beat.

If you bought one. It's nice to hear the baby's heart. I used it until my movements were more regular... As a way to bond with my baby. It made me feel happy. If I couldn't hear it (only happened once) I knew the baby was just lying in an awkward position so tired again later.

I wouldn't trust it if I was worried. It was more of a fun thing for my DH and I to listen in.

Buxbaum · 27/01/2018 23:09

It’s pretty clear from her first post that OP is struggling with crippling worry to the point of anxiety. With the greatest of respect to her, I don’t think she would be able to be quite so sanguine about being unable to find the fetal heartbeat.

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