Would you get a Doppler? 10 weeks

[jjjjohn]

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a Doppler just to listen to the heartbeat before my 12 week scan. I would probably just rent it for the month as after that I wouldn't be too bothered and wouldn't want to not find it one day. I am 10 weeks + 4 days have many people found the heartbeat at 10 weeks? What are the chances 😊 xx

Don’t bother. Those things do little but cause anxiety or give false reassurance.

No. Cause more anxiety than ever.

I actually liked mine but I was fortunate and was able to find heartbeat straight away from 9 weeks. I think if I hadn't had been able it could have caused a lot more stress than it resolved, and at 10 weeks it can be really difficult even for trained professionals to find it. I'd probably recommend just waiting until your scan. The reassurance it gives is fleeting anyway –it only lasts for as long as you listen and then a short while after!

I liked ours. We've still got it actually. It was second hand.

You have to really search... I'd recommend doing it after your hospital scan, then you can see how much a root they do to try and find baby. It's so lovely to hear the heartbeat... I always found it very emotional

Also I've put mine into storage now I can feel baby move. Dopplers can give false reassurance and make people less likely to seek attention for reduced movements later in pregnancy, so if you do get one, don't rely on it as evidence your baby is OK if you are worried about something.

They are a bad idea. A 'heartbeat' at 10 weeks is more likely to be the placenta or hepatic artery. They give false reassurance.

Even a midwife can struggle to find a heartbeat before about 14-16 weeks because the baby is so small, hence why they don’t do it at your earlier antenatal appointments. And if you do pick up a ‘heartbeat’ it could be the cord or your own stomach. They can give you false reassurance that everything is ok, and cause stress if you can’t find the heartbeat. I’d avoid and if you suspect something is wrong like reduced movements later on then get straight in touch with your midwife/doctor.

I used mine a lot at around 16 weeks,I also loves hearing ds kick about in there as he got bigger

I personally wouldn't use one as pp have already said they give false reassurance

No - it can be really hard to find the heartbeat that early on so you might just end up worrying unnecessarily if you can’t find it. Even if you hear it one day, the baby might move into a different position where it can’t be heard the next day.

I understand why you would want one for reassurance and I agree with previous posters about not getting one. However, sometimes you just need the reassurance despite knowing what the guidelines state, especially if you have dealt with a previous loss etc.
I used mine from around 11 weeks to around 16 weeks as I found that was the time my pregnancy symptoms disappeared and for me - it was the only reassurance I had as I wasn't far enough to feel any movement. As soon as I did feel the baby moving I stopped using it and used the baby's kicks as reassurance. From about 25 weeks I used an app called kicks count to monitor baby's movements. Good luck with your pregnancy.

Thanks guys! I'm not sure now... I really want to try it for the reassurance and I would be fully aware that if I didn't find anything it could well be just too early. @Dmt80 like you said having a previous miscarriage earlier this year it could be just what I need to stop the worrying ...

I think you need to be honest with yourself and ask if you'd really be OK with not finding it. I had that mindset going in but I think if I hadn't found it I'd have been really quite panicky and anxious.

I wouldn't bother, unless you're medically trained and can tell the difference between your own heartbeat/ the placenta and the baby's.

I had my 16 week GP check last week and the doctor said he was very reluctant to try the Doppler as the chances of him being able to find the heartbeat weren't great compared to a midwife, and he didn't want to cause unnecessary worry and a needless trip to the hospital. If a trained medical professional isn't confident using them accurately, I wouldn't hold out much hope for a layman.

No way, please don't.

I wouldn't. My SIL had false reassurance with one.

Also, the Kicks Count charity have launched a campaign to ban the purchase and sales of home dopplers which is supported by NHS England.

I know mine gave me the reassurance I needed for having a previous loss. I suffered from terrible anxiety and worry from the outset so for me i chose to use it. You could always have a chat to your midwife about it. I did with mine and she was very understanding, again reiterated that movements are what counts. You probably already know that but that's not going to reassure you now.

Every midwife and OB I’ve spoken thinks they are a bad idea for home use.

With my last pregnancy at 20 weeks my midwife with 15 + years of experience took 20 minutes to find my baby’s heartbeat. The scary thing was that at least three times I thought she’d found it when it wasn’t the heartbeat.

I used one in my last pregnancy. I watched YouTube videos on where to find the baby at whatever weeks. I found the baby easier to find at earlier weeks like 10-12 and then from 16 onwards the baby moved too much for me to find so I stopped using.
I’m 95% sure I found the right heartbeat as my own was lower and the placenta heartbeat was quite distinctive so if I’d find that I’d move on.

It was solely for use before I could feel movements so I never used when I wasn’t sure if I could feel movement so I don’t agree really with the fake reassurance as that early on there’s nothing you could have done anyway.

That being said, I have decided NOT to use this pregnancy. It will stress me out if I can’t find easily and I just have to trust my body and trust what will be will be. If I’m really nervous I’ll book a private scan. I have no interest in using the Doppler this time.

I wouldn't. It's difficult sometimes to find a heartbeat even if you are medically trained. (I had a consultant appointment yesterday, there was an F2 in and I was asked if I minded if she listened to the heartbeat. Not at all - except she couldn't find it. I knew all was well because I was being kicked well, headbutted, apparently and the consultant found it straight away (F2 was looking in completely the wrong place).

If it had been at an earlier stage in my pregnancy (am 31 weeks) or my bladder wasn't being used as a bongo drum at that precise moment, I may have been distressed by it.

i really want to try it for the reassurance and I would be fully aware that if I didn't find anything it could well be just too early.

That’s easy to say and very hard to do.

Doppler are a terrible idea for all the reasons already stated. They’re not recommended by doctors and midwives (isn’t that all you need to know) and often they can’t easily find heartbeats. Really bad idea.

Just a thought... how much does it cost to hire one? Would you not be just as well going on groupon and paying for an early reassurance scan? At 16 weeks it took 3 midwives to find DD’s heartbeat (terrifying!) so it’s not the easiest thing to find! And if this was the case you’d most likely end up paying for a scan anyway

I loved mine, and used it from about 12 weeks. It's really not that hard to tell the difference between baby's heartbeat, placenta, you etc as they sound very different. I used it for fun though, and as a way of bonding, rather than reassurance. I think give it a miss if you're at all anxious about it, and if you can't just view it as 'fun'. Obviously it should never be used to delay help if there is a lack of movement etc.

I'm probably going to dig it out and have a poke around tonight. I'm 10 weeks, so not holding my breath, but we'll see.