iPhone apps to hear heartbeat...

[BabyB19]

Do they work, which one, and how early...GO?! 🥰

They're not recommended: www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/pregnancy-news-and-blogs/no-home-scanning-device-doppler-or-app-can-tell-you-if-your-baby-well

A pile of dangerous bollocks.
So are none dopplers by the way, so dangerous. They should be banned from sake!

Sale*

Those apps are fake. They don't produce you the real heartbeat of baby. A phone is not equipped with sensors that can detect a heartbeat in a baby, if they would hospitals and midwifes might use them.

I just used one called BellaBeat Shell that someone on here recommended, it worked beautifully and I heard the heartbeat very different to my own

Thank you, I've read a few similar articles, none say they cause any harm and obviously it would never be used in place of medical appointments and hospital scans etc it's more for my partner as I want to start the bonding for them as soon as poss. I've had a go and can hear it too ☺️

An iPhone can't make you hear a heartbeat of a baby. A Fetal Doppler can but not your phone. Put it on your husband belly and you'll see you'll hear a baby heartbeat in the app too.

@R2D2abc I did exactly that and didn't hear it. Not on my leg or arm or anywhere else you wouldn't expect to hear one

Please don’t use one. It might reassure you that everything is fine when actually you need to see your midwife because something is wrong. That’s why they’re dangerous.

It would never be relied upon to make sure everything is ok, I would ALWAYS keep up with my medical appointments I understand that it is a bit of fun and not a means to make sure I know my baby is ok.

I've read a few similar articles, none say they cause any harm. Yes they do, that’s exactly the point. They cause harm by giving people false reassurance about things being ok. There is a strong consensus of opinion that they are dangerous and most articles say this.

If you’re just going to go ahead and get one anyway, why bother asking here?

Clearly I meant physical harm @EarlGreyT I'm not an idiot and in no way do I think I am a qualified midwife able to confirm if the baby is ok. I was asking if anyone had had any success, you know any nice positive stories, not people bashing on a pregnant woman for asking a simple question. Feel free to leave the thread.

OP I agree with you here. It doesn't cause any physical harm to the baby so why people have issues with other people using it when it doesn't affect their lives in any way is beyond me.

You would have to be pretty stupid if you were worried about something but got false hope from an app. Anyone with common sense would still go to a doctor or midwife if they had real concerns, over taking reassurance off an app.

The apps are lovely ways to bond with the baby, it's free and a bit of fun. I really don't get the issue, so I've come in to defend you OP

I wouldn't be putting a phone anywhere near my growing baby

@OP I used a Fetal Doppler up to the point I could feel baby move. I understand what you say and want and know there can be common sense using this things. I never used it because I had worried about things that should direct me to the midwife or triage.

I still feel that apps can't detect, but who knows. They might have invented new ways now. It would have been interesting to check with my Doppler and with an app to see if it really detects, but I gave away my Doppler as I can feel baby well now.

Thank you @R2D2abc and @Beau2020 i do feel a bit bashed here, exactly what you have just said it's a bit of fun and never to be relied upon. I had a MMC in June and until I have that first scan I'm going to be a nervous wreck. We're all different and that's fine but there's ways and means of saying things. People are so harsh on here and I think they forget people have been through terrible times and when currently pregnant are sensitive anyway. If you don't agree with something have your say by all means but you don't need to make someone feel like a bad mother in the process 😓

If you've not had your 12 week scan yet.... if your phone app is picking anything up it won't be the babies heart beat. Please please don't use this for false reassurance. X

@R2D2abc I did exactly that and didn't hear it. Not on my leg or arm or anywhere else you wouldn't expect to hear one

Yes, but when you hear it on your stomach it's most likely intestinal gases or your own heartbeat.

It is literally just a microphone, that's all. Truly, they are of no use whatsoever and as PP's have said, yes, they can indeed be dangerous.

Thank you @Kelsoooo for a much kinder response x

Hi OP, I don’t think people are being harsh here - more just letting you know the phone apps really are useless. It’s nothing more than a microphone - it’s why all health professionals strongly advise against them! I understand your anxiety having had three MCs myself but if you did want some early reassurance I’d say look in to an early scan - I had a scan this time around at 7 weeks and it was absolute magic. 34 weeks now and all going well. Good luck with your pregnancy and I hope it all goes well for you x

@BabyB19 I’m sorry for your loss, and I understand that this is anxious time for you.

Unfortunately I very much doubt that what you’re hearing is the baby’s heart rate if you are less than 12+1 weeks pregnant, as the baby is too small to be able to detect its heart rate from your abdomen from before then.

It’s actually really difficult to detect the heart rate before 16 weeks, and even then it can can take a while for your MV/Dr to locate it.

What you’re probably hearing is (if you’re in the early stages) is the baby’s placenta, or it can also be your own heart rate which can often be doubled up even when heard through a Doppler by a trained MW/DR.

I appreciate these apps are designed to be a bit of fun, but personally I feel they are likely to cause more anxiety as you simply can’t be sure what it is your hearing.

I don’t think that anyone was trying to be unkind, they were trying to let you know that no app will be able to effectively detect a baby’s heart rate the best way to know that your baby is well is when they start to kick, but I appreciate this will be a few weeks yet if you are in the early stages.

Even a midwife won't look for a heartbeat with a Doppler until your 16 week appointment.
This app does not work and should be banned. Anxiety around pregnancy is horrible, particularly after a miscarriage but anything giving you false reassurance is not helpful.

Also, if you are feeling anxious about this pregnancy, I’d suggest seeking to a charity such as Tommy’s or seeking some counselling through your GP.

No one is making out that you are a bad parent for using these apps.

I would hate anyone to use one of these apps for reassurance if a baby’s movements were reduced and hear their own heartbeat and think everything is fine. We’re all trying to look out for you.

OP, I've had 2 MCs and am 17 weeks. Absolutely terrified of something going wrong. I did download one, but obviously paid little heed - just a bit of reassurance. However, I've now deleted it. Having had a midwife with 20 years experience unable to find the heartbeat last week with a Doppler, then having to rush up to a hospital for a scan (all fine, thank god); I think it would actually do my stress levels more harm than good. It's up to you what you want to do though, completely!

FIW, when I tried the app, I couldn't get it to work. It wouldn't even pick up my own heartbeat.