Home Doppler question please help

[Piper51]

Hi all, I have a question about my home Doppler. I’m 19 weeks 3 days and I use it daily as I have terrible anxiety . I’ve talked the pros and cons through with my dr and he is ok with me using it but I know usually they recommend that they aren’t to be used at home!

Anyway yesterday I used it today. My little boys heartrate is usually in the 150s abs today it went down to about 129-130 for maybe a minute and then went back up to 140s/150s. Does anyone know if this is normal or if this is something i should be concerned about? I’d really love some reassurance from others who have used a Doppler! I’m reading terrible things about da heroes decelerations and worrying myself silly . I have my anatomy scan on Tuesday so I of course plan to discuss with my dr but would love some advice in the meantime!

Thanks in advance

It's absolutely normal. The heart rate goes up and down. I remember mine being 150 sometimes or 140! Just like is it depends on how active it is. You are nearly half way through. Just enjoy the Doppler on a non medical way. Just listen to it without counting and enjoy. I used to love my Doppler xx

Thanks so much! I guess I’m just worried because it went down by like 30 beats but I know I shouldn’t even look at the numbers and just enjoy the sound. :)

You really need to stop using it. It’s not good for your baby or your mental health. This obsessive behaviour isn’t going to go away once the baby is born. You will become that person who sits and watches a video monitor all night long and gets a breathing sensor in the cot.

Have you tried to address the route cause of this anxiety?

I know you've said your doctor approves but this is exactly why people shouldn't be able to purchase the at home dopplers. You're likely to get yourself in more of a state and cause yourself more stress and anxiety which will have an affect on the baby. Please throw it out, or at the very least wean yourself off it. Don't use it for a few days, then a week, then a few weeks etc.

Unless you're a medical professional, you can in no way be sure you're picking up the heart beat of the baby each time.

Things like the sound of various things transferring to and from the placenta can easily be mistaken for baby's heart beat. That's why it's really not a good idea to use home dopplers. One day you might lull yourself into a false sense of security because you're convinced you heard a good heart beat but it might have been something else so you take no action. Please reconsider.

This is exactly why they are dangerous. You are worried but instead of ringing your assessment unit you've asked the internet and someone, who could be anyone, has told you that it is normal. But what are their qualifications? They have not heard and assessed your baby's well-being so what possible basis do they have for saying it is normal?

Don't use a Doppler. Pay attention to your baby's movements and what is normal for them and when you have concerns ring your assessment unit.

Please, please don't rely on a Doppler and the internet.

You need to put that Doppler machine in the bin. It’s not helpful. It can give anxiety for no reason or provide false reassurance. No medical professional will recommend one.

BIN IT
seriously it will just add to anxiety
counting Knicks is much better

www.kickscount.org.uk/Pages/Category/ditch-the-doppler

I completely get the idea of why you want to use it because if there's something to worry about, I'll find it!
But, I'd be concerned your Dr agreed as using it is only going to feed your cycle of anxiety as you'll either keep relying on it to the point it could become a 'need' or as PP's have said, think something is right/wrong incorrectly so it may quell anxiety but not correctly.

You're getting to the point where hopefully movements will be coming in so these are a far better indication of wellness. All sorts of things can influence FHR but I'd never trust myself to know what's right or not. Can you speak to a midwife rather than a Dr about your anxieties and ways you can look for support with this rather than anything else?
Wishing you all the best

Stop using it. They are not reliable and can falsely reassure you when in fact you should be concerned.

This is why the doppler is a bad idea: it can make you more anxious rather than less.

"I have my anatomy scan on Tuesday so I of course plan to discuss with my dr but would love some advice in the meantime!"

I also forgot to add that this sentence is worrying too.

If you have any concern about the well being of your baby doing things like waiting until Tuesday to discuss it with your doctor or asking mumsnet are not good ideas. You need to contact a medical professional immediately. Don't even leave it until tomorrow.

When I had a concern about my baby, we phoned the assessment unit and they wanted to see us just to be on the safe side. We put our bags into the car and drove to hospital at gone 10pm at night. We got checked out by an actual NHS doctor - it turned out to be a false alarm thankfully - and we went home. No way were we going to leave things stewing overnight or ask online for advice. It's just not worth it.

How do you even know you're picking up the heartbeat?

Open the bin n lob it in there. Unless you’re trained you could be listening to anything. Seriously there were women on tv convinced they were pregnant after ultrasounds showing otherwise because they could hear the heart on their Doppler. From being hooked up to the monitor I know ds’s heart rate “changed” when he moved away from the sensor. Midwifes never concerned by it either.

As the midwifes say, any concerns call us.. not google it.

We have resting heart rate and then different ones when we do different activities. This is normal for our unborn babies.

If your doctor instructed you in using it, try giving a call to your doctor and let him know.

I used one up to the point I could feel baby move. It was mostly to hear that baby was still alive.
Terrible pregnancy anxiety here, several miscarriages and one of my baby's died after birth. I understand why you would use it.

But address your concerns with your doctor on this matter as none here can really know a lot about it.