Are fetal doppler ( to hear babys heartbeat) dangerous?

[Lalla525]

So today went to take a blood test (my company has a private health centre) and the nurse asked if I wanted to listen to baby's heartbeat. I said yes and she did try for 5 minutes before finding the heart (she is not a midwife so she probably does not do it everyday).

Anyway - can the doppler (and the waves it sends) hurt the baby? For one reason or another (bleeding/cramps/general anxiety) I've had many scans this pregnancy and I'm really worried all these waves are hurting baby.

I have my 20w scan soon.

Do you have any knowledge of it? The only articles I can find online discourage people from home use, but they do not say anything about excessive use of Ultrasounds and dopplers).

They are not. The reason some say they are dangerous at home is that people may use them for reassurance that an inactive baby is fine when they should instead be getting checked by a midwife.

No they’re not. I use mine most days; I’m 11 weeks and have had 3 miscarriages so the Doppler helps me stay sane on a day by day basis until I feel him/her move. I’m a sensible, laid back, educated women, I would never use it for reassurance if baby had reduced movements (in fact, I’ll stop using it then) but it has greatly helped me get through the last week and I will continue to use it until my 12 week scan, at least.

Thanks ladies. I feel guilty because there was no medical reason to check - she suggested and I let my anxiety take over.

Also, i had about 10 scans already. Some more justified than others but I feel like I have put baby at risk

I wouldn't use one unless I'd been trained. Too much of a chance both of false panic and false reassurance.

www.kickscount.org.uk/why-we-want-home-doppler-sales-to-be-regulated

Not sure this is relevant to my question. I do not have one and never used one myself. Ot was used to me by a health professional and I'm just wondering if that (+the 10 other scans I had) might be hurting the baby because of the amount of waves (or heat it passes to the body)

It's fine, ultrasound is the safest method for both mother and baby.

The 'danger' of a Doppler is in home use because an untrained person is unlikely to be hearing the baby's heartbeat and so not seeking medical care for reduced movements or concerns rather than the 'waves' affecting baby.

Plenty of women are scanned or have a Doppler used weekly during pregnancy because it's safe.

It’s not dangerous in the way you’re talking about. If it was you would have heard about it or found something online or been told by your midwife or Doctor.

I used mine purely for the joy of listening to a heartbeat and not for reassurance etc! I got checked out etc when something didn't feel right!

No it’s grand and I’ll tell you I had to have them constantly in my pregnancy and the last few weeks I was in hospital every few hours, I now have a happy healthy five week old so don’t worry!!!! As the posters said above, the concern is more that some folk rely on them rather than medical advice for reduced movements.

What on earth was the nurse doing? Unless she is a midwife that is outside her “scope of practice” and she absolutely should not have offered that. If she is not trained she cannot know what she is listening to, of if there is any issue of concern, which is exactly why midwives and obstetricians are firmly against the sale of handheld Doppler to the general public. Rant over.