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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Did anyone buy their own doppler?

25 replies

feedmenow · 12/09/2007 15:42

Just wanted to pick the brains of anyone with any experiences please!

On line some of them say you can hear heartbeat from 10-12 weeks. Can this really be true? How early did real people really hear a heartbeat? How easy/difficult was it to find? Were there ever any moments of panic when you couldn't find it?

Thanks all!

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Pheebe · 12/09/2007 16:05

I found DS2 at 8 weeks, but this is very very unusual and I expect was luck, pressing very hard and an expensive doppler! MW also heard it so before anyone tells me thats impossible I have an independent witness!!

I found my dopper an absolute godsend in both this and my previous pregnancy as I have had multiple mcs. Having said that, you have to accept that sometimes in the early stages you just won't find the heartbeat and it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I checked about the same time every day (evenings after a bath) and did not allow myself to check at any other time. Also didn't let myself spend more than 20 minutes trying.

It isn't for everyone and I think unless you can be really strict with yourself and not panic because you can't find the HB one day, you perhpas shouldn't get one.

Sarahjct · 12/09/2007 16:10

Me too. I didn't rely on it too much at first. Kept grinning and saying 'ooh I can hear it' then realising it was my heartbeat I was cooing over!

Now at 23 weeks it's a godsend. My LO has been very quiet the last couple of days after being very wriggly. I was really worried until I got out the doppler and could hear all was fine. I'd have gone mental without it.

geordiemacminx · 12/09/2007 16:14

Bought one after m/c from anawiz.com who I cant reccomend enough, you can hire and after 5 months its yours to keep.

Agree with other posters, you have to strict and maybe limit yourself to once a day or whatever, I heard heartbeat from about 12 weeks, always helped to have a full bladder.

Original poster

feedmenow · 12/09/2007 16:19

Thank you both. So at what sort of stage did it become relatively easy to find the heartbeat? I have to confess that I had mine delivered today (doppler that is!) and just gave it a quick go (albeit at my desk at work while no-one else was in the office!) but couldn't find anything. I'll have another little go at home later in quieter, calmer surroundings. (Am 13+1 BTW) My mw told me that if I was concerned between my scan and my 16 week appt then I could see her at 14 weeks to check the heartbeat, but I won't allow myself to worry if it is still very hit and miss this early on!

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Original poster

feedmenow · 12/09/2007 16:20

Ooh, another reply! Should have said thank you all! And I'll give the full bladder thing a try to, thanks geordie.

OP posts:

geordiemacminx · 12/09/2007 16:21

lie on bed, full bladder, start quite low down. Also if you run out of the gel stuff, KY jelly works the same.

missnatalie · 12/09/2007 16:57

I bought one at 10w PG it did take a while to find the heartbeat then but now at 17w i find it straight away. My doppler is the my best pregnancy buy so far. Id be going out of my mind by now if i sisnt have it (had MMC at easter).

Another thing that works if your gel runs out is hair gel. I bought a cheap pot from ASDA for 27p (ASDA price) and that worked jus as good.

Oh and i still cant find the HB if im stood up. Lying down is a must.

mumzyof2 · 12/09/2007 16:57

Glad I saw this, have spent all afternoon looking for one on the internet. What kind, or make did everybody buy, and was it worth/not worth the money? Iv read lots of bad reviews about the Angel one that Mothercare and Boot sell. Its about 40 pounds, and says it can detect the hertbeat at 21-22 weeks, but theres so many bad reviews about it, Iv decided against. There seems like a lot of good ones on the internet. I want one that detects at 10-12 weeks, the cheapest Iv seen is around 70 pounds. Has anybody got a make or model to recommend?

geordiemacminx · 12/09/2007 17:31

can reccommend the ones that are sold on anawiz.com, the woman was so helpful, next day delivery and most of the models have digital display so you can tell whether it is your hearteat or babys.

ClaphamLauren · 12/09/2007 17:42

I bought one yesterday that arrived today from Ana Wiz, can echo everything that geordie says, really helpful lady and prompt delivery.

I paid £45 + delivery to buy an ex rental one. Found the heartbeat this afternoon in the loo at work in seconds! I'm 13+5. Would really reccommend buying one. For an extra £10 you can get one that displays the HR on an LCD screen if you wanted that too...

Sarahjct · 12/09/2007 17:58

I bought an Angelsounds one and never had any problems with it. It's very basic, no bells and whistles but I didn't know about LCD displays when I bought it! Paid about £35 all in from ebay.

Just close all the windows before you use them - you'd be surprised how noisy cars are when you're trying to listen for a 12wk heartbeat!

Wish I'd known about the hair gel though, before I spent a fortune on gel on ebay!

Alfie72 · 12/09/2007 18:45

I was very lucky to be lent one by a nursing friend of mine but I think you can hire them too.
I would only recommend using one if you know what you're listening for- your M/w will be able to teach you the best positions and the sounds - placental blood flow and foetal heart rate can be difficult to differentiate if you aren't used to it.
I think maybe try and do the listening in your second trimester as the baby is ofetn difficult to chase in the first, moves more freely.
I tended to focus more on foetal movements to be honest. I think you can becoem a little too focused on technology sometimes !!

mears · 12/09/2007 18:52

As a midwife I really worry about this.

It is extremely difficult to find an FH less than 16 weeks if babe is not in an ideal position. So they can cause more anxiety than reassurance.

Once the baby is moving, listening in with a doptone if the baby has not moved for a while could be false reassurance. Even though you can hear a heartbeat, it does not mean there isn't a problem. A baby that has stopped moving as much as before should be a trigger for the mum to see the midwife/doctor.

I really think monitors should be used in trained hands - I think women are being fleeced by manufacturers TBH.

Alfie72 · 12/09/2007 18:57

I was lucky then mears to be a health care professional too !! I totally agree with what you are saying.

Sarahjct · 12/09/2007 19:29

Thanks Mears. I feel so much better now...

Popi70 · 12/09/2007 19:39

I too have lost two babies and this time was very tempted to buy one until I came to an arrangement with my godsend mw: once a week I go to her surgery and have a listen for 5 min. She also advised me against any DIY efforts to listen to baby's heart in case: (a) baby was fine but I wouldn't be able to listen to its heart and got panic and (b) baby was not fine but I thought all was well because I could hear something though I wouldn't know if it's normal or not.

Sarahjct · 12/09/2007 19:53

So suggest something for those of us who have non existent midwives, no direct contact number and an appointment every 8 weeks at best.

I'm really sorry about your losses Popi and it's not good that it took that for you to get decent mw care. It's also not good that a lot of women are mostly left to their own devices during pregnancy and have to make do with whatever we can and hope that everything is ok.

mears · 12/09/2007 20:53

Sorry Sarahjct - didn't mean to upset you and at 23 weeks I can see how you would be reassured. However, at later stages of pregnancy, if the baby reduced it's movements then the best thing to do is call the hospital. All pregnant women have access to a midwife that way. If needed, you either go in to get checked or in some areas a DFM can be dome (domicillary fetal monitoring) and the tracing of the baby's heartbeat is transmitted by phone to the hospital to be reviewed.

Once a baby starts moving, then it is easier to know all is well and as Alfie72 says, there can be too big an emphasis put on technology.

mears · 12/09/2007 20:54

sarahjct - you should have a direct contact number for the maternity unit you are booked at.

Caz10 · 12/09/2007 21:24

Mears, can I ask on the subject of baby movements...I am 26wks and the movements are definitely very variable day-to-day. Some days I feel like it doesn't stop moving, kicking etc very strongly. Other days I just feel a few flutters. From what I have read, this is normal, and babies have sleepy days and active days just like us.
But I'm unsure how to balance that advice with what you and others have said re reduced movements? What is reduced? And what would you term as the later stages of pregnancy? I'm not sure whether my "quiet days" are anything to worry about.
Thanks!
(& sorry to hijack, but hopefully others will find the answer helpful too.)

Popi70 · 12/09/2007 21:30

sarahjct, I agree that maternal care can vary a lot from one area to the next. I don't think though that buying a doppler can make up for bad or lack of professional maternity/health care. A friend with small childen suggested my present mw and I joined her practice once I got pregnant. This is an option worth exploring if possible

Sarahjct · 12/09/2007 22:44

Thanks you two. Sorry, I didn't mean to snap . I guess it's just been on my mind and you touched a nerve. I do have a number but was told at the beginning that it's just an answer phone and that there's no guarantee when the messages will be picked up. My contact with midwives has been sparse to say the least but I know it's hard and that there are staffing issues everywhere. As it's the first time I've ever been pg I feel like I'm guessing my way through this...but everyone feels the same, I suppose...

I'm not seriously worried otherwise I'd be banging on the door of the hospital, I'm just conscious of it enough for it to niggle me. Of course a doppler is not a substitute for proper care, but it gives me a little bit of comfort.

mears · 12/09/2007 22:53

No problem sarah - sounds as though you are being sensible.

Caz - you should feel around 10 movements a day. Now you might find that you get all 10 kicks at a certain time in the day - that is fine. Mostly you find that it is not so much the baby is quiet, it is you are busy focussing on other things and are too busy to notice.

Usually just sitting for some quiet time concentrating on movement is enough. Don't get obsessed counting to 10 BTW - just if you notice the baby is a lot quieter, just spend some time concentrating on nothing else. A cold drink and a bar of chocolatetends to do the trick

turtle23 · 15/09/2007 17:48

I bought an Angelsoundsmonitor from Ebay (£28) and heard heartbeat from 11 weeks. It isn't hugely loud, but it does work!
Couldn't start the day any other way now!

MrsTittleMouse · 15/09/2007 17:52

Sorry to be such a killjoy , but my OB hated these and said that they were the cause of more anxiety and extra unnecessary doctor's visits than anything else.

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