Fetal doppler early pregnancy

[Carebear99]

Hi everyone
I'm 9w5d, I'm overweight and apparently have a retroverted uterus. I bought an at home doppler hoping to hear the heartbeat but I can't find it. I have watched YouTube videos and other people who are overweight have found a heartbeat. I've tried and tried and I can't find it. I had a scan yesterday and I saw the heartbeat on there 157bpm.

Has anyone used an at home doppler successfully? I think I might send it back as its making me more anxious

It’s recommended not to use this for this very reason.

I know the midwife doesn't normally do this until your 15 week appointment. I had my 15 week appointment at 13 weeks for holiday reasons and she was quite hesitant to do it then, and only did so with a lot of disclaimers - don't worry if we can't find it etc etc.

If I were you I would definietly return it and try not to worry- hard as it is.

Please don't use it. Women pick up their own pulse or are falsely reassured by them at all stages of pregnancy.

Thank you, I think it was a mistake buying it and I'm going to send it back to Amazon.

Well done for deciding to send it back. And congrats!!

You won't find it this early and you should only use it if you know what you are listening for

It doesn't help that my tummy is podgy, I'm going to get rid of it tomorrow. Thankfully it was sold by amazon so easy return process.

I've got a 10w1d nipt (Iona) and quick scan on Monday then a scan at the hospital at 11w5d (25 Feb) so I'll hopefully have good news then.

Put it in the bin!

Yes Iv had dopplers with my previous pregnancies and used them from 9 weeks; it’s best to lay on your back, bend your legs with knees pointing up then let them flop open, this opens the pelvis better, use a lot of gel, I used to use baby bio gel it was great and much cheaper. Just take your time there is no rush at all, it will be there but the baby can hide, if you can find the swooshing noise of the placenta your baby shouldn’t be too far away at this stage. You do need to be quite far down your belly too just above your pubic bone

My friend lent me a Doppler to use and I'll be honest even at 27/28 weeks I struggled to find the heartbeat so worried myself sick!! It's really not worth the stress. I have an anterior placenta so didn't feel full movements regularly until around 30 weeks- now 37+5 and still only feel when I get kicks to the ribs but can see my stomach moving even when I don't feel it

Also if it helps I didn't get told about placenta position until my 20 week scan xx

Congrats!!!

My midwife is also firmly in the don't bother camp. I'm inclined to agree and think it causes more problems than it solves.

You are coming up to your first week scan anyway - enjoy that and remember to gowith q full bladder!
it's super fun to see the baby for the first time!!!

it's not so much don't bother, these things are actually dangerous, well done OP if you send it back and if you feel up to it leave a review saying you have been advised not to use it
enjoy your pregnancy

My friend leant me one in my first pregnancy, I was pretty small and couldn't find the heartbeat and it really upset me, I gave it back to her and decided not to use it again, just not worth it imo

It's way way too early right now. My midwife found it at my 16 week appointment but warned me she might not be able to as baby is still tiny at that stage. Also, if you aren't trained to know what it sounds like then you could potentially mistake your own heartbeat, the pulsing of the cord or both combined as babies heartbeat, thus giving false reassurance.