Is there something wrong with my Doppler??

[PinkBump2022]

So I’m like 22 weeks pregnant and hadn’t felt baby much today so got my Doppler out like I usually do, but this time was different. I found the heart rate and it was 50!! I knew it wasn’t mine I could feel my beating and was faster so I checked my Apple Watch it said my heart rate was 87, the heart rate gradually went up over about 10 seconds to 147, I’m freaked out thinking it was a deceleration in baby’s heart rate. I kept it on for 20 mins after and baby’s heart rate stayed above 130 the whole time. Baby is moving now. But still thag scared me!! I don’t want to call the hospital and waste time when it was just my Doppler playing up. But it was odd, I watched the heart rate on the screen gradually go up and the sound of the heart rate matched the numbers as it went up. It’s really freaked me out!!!
anyone else ever had this?

This is why Dopplers are not advised as a lay person is not trained to interpret results.

If you are concerned about your baby's movements please contact a professional and don't rely on a Doppler.

Please don’t use a Doppler instead of getting reduced movements checked out.

Yes

Dopplers are notoriously unreliable when used by someone who isn’t medically trained.

You feel reassured when you hear a heartbeat, not knowing it could have been yours.

You panic when you don’t, and it’s because you haven’t done it properly.

Women have lost their babies because of Dopplers. They believed that everything was alright because they could hear the heartbeat only for a scan to show the baby had passed weeks ago and it was her own heart beat she was hearing.

Throw the doppler away

Speak to your midwifery team OP! You are never wasting their time

Dopplers pick up all kinds of things in your body, they are so inaccurate as a foetal heart tool. If you're concerned about your baby please go to DAU immediately.

And get rid of the Doppler.

Should you use it for that long on your baby?
I would seek advice on this as it is rumoured to harm baby I was told by my sonographer they are to only be used in emergencies for 2-3 minutes max.
Also if you haven't felt your baby move call the midwife and get seen that is what they are there for.

The second you feel movements, the Doppler should not be used again. It leads to false reassurance when you should otherwise be seeking help from triage.

I found it nice using mine through first trimester but the first time I feel movements with both pregnancies it got put in the loft.

Absolutely this.

This is exactly why you should not use a Doppler. If you found someone collapsed on the street you wouldn’t just check their pulse then carry on as if everything was fine just because they had a pulse.

Throw your Doppler in the bin and if you have reduced movements contact triage. All a doppler does is confirms your baby has a heartbeat at that time, not that it is well.

No no no no. Stop using the Doppler.

Get rid of the Doppler! You're not a medical professional and they can give both false worry and false reassurance.

If you're concerned about baby movements speak to your midwife. Though at 20 weeks movements might be a bit on and off as baby is still very small.

Take the reading on a Doppler with a huge pinch of salt - the home ones are notoriously unreliable at reading accurate heart rate.

Never rely on the doppler for reassurance. Any concerns, bypass it and get checked over.

That's because 50 bpm wasn't the baby heartbeat

These really shouldn’t be accessible to them public for exactly this reason. Put it in the bin and monitor movements, if reduced speak to your maternity team

The best thing you can do is bin the Doppler

As PPs have said please ditch the Doppler. They shouldn’t be used for this very reason. Go by baby’s movements alone, and if there’s any change then contact your pregnancy assessment unit and get them to check you rather than doing it yourself.

Every midwife and Dr will tell you not to use a home doppler if you are not trained to use it. Call you Maternity assessment unit if you have concerns over babies movements don't try listen in to work it our yourself, it will just cause you likely, undue stress and panic.

I'm 26 weeks, anterior placenta so minimal kicks, and every time I turn on the doppler I immediately cause myself more stress and worry. It like yours picks up a reading as standard of 50-70 around my belly button which is MY heartbeat. Occasionally it will for a few seconds find one upwards of 110 which is the babys... but it is inconsistent. Usually a few minutes after stressing, using it and then stressing more, i'll feel a random movement, and think "why did I even turn that damn thing on". I wanted to keep it so my DD could hear the heartbeat, but she isn't interested and it honestly isn't working consistently. I'm voting with everyone else here: throw it out, and if you have any concerns about the baby's movements contact your medical team.

Are you a trained midwife? If not throw your doppler in the bin. If you are concerned about movements ring your midwife and go to be monitored. I've never understood why anyone would want a home doppler? You could quite easily cause yourself unnecessary stress (as you hopefully are here) or much much worse you are worried, check yourself, think you've found your baby's heartbeat and think everything is fine when it's not. Recipe for disaster.

This !! Chuck the Doppler and contact midwifery unit if you are worried 💐

Ditch the Doppler.

These should not be for sale, put it in the bin! Ring your local MAFU if you’re worried about reduced movements.