Doppler

[ttc2603]

Thinking of getting a Doppler so I can reassure myself. Anyone recommend these or should you avoid them? What's your experience in using these. Thanks

They really aren't recommended OP. They shouldn't be used by someone who isn't trained. They can give false concern and false reassurance. Please don't.

Do not use. If you have reduced movements you go into be checked. A Doppler doesn't tell you if baby is in distress, all it does is tell you baby is alive. And that's if you're listening to the babies heartbeat and not your own pulse.
They do anything but reassure, they cause worry and anxiety.

It's not recommended. It can give you false reassurance. Unless medically trained they shouldn't be used.

Also, my midwife told me she panicked when she was pregnant and couldn't find her baby's heartbeat, she could feel her moving, but it made her question whether she was actually feeling her.

They're really not recommended - they're not an adequate way of knowing if baby is okay or not. Please go the doctors if you want to be checked, they're very understanding if you're worried.

I have used mine in early pregnancy in all of my pregnancies. I wouldn’t use one further on as a method of reassurance though, it gets put away as soon as the kicks begin.

Bad idea. So many cases where they give false positives in cases where the baby is in actual distress and need urgent medical intervention.

That's what I was thinking I'm 13 weeks and was only gonna use it until I can feel the baby. And in between appointments when I'm worried/anxious

But using it incorrectly in between appointments is potentially going to make things a lot worse.

You get anxious, use the Doppler. Can't find a heartbeat, panic, think your baby has died. Luckily everything is fine and you just didn't know how to find it.

You get anxious, use the Doppler. Think you hear a heartbeat, get reassured and don't seek medical attention. Unfortunately you heard your own heartbeat or the placenta instead and your baby is in distress and dies.

Do you really think it's worth it?

You just go through the motions of waiting until you feel movements like everybody else, and the constant up and down of getting nervous before each scan and then the birth.

If you have the money you'd be better off getting a private scan if you really feel anxious and want to see if everything's ok. Not buying something that could stop you from getting help for your potentially unwell baby.

@ttc2603
I have had 4 miscarriages, and now 19 weeks but my placenta is at the front so not really feeling much movement, I got one and use it it tells ya bests per min its reassurance will put away when I start to feel strong movements.

Some trusts don't listen to the heartbeat until the 25 week appt, because when the baby is tiny it can be really hard to find!
I wouldn't want you to not be able to find it and to give you unnecessary panic

Sorry about your losses I also had 2 miscarriages so far this is my furthest pregnancy that's why I wanna try find something to kinda reassure me, as private scans are getting to expensive now as I've already booked quite a few! Congrats on your pregnancy wishing you a healthy pregnancy :)

Yeah I get that I've done a lot of reading and a lot of people have said it makes them worst! Might reconsider getting it now as I don't want to stress myself out anymore than I already am. Just thought it would be a cheaper easier suggestion rather than keep spending loads of money on private scans

Will get in touch with my doctor then as I've tried to contact my midwife quite a few times but I get nothing back she's completely useless not helpful at all, also meant to have a mental health midwife but not heard anything about that either just feel like I can't speak to anyone as they never get back to me. I will ring my doctor though and see what they say Thankyou.

Might be better to spend the money on private counselling to deal with the anxiety? I’m also in that phase where the symptoms have largely gone but the movements haven’t started, and it’s difficult to stop your mind running away with the ‘what ifs’.
Even with scans I find that moment before the baby appears on screen to be an awful heart sinking moment of ‘what if it’s not ok’, I can’t imagine having that stress every time I tried to use a Doppler myself.

Ditch the Doppler.

www.kickscount.org.uk/pages/category/ditch-the-doppler

I definitely recommend dopplers until you start to feel kicks. I have had anterior placentas for both pregnancies and can’t feel anything until much later on (twin pregnancy this time and only started to feel proper movement at 21 weeks..)

There’s plenty of youtube tutorials/ videos explaining exactly what you’re listening out for and you really don’t need to be a medical professional to identify 3 different sounds ..

1. you will basically hear your own heart beat (mid range speed, will show on numbers as between 60-90ish
2. a whooshing noise - this is the placenta
3. A fast galloping type noise - this is the babies heart beat- typically 130 - 160 bpm

At 13 weeks you will be able to find it no problem, it may take you a while and a bit of practice.. Best advice is look for no more than 30 mins, if nothing stop and try again later. Once you start feeling proper consistent movements stop using the doppler.

Don't bother. You are more likely to be hearing your aorta than baby's heart beat. Leave it to the professionals. Are you worried about anything in particular?

Just worried as I've had previous miscarriages also lost my symptoms 3 days ago and don't feel pregnant which I've read can be normal once u reach the 13 week mark. I was constantly sick and vomiting couldn't eat and had no energy and now I feel perfectly fine think because of the loss of symptoms it's made me think I've lost the baby and just want to be reassured as my next scan is at 20 weeks and feels so far away!

Will have a look at some YouTube videos and see if I can notice the difference as I don't want to worry myself if I don't find anything or can't tell the difference, I'll look into it Thankyou :)

I don't blame you for being anxious. Can you afford a reassurance scan? Sending big hugs your way xxxxxxxxxxxx

I am booking one for 16 weeks anyways but that's 2 weeks away still feels so long away lol. Hopefully once I have the 16 week scan I feel much better. Thankyou xxx

Best avoided.

This is terrible advice.

The problem is, @ttc2603, any reassurance it gives you is not "good" reassurance, as others have pointed out. That goes even if you are successfully picking up the baby's heartbeat. I'm no stranger to anxiety in pregnancy, honestly I'm not, but really best avoided.