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

I used a doppler in early pregnancy (against the advice of my midwife) and found it very reassuring. As PPs have said, you need to be aware of what you are listening to (not your own heartbeat or placenta) and you also might not find the heartbeat easily every time.
OF COURSE you are still going to seek medical help if you feel that there is something wrong / have reduced movements later in the pregnancy.
For me, listening to the heartbeat just helped me to feel pregnant before I could feel the baby moving. It sounds daft, but I just couldn't 100% believe that I was pregnant after the initial symptoms passed. I had been told that the chances of conceiving through IUI were slim and we would almost certainly need IVF, so falling pregnant on the first cycle was a surprise and at points I felt like I had actually gone mad and imagined the whole thing.
I hired the doppler on a monthly basis instead of buying one - I think it worked out cheaper to hire a "proper" medical grade one instead of buying a lesser quality one online. Also, it meant that I knew I could just send it back if I started to become obsessed or it made me feel more anxious etc.

I was going to get one earlier in my pregnancy but realistically I don't think it would've reassured me. I know I would've wanted to listen in all day if I could and a doppler gives a snapshot in time. Anything can happen when you aren't listening in, you might find your own heartbeat or the placenta and I couldn't cope with the stress. I spoke to my midwife and she listened in at my 16 week appointment and then I did pay for a couple of extra scans which I found much more reassuring - seeing the baby move and the heartbeat on the screen, knowing they were growing.

I have used one in both of my pregnancies, I am not disregarding the advice that they aren't recommended but I have found that especially in early pregnancy that they are a reassurance for worrying mums to be.

With both of my pregnancies I have found the heartbeat from around the 10 week mark, don't get me wrong, it takes a while to find early on, but I have always found it to be a reassurance.

I haven't used since feeling the baby move.

If you are going to get one then I would recommend renting one that is of the quality that would be used by midwives not one of the cheap dopplers off amazon. Preferably one showing BPM as it's unlikely if you're finding a heartbeat of 140BPM that it is your own pulse.