Fetal Doppler | Mumsnet

PMAmostofthetime · 2022-09-12T21:29:27+00:00

Anyone bought and used a fetal Doppler to reassure themselves throughout pregnancy? X

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sanityisamyth · 12/09/2022 22:31

Do not buy a home Doppler. See the Kicks Count campaign for reasons why.

sanityisamyth · 12/09/2022 22:37

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

Pinkflipflop85 · 12/09/2022 22:39

They should be banned from general sale.

Original poster

PMAmostofthetime · 12/09/2022 22:39

@sanityisamyth

Thank you but I'm still in the first trimester so not feeling anything yet and due to IVF scared to death constantly.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 12/09/2022 22:46

A Doppler will not help your anxiety , it will make it worse .

Tinadecember · 12/09/2022 22:54

I used one with my last pregnancy and decided to again with this one. Very much advised against in the medical field but for me between my symptoms easing at 10 weeks until feeling the baby move at 17 weeks it was a huge reassurance. Don't get me wrong, I made sure to hire a doppler to the standard that would be used by midwives and sometimes it took a while to find the heartbeat and distinguish between the babys heart, placental flow and my own heartbeat but for me personally I believe it was the right decision.

YorkshireTeaCup · 12/09/2022 22:55

Please don't buy one. There are some terribly sad stories of women not using them properly, thinking everything is fine and not seeking help when they should do. Agree with pp that they should be banned. Even midwives don't use them until 16weeks, and they are fully trained.

Original poster

PMAmostofthetime · 12/09/2022 22:56

Tinadecember · 12/09/2022 22:54

I used one with my last pregnancy and decided to again with this one. Very much advised against in the medical field but for me between my symptoms easing at 10 weeks until feeling the baby move at 17 weeks it was a huge reassurance. Don't get me wrong, I made sure to hire a doppler to the standard that would be used by midwives and sometimes it took a while to find the heartbeat and distinguish between the babys heart, placental flow and my own heartbeat but for me personally I believe it was the right decision.

@Tinadecember Thank you- this is exactly why I want it- I didn't think about hiring one- I was looking at a few hundred pounds to buy one so will definitely look into that.

OP posts:

mistopheles · 12/09/2022 23:00

We bought one and used it for two pregnancies from quite early on. We strictly only used once a week, it was a little mid week ritual we both looked forward to.

Somuchgoo · 12/09/2022 23:05

I bought a doppler, but only for fun and bonding, not for reassurance.

If you want one so you can lie there listening to your child's heartbeat to take some recordings of it, so grandparents can have a listen, and for, well, fun, crack on. I got one so I could surprise my husband with listening to our babies heartbeat on Christmas morning (approx 10w pregnant).

But it won't provide reassurance. It'll do the opposite. There'll be times where you can't find the baby, and that can be worrying. I lost where my babies were on a few occasions, but didn't think anything of it apart from them probably hiding. If I was at all anxious, I'd have been a wreck.

It was funny though at the 16w appointment for my second. The midwife couldn't find the heartbeat for ages and was on the verge of giving up - i showed her where the baby liked hanging out, and there she was.

I like them, but I'm not sure you are thinking of getting one for the right reasons

Original poster

PMAmostofthetime · 12/09/2022 23:06

mistopheles · 12/09/2022 23:00

We bought one and used it for two pregnancies from quite early on. We strictly only used once a week, it was a little mid week ritual we both looked forward to.

@mistopheles what brand did you buy please? I was like that with pregnancy tests x

OP posts:

Somuchgoo · 12/09/2022 23:07

PMAmostofthetime · 12/09/2022 22:39

@sanityisamyth

Thank you but I'm still in the first trimester so not feeling anything yet and due to IVF scared to death constantly.

Just read this.
A doppler doesn't sound a good idea for you.

Best is luck with your pregnancy.

Pinkflipflop85 · 13/09/2022 07:48

Somuchgoo · 12/09/2022 23:05

I bought a doppler, but only for fun and bonding, not for reassurance.

If you want one so you can lie there listening to your child's heartbeat to take some recordings of it, so grandparents can have a listen, and for, well, fun, crack on. I got one so I could surprise my husband with listening to our babies heartbeat on Christmas morning (approx 10w pregnant).

But it won't provide reassurance. It'll do the opposite. There'll be times where you can't find the baby, and that can be worrying. I lost where my babies were on a few occasions, but didn't think anything of it apart from them probably hiding. If I was at all anxious, I'd have been a wreck.

It was funny though at the 16w appointment for my second. The midwife couldn't find the heartbeat for ages and was on the verge of giving up - i showed her where the baby liked hanging out, and there she was.

I like them, but I'm not sure you are thinking of getting one for the right reasons

At 10 weeks that was not baby's heartbeat you surprised him with.

PinkFizz1 · 13/09/2022 09:37

Please God do not buy one of these. They should be banned.

Somuchgoo · 13/09/2022 10:04

Pinkflipflop85 · 13/09/2022 07:48

At 10 weeks that was not baby's heartbeat you surprised him with.

Show quote history

We were both right.
It was definitely her heartbeat, without a doubt!

But I've checked my dates and I was 14 weeks, not 10 🤦 I was 10 weeks at Christmas with my second not my first

Differentiating between the different noises becomes quite simple, and a pulse check, to establish your own heart rate, and exclude it helps. Then obviously you've got placental sounds etc, but they sound quite different from heart rate.

I don't think it's so much it cant be found early, but it can't reliably be found early - its hit and miss. Which means for fun, its great. For reassurance, its terrible. As the OP is a self confessed serial tester, and wants reassurance after IVF, its a terrible idea.

You really do need to be able to put it to the back of your mind, bot worry, and get on with your day, if you dont get lucky on that day, and I think for some people that is possible, for others its not. I don't think they should be named just because some people use them irresponsibility as reassurance rather then getting medical care though.

Janey3090 · 13/09/2022 10:21

My midwife told me to avoid these! It's hard to decipher what you're hearing - whether it's the fluid, the cord, or the heartbeat which can either lead to panic or false reassurance.

In addition, at an early stage baby is still very small so the heartbeat can be hard to find. Even at my 16 week appointment my midwife warned she may struggle to find babies heartbeat (luckily she did) yet she's a trained professional who has seen thousands of women. Lots of women cause themselves major stress and panic with a home doppler through not finding the heartbeat when actually everything's fine. 💜

Arwen7 · 13/09/2022 11:25

@Pinkflipflop85 you can absolutely listen to the fetal heartbeat at 10 weeks depending on position of baby, BMI and other factors but it may not be possible in many cases until later on and of course need to be trained to some extend to be able to distinguish it from all the other sounds it will pick up such as maternal pulse, arterial flow, etc.

Twizbe · 13/09/2022 11:32

Nope no nope no do not get one.

fairgame84 · 13/09/2022 11:37

It's not going to be very reassuring in.the 1st trimester when the fetal heartbeat is difficult to find. Midwives don't use them in my area until 16 weeks.
You'll more than likely end up in a cycle of anxiety and reassurance scans because of the doppler.