Using a Doppler...

[Laujade88x]

Hi

I have just purchased a doppler for piece of mind as I'm 20weeks on my 3rd and worrying about the movements being so little being nothing for a few days each time. So when the heartbeat is over 140 that's the babies? and when it's like 50-80 that's mine with being the pulse in your abdominal?

It is really not advisable to use a Doppler. They give a false sense of security. Please contact the hospital if you are worried about movement.

Please don't rely on a Doppler. My DS was born at 31 weeks after I went in with concerns about movement. As soon as I heard the heartbeat I immediately assumed all was fine and relaxed but the midwives picked up he was distressed and he was delivered immediately via section. If I had a home Doppler at the time and found the heartbeat when I was worried about movement, I wouldn't have gone and got checked out and I really don't want to think about the consequences. I strongly believe home Doppler's should be banned

If you're worried, go to the hospital.

The only thing a doppler will tell you if if the baby has a heartbeat. Not how healthy it it, not whether the baby is stressed or not developing normally.

Never ever rely on a doppler if you're not medically trained.

www.kickscount.org.uk/why-we-want-home-doppler-sales-to-be-regulated#:~:text=The%20most%20significant%20risk%20of,delays%20in%20seeking%20medical%20assistance.

Just to emphasise the previous point - I know it’s tempting to use a Doppler for peace of mind. However, my story shows why it’s not advisable. I noticed my baby wasn’t moving very much towards the end of pregnancy so I went into hospital to be checked. They immediately picked up his heart beat (which I could have done myself with a Doppler) but what I didn’t know was that it was a terrible heart rate that they were picking up, with it going up and down in a way I couldn’t possibly understand as a lay person. Cue an immediate category one c section and thankfully a healthy baby who was completely tied up in knots from the umbilical cord and in distress. I was really lucky. A Doppler would have reassured me when it shouldn’t have. I would keep track of baby’s movements instead if I were you. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!!

Please please please don't buy a Doppler!!!! You're most likely hearing the blood going through the placenta - you need proper training to be able to use one properly.

If you’re worried definitely go and get checked and even if you’re not why not go for a few private scans? That’s what I did because it gave me extra peace of mind.

Please don't rely on a Doppler using it at home with no medical training. My DS2 was born via EMCS at 37 weeks, he had a heartbeat but absolutely no movement. If we had delayed seeking medical help for the reduced movements because he had a heartbeat then he could have suffered severe injuries or died before he could have been born via EMCS.

Please don't use it.

If you are worrying about movement, you may use the Doppler and think everything is fine. In reality they pick up your heart beat / placenta etc.

If you are not a trained professional they are completely useless.

I work on labour and delivery. We had a lady lady lose a baby at term plus two. She was using a Doppler for movement concerns. She was picking up the placenta not the heart beat. If she'd have come in that baby could have been saved. It was heart breaking

I have contacted them and they said as long as there is no blood, cramps, liquid, sickness, headaches then im fine 🤨 as I'm only 20weeks I have at least another 4 weeks to have noticeable movement

Iv had private scans I'm only 20weeks now and I have my scan on Monday but was just being inpatient, I think I'm just asking to much too soon? I still have time for him to get stronger to show stronger movements, I means I can feel him on the odd occasion but then there's days I don't feel nothing. I'm just being paranoid.

Ditch the Doppler. If you're not medically trained, it won't give you PEACE of mind.

Yes it's picking up the placenta which is alot lower which I'm aware of, its picking up 140 bpm. I will never rely on it it's just a bit of me being paranoid and asking too much too soon

You are right, it’s common to have relatively infrequent movements at 20 weeks. By 24 weeks most people will feel a regular pattern.

I think the Doppler is a bad idea too. It can make you panic unnecessarily if you can’t find the heartbeat when baby is ok - or give false reassurance that baby is ok when they are not. Throw it away. If you are feeling very anxious and struggling to cope, that’s something to talk to your GP or midwife about so you can get some help for it. A machine isn’t the solution to anything.

This is my 3rd iv had 2 healthy pregnancies besides labour side of it, I never really worried on the other 2, this one because I'm alot more active with working alot I feel really achy the end of the day I'm more paranoid. Deep down it really ain't nothing as I still have a few weeks yet to get stronger, if I was further along no way would I rely on a doppler it's just at the minute I've been told everything doesn't seem to be a problem as I'm still early on so I thought bit of reassuring to try a doppler as il go get check, everything be okay, then in a week il no doubt be worrying again if I'm in the same situation

Midwife here - PLEASE don't use home Dopplers if you're not trained. People think we're just listening for the presence of a heartbeat but there's so much more than that. Plus as dopplers work by calculating the time in between beats rather than listening to the actual heart, sometimes the rates double on the screen and aren't accurate. Speak to your midwife if concerned. I do fetal heart reassurances for people at your gestation all the time.

If you worry go to the hospital

BUT, regardless of people saying this, you will probably use it anyway and I'd rather you have some idea so -

There are some good YouTube videos that explain and show the difference with your heartbeat and the baby's.

Yours will be steady, the baby's will sound almost like a galloping horse.
If you hear a whooshing noise, that's usually the blood flow of placenta

Also (to try and ease your mind) -

With my first I didn't feel much regularly at all until 26 weeks, by 28 weeks it was constant and none stop 🤣

I know it can feel daunting and cause a lot of anxiety, waiting to feel things etc, but at this point, it's normal for you to not be feeling much -
I would go and get checked if you can, or if you have the money book another private scan.

I know it's easy to say 'don't worry' but try to fill your time with things that relax you, binge watch tv etc. if you're not relaxed there's even less chance of feeling anything, so get your feet up when you can and try to get your mind off it! Xx

My midwife is a completely useless, waste of time, I messaged her for previous advise and she never got back to me, I tried to call her when I was early on with a infection and she never answered and again never called me back, I haven't really needed her so I didn't bother to ask to change.
I felt him move last night like popping/flicking feeling after eating a couple of chocolate biscuits, so I feel something every now and again, I go for my scan on Monday so il get a full check up then

OP please don't worry about movements at twenty weeks.
I'm a midwife and I think home dopplers should be banned, too.

Yes I do personally think they are a massive risk to take when u use them but stupidly I got one as I was being impatient to know everything seemed okay in there and couldn't wait til Monday for my scan when all I'm being told is to wait a few more weeks but when u just want a peace of mind u would do anything like alot of people do when they buy these dopplers. I would never use one once i am further on as I would never rely on it but just not knowing in between I did something clearly stupid as I can be told everything is okay but deep down I'm Still going to be a bit curious

Later on in your pregnancy, if you're concerned, please ask your midwife for advice.
I'd hate to think of your relying on the doppler when there was actually something wrong.

But a doppler cannot possibly give you all the information obtainable at a scan.
How would it give you peace of mind?

It clearly doesn't and I know that. Just wondered so I tried it , everyone does it and makes a mistake

@Laujade88x I know it’s not advised to use a Doppler but I see lots of ladies use them on tiktok at different stages, so if you want some tips on using it and what the picked up I’d search it on there☺️ I think it’s each to their own if it makes you feel better to use it and you’re not relying on it instead of checking for movements then that’s up to you!