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?

You've been told what the harm is. Repeatedly. You're not going to listen, to crack on.

If your concern is that your pregnancy is being harmed by your work, then the best thing to do is make sure that your HR department revisits your pregnancy risk assessment and you press to have any necessary accommodations put in place. This isn’t optional, but a legal requirement from the time they know you are pregnant. Making sure you’re not doing anything risky, alongside the recommended regular medical checks, is a much better way to reassure yourself that you’re not doing anything to harm your pregnancy.

If you have a very good understanding of how the baby's heart rate is supposed to sound, the rate and any variabilities, plus your heart rate, I can't see it doing any harm, provided you pay attention to all the other things going on, re movement, pain and so on. It should be the last thing you look at. Any reduction or unusual increase in movements or pain or anything that give you cause for concern, you should get professional advice immediately. The Doppler should,only be used if things are going well and you just need that little extra reassurance

For people saying it's dangerous, I agree with the comments, but in my own case I called the labour ward with a worrying symptom (pain) was fobbed off, and by the time I was seen my baby had a pathologically slow heartbeat. If I'd had a Doppler and was unable (prior to calling the ward) to get a normal,heartbeat, I would not have allowed myself to be fobbed off. My baby has brain damage.

OP in both my pregnancies it took the midwife a good while to actually find and assess the fetal hb at 20 weeks, so you (as in generally, the untrained mother) don't really have a hope in hell of doing it correctly 🤷‍♀️

Not a crime, OP, just remarkably foolish.

You have no idea what you're listening for, do you?

Do you think listening to a babys heartbeat via Doppler is some kind of mystical ability only a trained midwife can do? Its really not difficult with practice (in the same way a midwife learns with practice). As a reassurance and with practice, it can be a useful tool, but only in the complete absence of any worrying symptoms or concerns. It should never, ever be used as the basis of a risk assessment. Always seek professional help if you have the slightest concern, and don't be fobbed off.

Lets face it, the state of our appalling midwifery 'service', fills no one with confidence and anything, used approprately and not used to diagnose, can only be helpful in the hands of a reasonably intelligent mother.

OP what happens if you can't find the heartbeat? The NHS won't see you as you've said. So it means having what could be unnecessary stress and anxiety for 4 weeks or you paying for a private scan. No good can come of this.

As a reassurance and with practice, it can be a useful tool, but only in the complete absence of any worrying symptoms or concerns. It should never, ever be used as the basis of a risk assessment

Agreed. So what is the point of it, then?

The point is it gives reassurance at a time in a womans life that anxiety can be quite high.

It would also mitigate (as in my case) being fobbed off when I did have worrying symptoms. If I'd had a Doppler (i didn't) and was familiar with my babys heartbeat and mine, I would have seen an abnormal rate (I've been told by an expert there would have been a change) and I could have demanded to be seen. As it was I didn't and my baby was brain damaged. Good enough for you?

Who said I ain't listening? Are u a fly on the wall and can see exactly what I'm doing and to be fair there ain't really nothing to listen to! Only not to use it. Okay 👍

I've also read that the general advice is not to use a doppler for the reasons stated above, but I also completely understand your anxiety OP.

I do have a genuine question to those suggesting to just go to midwife or hospital. Where exactly do I go?

I'm 19 weeks and messaged my midwife about my concern about movements, especially as I was also experiencing a very heavy cold and had noticed a tiny bit of spotting. She said that if I'm concerned to ring Maternity Assessment Unit. I rang and they said because the spotting was so small they wouldn't see me. I don't think I can just turn up to the unit, but then I also don't think A&E is the place either.

Asking @lilittlemissalwaystired as she is a midwife, can I request an extra appointment with my midwife if I'm concerned about something or even a new midwife? It's great you do reassurance checks, but mine said she doesn't listen to heartbeat and refused to do it at my 16 week appointment. She said to focus on movements, but it's kinda impossible when you're before 24 weeks and not getting many! I asked my GP if they'd check, said they didn't have a doppler and that was the territory of the midwife.

Mothers are looking for reassurance, and as a first time mum, I'm at a bit of a loss about where we are supposed to get it! People would use dopplers a lot less if maternal anxiety was taken a bit more seriously and there were places where mothers could go to get reassurance.

If I've missed something, please let me know! I am new to all this.

Funnily enough it ain't exactly hard to know what your actually listen to, not common sense just obviously u don't know the full ins and out a professional would

And before anyone says private scans, I've already had 3 and worried about doing too many!

It's pretty obvious from your posts. Even the fact you're doing your 'research' on mumset 🙄 You'll probably do more harm than good, but you do you 👍

Thank you! Someone who ain't all negative ffs

I'm a midwife with thirty years experience, OP.

I think that qualifies me as a "professional", even in comparison to Tik Tok.

Apart from everything everyone else has said about dopplers, I’ve also read they generate heat which can be damaging for the baby. There’s nothing at all anyone could do to save a baby at 20 weeks so it’s pointless using one. You just have to presume everything is ok. I was actually grateful for that period of time before it got to the stage movements needed to be monitored and all the stress that brings. Put the bloody Doppler in the bin were it belongs.

🤦‍♀️

You're right about the danger of too much heat.

Hi there. MAU would not see you with a small amount of spotting, @pippabg

If you only have a little spotting and no pain, you need not do anything.

If you start to bleed more and have pain as well (or just pain without bleeding) do call MAU back.

A & E would not do anything for spotting, either.

I wasn't the one who mentioned tik tok

Using a doppler because your are curious, it to aid bonding and to get more engaged with the pregnancy= great (IMO)

Using a doppler because you'd like extra reassurance= dangerous (IMO).

If you can use a doppler, but find a heartbeat, shrug and thin it's probably just hiding and go and make dinner - then get one. If you'd be panicking, that's reassurance you're after.

I used one with both pregnancies, very much for bonding and because it's cool. I was and to let mum MIL hear that heartbeat of her grandchildren on Christmas day. She cried.

It's not done mystical art - it takes a little practice but not much. As long as you've looked into it, so you can properly differentiate between the different sounds I found it pretty easy. They sound very different. If you do it frequently, you also find out where baby likes to hang out which makes it easier. I had to direct my midwife to where she was at my 16w appointment as she couldn't find her until I spoke up.

But even if you are good at it, them be times in the early months (less at 20w+) where the baby will be in an awkward spot. Can you handle that without panic?

I used mine a few times a week from about 11/12 weeks, and took some recordings of them etc. It was great for bonding.

I don't want to see them banned, but I do with that women would be more realistic with themselves about their level of worry and self control before they buy one.

@pippabg in the kindest way possible, the NHS will not do anything before 24 weeks so you will need to manage your own anxiety levels. I've been there as a first time mum, so I do know it's an anxious time, but you're still very early in your pregnancy, and I would suggest working on your anxiety before baby comes (which is a whole new world of anxiety). There is nothing they can do to save a baby before 24 weeks so it's not worth spending resources on reassuring mothers. That's just the facts. Your midwife shouldn't be ignoring you, but at the same time, they aren't there to hold your hand for 9 months. I think it might help to adjust your expectations

@sexnotgenders it was more a response to suggestions to go to midwife or hospital if concerned, not an expectation that my hand would be held every step of the way. From my experience, and as you've clarified, there is no where to go really, so people take anxiety into own hands with dopplers and scans. I'm aware how underfunded the NHS is.

My anxiety is definitely under management, thank you. I'm on sertraline (pregnancy safe), which works wonders for me. Because I've struggled for years with anxiety (way before pregnancy), I completely empathise with anybody who ever feels that way, so understood OP's position.