Can’t find heartbeat with home Doppler. 17 weeks and anterior low placenta. Should I be concerned?

[Mans1991]

Hey!

Stupidly, after a couple of scares my mum bought me at home Doppler. I’ve not been able to find the heartbeat after 3 attempts over 2 days. Im currently 17 weeks and have an anterior low placenta. Should I be worried? I know I shouldn’t have used it but anxiety got the better of me!

Throw the Doppler away! It is not going to give you reassurance as is being proved now. Midwives at my local trust no longer use Dopplers until after 24 weeks due to how difficult it can be to find a heartbeat. These are trained professionals. It's unlikely your hospital will see you to reassure so you'll be set for either 3 weeks of stress and worry or paying for a private scan.
Sorry to be blunt but I hate the things.

I don’t have a home Doppler but during my last midwife check up (I was 19weeks at the time) and it took ageeeeeeees and 2 goes for her and her assistant to find the heartbeat so I hope that gives you some reassurance that it can be so tricky even a qualified midwife can struggle. She almost gave up on the end, but we eventually got there.
I asked if I should be worried (whilst she couldn’t find anything) and she said not at all, it all depends on where the baby is, how much they’re moving around etc.
I understand your anxiety because I was lay there worrying too, but even when we found the heartbeat baby moved away and we lost it again! I would honestly try very hard to let this go and look forward to your next scan.

Midwife didn’t use a Doppler until 25 weeks with me and it took the student midwife a good 5 minutes and a lot of direction from midwife when she was doing it so I wouldn’t worry that you can’t find it. I’d get rid of it and wait for your 20 week scan or pay for a private scan if you’re particularly worried.

This is exactly why medical professionals don’t recommend home dopplers. Even midwives will say it can be difficult to find the heartbeat. With my second they wouldn’t even try until 24 weeks as they said it causes unnecessary worry if they can’t find the heartbeat. 100% throw it away, it won’t help you

Thanks ladies! It’s going back x

My midwife struggled to get heartbeat at 23 weeks due to anterior placenta those Dopplers are no good till your in later stages

They're no good at anytime unless used by a professional.