Heart rate monitor / Doppler

[TripleESept24]

Has anyone bought one? My friend said her mum rented one? I just hate the long time between scans and appointments and want some reassurance until can feel the baby moving! Feeling really anxious and stressed

NHS advise is not to use them as you aren’t trained.

When I was pregnant midwife couldn’t find baby with the Doppler but everything was fine on ultrasound. You could also be listening to the cord blood pulsate and not the baby.

Ok thanks for advice xxx

Hi there I am a midwife. We advise women against listening to the baby's heart rate themselves. It's takes knowledge and skill to interpret the results. Half a knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge sometimes. The best indicator of baby's wellbeing is baby moving. Hopefully you will start feeling your baby's movements soon. Have you tried making friends with local mums? Speak to your midwife, she might be able to refer you to the local group. I hope it helps.

I do understand the anxiety OP but honestly don’t do it. You aren’t trained and haven’t got a clue what you’d be listening to. My midwife always says how terrible they are for giving false reassurance or false worry. She let me try with the doppler at my appointment and when I thought I’d found the heartbeat she confirmed I was actually hearing the placenta😂 it’s just too complicated to be able to do from home. Try not to worry and I’m sure you’ll be able to feel your baby soon! X

Thank you!! I'm hoping so I'm 15 weeks today and hoping from next week I will start feeling something!!

Is this your first baby OP? If it is then please remember most women don’t feel movements until closer to 20 weeks so don’t be concerned. I’m due in a few weeks with my first baby and I didn’t start feeling her move until I was 19.5 weeks ish but everything is fine x

It’s absolutely normal for it to take up to 24 weeks to begin to feel movements and 28 weeks for regular movements so you have a long time yet. Many midwives won’t do Doppler anymore until 24/25 weeks because it’s harder to find before then. So absolutely don’t try doing it yourself. Yes it’s hard in that in between time but everyone is in the same position.

Hey OP. Currently 23+2 and only recently starting feeling baby. I got a Doppler and regretted it immediately as I couldn’t hear heartbeat and panicked. It went straight back in the box after. It will worry you more. Wait for the movements x

No it's my second, but my first was over 20 years ago and I was young and can't remember!! I have a private gender scan soon and my appointment on the 2nd April with midwife I am sure she will reassure me

Most first time mums start feeding movements around 18 weeks. I didn't feel anything until 20 weeks. Not long to wait!

https://www.tommys.org/about-us/news-views/experts-warn-against-home-dopplers-checking-babys-heartbeat