Thinking about buying a doppler - when was the earliest you could hear a heartbeat?

[Amarilis]

Hello

Just thinking about getting a doppler to calm the anxiety - I am 8+4... I have had big red bleed with this pregnancy already and had a missed mc in December 2008 at 10 weeks, so thought this may help between scans?

Your thoughts really welcome!

Sorry, i can't really answer your question but thought i'd warn you that I bought one from mothercare (think it was a 'summer' brand) - tried using it several time throughout pregnancy and it never worked. So if you buy one i wouldn't recommend that brand.

best wishes by the way. Not long 'til your 12 week scan and hopefully that will provide you with the reassurance you need.

It depends on a lot things - a big one being your weigth for example.

I have one - it cost about £80. We didnt even try and hear it until 18wks. Id be nervous personally using it before then in case I didnt find the hb and panicked?

I was in you position and i bought 1 on ebay for £50. I heard 1 heartbeat at 10 weeks but i was about 13 weeks before i could hear them both. Supose it all depends on where the baby is positioned.

Starshaker - twins??!! How exciting!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.. Really helpful.

Hi Amarilis
I bought a Sonoline B from Amazon for about £80. I first tried at almost 12 weeks and I did hear the hb, but only for about 30 seconds after trying for a good 10 mins, before the baby drifted away from the probe and I lost it again. Didn't try again til 14 weeks, and since then have been able to find a strong hb within seconds. However I have heard that it is quite normal to not find the hb before 16 weeks (even if you have heard it before) so I would recommend you wait a few weeks or it will only increase your anxiety. I think I was a bit silly to try as early as I did tbh, it's lucky I did hear just a snippet of the hb otherwise I would have got myself into a blind panic.

Sorry for your loss (I've also had a mmc) and sorry you've had a scary bleed. If you've seen the hb at 8wks things are looking very hopeful this time.

Yeah twins. I will also say that i find i harder to find the HB now than what i did in the earlier weeks. Think its because there is now so much placenta in there.

If it helps this is the 1 i have

I bought an Angercare one from amazon for £15 and heard the heartbeat from 9 weeks! Was great, occasionally was difficult to find early on but generally if you know where to point it it's fine

Sorry that was meant to be Angelcare

here

Just done it - bought an angelcare one - got to try I guess.

Thanks a million everyone..

My GP first found HB at 13 weeks so that's when I felt confident enough to buy an angelcare. Now 37 weeks tomorrow, and it's provided a lot of reassurance ever since the day I opened the box!

A tip Amarillis - press it just above your pubic bone (almost touching it - your lo will be that low down for a while yet) and use the gel. Move it slowly from left to right side adjusting the angle in all directions and if you hear a train like sound then bingo!

Also, you may also hear the placenta which is more of a swooshy sound whereas the hb is like 2babesmum said, more like a train noise. you may hear your own hb too but baby's will be much faster.

I bought an Angelcare one at 16 weeks and it worked first time and was really loud.

You need to place it on your bikini line (and you must use some gel or you'll be there all day) as you can find it best from there. Mine was on the right side one week, then left the other.

The rhythm is like galloping horses. So if its slower then you've found your placenta or blood vessels.

Good luck.

Just wanted to update you all - Angelcare doppler arrived yesterday and I heard baby's heartbeat! Thought I was going mad, so waited for (very scientific minded) DH to come home and try it too - and he heard it also!! I am 9 weeks, so I wouild recommend it to anyone that is a nervous wreck like me! Doppler + big bottle of gel cost £28 and it was the best money I have ever spent!

That's great! I heard it at 11+5 this time, was so pleased as it meant I was looking forward to my 12 week scan the next day instead of dreading it! I didn't have any gel, so am not even going to tell you what I used instead!!!