While some brands claim that their fetal dopplers can detect heartbeats from 9 weeks into the pregnancy, others claim they only work from around week 16. How early will an at-home fetal doppler work? Not to mention, they can also be a source of support - which is great if you’re feeling nervous or if you have any questions. Your healthcare provider is also best equipped to diagnose and treat any potential health issues. They know what all the sounds mean - there’s a lot going on in there! - and they know what’s concerning (and what’s not). More importantly, your doctor or midwife is trained to operate a doppler. You can’t always be sure whether you’re getting an accurate and safe product. There are no regulations for selling dopplers online, so this is a bit like the Wild, Wild West, folks. Think about it: Your doctor will always have medical-grade, accurate equipment, approved by any required safety agencies.īut practically any company can create a device (or perhaps worse - an app for a device), call it a doppler, and sell it online. One of the reasons for this is because home fetal dopplers can be of poor quality. In other words, they’re meant to be used in between visits to the doctor, not instead of visits to the doctor. the one at the doctor’s officeĪ home fetal doppler can’t be used in place of a doctor’s appointment. It’s important to know about the safety hazards of at-home fetal dopplers before you use one. So what’s the harm? Well, possibly very little.īut not so fast. It may also ease anxiety and help you feel more connected to your baby. Some dopplers (yes, even those you encounter at your OB’s office!) only detect it after about 12 weeks.įor many, hearing the heartbeat at the doctor’s office is a magical, joyful, and reassuring experience - and the time between appointments is just so darn long to wait to hear that sweet sound again! The idea of listening to the heartbeat in between doctor’s appointments is appealing. If your doctor can’t hear a heartbeat in the first trimester, it’s not necessarily a cause for concern. When you go to your doctor for a check-up, they’ll use one of these devices - hopefully, not without warming the ultrasound gel first! - to detect your baby’s heartbeat from around 8 to 10 weeks. Many people are anxious for peace of mind or eager to bond with baby - which is why at-home fetal dopplers are so popular.Ī fetal doppler - whether at the doctor’s office or purchased for home use - is a hand-held ultrasound device that uses soundwaves to listen to a fetal heartbeat. Don't freak out if you can't find it.Or maybe you’re not so nervous as you are wanting to bond with your baby a little more - looking for a way to connect.įirst, rest assured that you’re not alone in your concerns.
Baby's heartbeat is very rapid and sounds like a tiny galloping horse or a mini train rushing over train tracks. rotate/angle your probe in place once you hear that (rather than sliding it around in other places) and listen very closely because it can be very faint or hard to hear if placental noises are in the way. When you hear the placenta you're very close to baby. It's very obvious what I mean once you hear it! Be aware a lot of times baby isn't perfectly centered when it's this early and can be more to the left or right of the belly button line. Once the probe is in place listen closely for the "whooshing" sound of the placenta. Prop your hips up higher on a pillow and use a decent sized glob of gel right above or up to 1-2 inches above your pubic hair line. First I would hold the probe to your left chest wall to hear clearly what your own heartbeat sounds like so you can differentiate easily between your own heartbeat and baby's.
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