When I finally got pregnant with Charlie, I started researching fetal dopplers that we could use at home. Most obs are against personal doppler use because it can be difficult for you to find a heartbeat at any time during your pregnancy, and cause you to unnecessarily freak out. Or you may be able to locate a heartbeat, think everything is ok, and ignore other symptoms of trouble that you might normally see your doctor for. My ob advised against getting a fetal doppler for the aforementioned reasons.
But my days were consumed with perpetual worry of miscarriage, and I found it difficult to function day to day. Given my history with anxiety and depression, I knew I would eventually drive myself crazy. So I rented this fetal doppler from Baby Beats when I was 14 weeks pregnant. Though you can locate a heartbeat as early as 8 weeks depending on the quality of the machine, a doppler is most effective after 12 weeks.
Once I placed the order, the doppler arrived very quickly. I couldn’t wait to test it out right away! It’s easier to locate a heartbeat with a full bladder though, so I waited until I had to pee. I turned the machine on, put some of the included ultrasound gel on the microphone, and started scanning my stomach below my belly button. I never had any difficulty locating the heartbeat, and could usually find it within 30 seconds. That heartbeat is one of the sweetest sounds in the world!
The first time I got pregnant, I went to the Cayman Islands for a business trip the day after my doctor confirmed the pregnancy. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and at the time I couldn’t help but wonder whether my trip had anything to do with it. When I was 16 weeks pregnant with Charlie (my third pregnancy), I had another business trip in the Cayman Islands. As soon as I returned home, I used the doppler to find Charlie’s heartbeat, and I can’t tell you how relieved I was to hear that sweet sound.
Here’s a video I took of Charlie’s heartbeat!
17 Weeks Doppler from Weddingbee on Vimeo.
120-160 beats per minute is average, and Charlie’s heartbeat was always just above 140. There’s an old wive’s tale that says if the baby’s heartbeat is faster than 140 beats per minute, you’re having a girl, and if it’s slower than 140 bpm, you’re having a boy. Well Charlie’s was above 140 bpm, and he turned out to be a boy!
You’re not supposed to use it frequently or for longer than 10 minutes at a time, and I was so paranoid about overuse that I only used it once a week for a minute or two, never for fun and only when my anxiety became absolutely intolerable. For that peace of mind, I think it was a worthwhile investment.
Would you or have you used a fetal doppler at home?
*The information on this site is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and is for education purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
I remember seeing that video! Nope, I didn’t have one because we would listen to the heartbeat at every doctor appointment (which was monthly or bi-weekly) Ya, heartbeats doesn’t really indicate anything… definitely an old wives tale.
apricot / 260 posts
I wanted one when I was pregnant with Wombat because Moose died 34 weeks into my pregnancy. When I talked to the High Risk Doctor, he was adament about me not having one, so I didn’t get one. It was SO hard not knowing. I’d be in tears because I didn’t know and beg Wombat to move.
Fortunately, I had great support people who really held me up during this (yes, I’m talking about my WB peeps). It also helped that, once I hit 28 weeks or so, I had twice a week non-stress tests and once a week u/s. Granted, I’d freak inbetween visits.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@TheMCmom – I’m so sorry… didn’t know about Moose. How heartbreaking.
honeydew / 7968 posts
i have the sonoline b doppler. $52 (no tax or shipping for some reason). and it works great. couldn’t find the heartbeat until right after 10 weeks. i admit, i used it about once or twice a week in the first trimester. we were too nervous. and it gave us tremendous relief. now, we don’t really use it but it’s nice to have. and i think it’s totally worth the money. i think once we can hear it via stethoscope, we’ll use that instead. (at 18 weeks, we still weren’t able to hear it). we don’t really get to hear the heartbeat at the doctor’s office since they have a cheap machine and just use u/s instead (which doesn’t have the doppler).
clementine / 916 posts
I bought the Sonoline B too. I also experienced a miscarriage which was a big reason why I chose to buy it. It’s been amazingly reassuring. I was so scared about getting pregnant again and thought I’d never be able to enjoy my pregnancy with all the worrying. Being able to check in once a week or so has made all the difference in the world.
apricot / 260 posts
@blushink – Thanks. I’m just very thankful that I do have Wombat.
grapefruit / 4049 posts
I love that sound! what a nice video to look back to!
squash / 13199 posts
I dont have a doppler at home, I only hear the heartbeat when I go in to see my OB or when I have an ultrasound. at the hospital. I know it would be nice to be able to hear it more often, but so far I’m able to handle my worries about something being wrong. I think having one at home would be a bad thing because I might overuse it.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I swear I learn something new every day on this website. I think that like Mrs.Bee & a few others, we would look into investing post M/C if we were to experience that in our TTC journey. I’m okay without one now, but we are just beginning our journey. If we go through a M/C, I think my OCD paranoia would kick in and I’d need a doppler at home.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6703 posts
I love that you were able to have that for reassurance! I’m not sure if we would get one, but having gone through a MC, I might be tempted. Since I am a high risk pregnancy, I will have pretty much weekly/biweekly appointments and should be able to hear the heartbeat at least 1 or 2 times a month. We’ll see.
GOLD / apricot / 337 posts
I really wanted one, but my mom talked me out of it. She’s super paranoid about all technology, even general ultrasounds, having adverse affects on fetuses. All her nagging scared me out of getting one. I would just count down the days until my OB appointments.
pear / 1852 posts
There have been days when I really wish we had one, but I can’t justify the price on our tight budget,
kiwi / 718 posts
I haven’t worried about it, but I haven’t had any issues in my pregnancy & I get to hear the heartbeat via doppler every time I go into the dr’s office anyway. If I’d had issues conceiving or multiple miscarriages, though, I can definitely see myself needing one of those for peace of mind. so neat to be able to hear that
cherry / 133 posts
I got the sonoline b Doppler too from eBay. We used it a couple times a month, mostly when I would get anxious.
pomegranate / 3225 posts
and… I just bought one today because I am so nervous!