Need advice/info re:Doppler, U/S or nothing

[3 little birds]

Hello,
I am 10 weeks along and have an appt. with my midwife next week. At last month's appt. (7.5 weeks) the MW said that I felt about a month further along than my dates. Before the exam she said that we would not be able to hear the heartbeat because she didn't like to use the Doppler that soon. After the exam she asked if I would be comfortable with her looking for the heartbeat quickly, because I felt so big. I said yes, but we couldn't find the heartbeat.

So now I'm wondering if I should try the Doppler at next weeks appt. or is an U/S safer? Or should I just wait it out. The MW asked if I was interested in having an U/S with this preg. cause we could determine dates up to 18-22 weeks.

There is the possibility of twins as I already have a set.

Anyway, anyone with advice, opinions, suggestions, links?

TIA

[LianneM]

I had an u/s to rule out twins, as I wouldn't be able to have a homebirth if I were having twins. I also let them use the doppler on me to check the heartbeat at about 8 wks. I'm so glad - I didn't get to hear it on the u/s (mean u/s tech) so I hadn't heard it - it was an amazing sound and I've felt so attached to the baby ever since. I felt ok with it b/c she promised it would be fast - just a quick listen. I hated the u/s b/c it takes soooooo long I just feel like there is so much exposure, but with a quick doppler listen I felt ok. HTH.

[Artisan]

If you do a search here, I've read some stats on the levels of u/s exposure with both devices. Apparently, imaging u/s subjects a baby to lower levels of u/s waves than a doppler does. So, even a 30 mn u/s is equivalent to a few minutes of doppler.

[Past_VNE]

I intended to do neither, but my midwife said she would like to do a doppler and that she was very good with it, so she would be quite quick. She wasn't kidding. She took, 30 seconds, MAX, and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat for about 15 or more of those seconds.
DH and I were both hesitant, with our general concern over medical stuff, but we let her do it, because we trust her knowledge and beliefs.
Do I think it was necessary? NO! Am I glad I did? Sure, it was great hearing the baby and it made DH feel especially gooey inside. Will I have another? Not unless necessary. Midwife did make it clear that she will use doppler occasionally through birth. (Which I am okay with, as long as she is equally sparing with its use.)

[3 little birds]

Thanks for the replies. I read some of the other threads on U/S and it seems that there may be conflicting information regarding which is safer (if either) u/s or doppler.

I know I will have the doppler used during labor as this will be my second VBAC waterbirth and we will need to monitor baby's heart rate in case of rupture.

Does anyone know if Doppler is used just to hear a heartbeat or is it also to determine heart rate (and why is this impotant).

Also, when can the heart be heard with a fetascope?

Thanks :love

[Past_VNE]

My midwife's doppler said the heartrate was right at 140.

She says she can generally hear the heartbeat with the fetoscope around 20 wks.