[ohiomommy1122]

I had heard that the sound waves can be very loud for the baby so lots of woman request a fetoscope instead has anyone refused the doppler and how did midwife/ doc react?

 

[nuwavemomma]

There's a lot of research about all sorts of possible effects. I put a doppler on my own head during my first pregnancy because I'd heard about it being loud - it wasn't. But there are studies indicating everything from increased rates of left-handedness, dyslexia and Intrauterine Growth Retardation, lowered birth weights, delayed speech acquisition, doubled rates of cell death during exposure, cell cavitation... I'd do more research about it if I were you.

As far as using a fetoscope, my mw uses one on me now, though you can't hear the baby's HB until 20 weeks or so. I had a student midwife in to practice using it during my last appointment as well, because they aren't taught how to use them anymore I guess. Before that we were using a doppler. My guess is if you found the right provider and said you didn't want any doppler they'd let you forego it, but it would really have to be the right kind of provider...

 

[D'sMama]

My homebirth MW uses the fetoscope instead of doppler because I asked her to. She said she only has me and one other mom right now who don't want to use doppler. She was a little surprised that I didn't want it, but didn't have a problem with the request at all - she even said she was happy to have the practice, since she doesn't use the fetoscope enough. I really can't imagine why a provider would have a problem using it, unless there was a real concern about the heartbeat in the first 20 weeks that required it be found - in which case, I would probably prefer an ultrasound, but that's just me.

nuwavemomma - I don't know for sure, but I would guess that the reason you couldn't hear it is because your head and ears are in air. I believe the ultrasound waves have to travel through liquid to produce an audible sound. That would be difficult to recreate in an adult b/c even if you dunk your head underwater to try it, there's still air in your nose, mouth, sinuses, ears, etc., whereas there's no air at all around baby. Just a theory...

 

[alegna]

We decline doppler. There is no medical reason for it in a normal pregnancy and it's an unknown risk. My midwife is fine using a fetoscope instead.

-Angela

 

[dziwozony]

with ds, once i was about 22 weeks along & could easily feel his movements, it was apparent how much he hated the doppler! whenever my MW put in on the area where he was, he scurred away as quickly as he could. it was then i chose to stop using it! my midwife had no problems using a fetoscope instead. with my current pregnancy, i only used a doppler once because i was a bit nervous about a miscarriage (nothing to worry about, luckily!) & since then have only used the fetoscope. i just feel a lot better about it.

 

[Everrgreen]

I used a doppler once at I think 15 weeks to hear the heartbeat for the first time. After that we've only used fetoscope. I have agreed to doppler use during labour though so that my midwife can quickly check if needed.

 

[KBinSATX]

The way I understand it is the problem was the effect on the developing cells rather than the sound.
I think you have to be further along for the midwives to hear it with a fetoscope.
My midwives let you choose.

 

[emamum]

my mw comes to see me every 2 weeks and always uses the doppler... i have never heard of any reason not to use a doppler

 

[77589]

fetoscope - thats just a stethoscope (sp?) right? is it different?

 

[nuwavemomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachel616 nuwavemomma - I don't know for sure, but I would guess that the reason you couldn't hear it is because your head and ears are in air. I believe the ultrasound waves have to travel through liquid to produce an audible sound. That would be difficult to recreate in an adult b/c even if you dunk your head underwater to try it, there's still air in your nose, mouth, sinuses, ears, etc., whereas there's no air at all around baby. Just a theory...

I had wondered that, but then I started thinking about bone conduction and I thought I'd get some sense of something if it was actually loud. Obviously it emits something, but I started to wonder if it wasn't non-audible vibration. I get cramps from dopplers, and for some reason that makes me think vibration... I really don't know...

Quote:

Originally posted by OceansEve fetoscope - thats just a stethoscope (sp?) right? is it different?

Yes, the same except the set up is different - you can't hold the part that touches the belly with your hands so there's a little plate on the top that a mw places their head against to hold it in place while they listen.

 

[77589]

I think I might ask about that next visit, seeing as I'll be 20 weeks. They have CNMW in the same office, so surely they would have one.

 

[dex_millie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuwavemomma There's a lot of research about all sorts of possible effects. I put a doppler on my own head during my first pregnancy because I'd heard about it being loud - it wasn't. But there are studies indicating everything from increased rates of left-handedness, dyslexia and Intrauterine Growth Retardation, lowered birth weights, delayed speech acquisition, doubled rates of cell death during exposure, cell cavitation... I'd do more research about it if I were you. .................................................. .

I wonder if that is why DS seems to have delayed speech. He is 2 and to me seem behind alot in that area.

This pregnancy I had one with the doppler, but I plan to ask for the stetescope/fetoscope for the rest, I am over 20weeks.

 

[riversong]

I refuse the doppler except during labor. My mw uses a fetoscope and I bring my own fetoscope when I go to the ob. Some of the obs I've seen know how to use a fetoscope, but generally the younger ones don't. It's a good learning experience for them to give it a try, though!

You can buy your own fetoscope to use at home (and bring to the dr) for only $16. This one has a long tube, so you can use it on yourself. http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=2055

 

[ohiomommy1122]

Quote:

Originally Posted by riversong I refuse the doppler except during labor. My mw uses a fetoscope and I bring my own fetoscope when I go to the ob. Some of the obs I've seen know how to use a fetoscope, but generally the younger ones don't. It's a good learning experience for them to give it a try, though! You can buy your own fetoscope to use at home (and bring to the dr) for only $16. This one has a long tube, so you can use it on yourself. http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=2055

Awesome thankx I think that will be on my x-mas list.

I didn'r realize it could cause devolopment with cells I just remember hearing there were dangers at the end of my pregnancy with number 3 thanks for the info

maybe a coincedance but Ds #1 is Dyslexic and has a few other of those symtoms and we went to an OB then who used it LOTS. hMMM SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT but for 16 $ I'll just buy my own and take it to the office with me. That way I can hear at at home whenever I want and let the kids here it as well