[Cellist]

I decided to rent a doppler from Heart Beats at Home today. 3 months for $69, but if you want to return it early, they will refund some of your money.

Anyone else done this and what do you think about it? Was it nice to have or frustrating to use? Did you have success with it right away or do you really need to know how to use it to be successful?

Opinions on all aspects of home fetal heart dopplers, please!

 

[crunchy_mama]

I would not do this. A doppler is an ultrasound. I would not want to be exposing my baby to that routinely as it is not known to be safe, it is my understanding that it is stronger than an ultrasound- a few minutes w/ the doppler is equivalent to about a 20 min scan. If you have a strong desire to hear the baby I would go w/ a fetoscope.

 

[mom-to-jj]

I own a doppler. Once you get into the 2nd trimester, it's pretty easy to find the heartbeat as long as you know where to look. The first time I used it I was 14 weeks, and it was hard to find the baby--which scared me. Once I found him, I had an idea of where his heartbeat was located, and that made it easier from then on.

With your first baby and very early in pregnancy, I would probably not try. It's pretty likely you won't be able to pick it up, and that will just freak you out. When you get into your 2nd trimester, you're much more likely to find it quickly, which will minimize the amount of time you use it.

Was it nice to have? Yes. My first pregnancy followed a miscarriage, and I was terrified of losing my son. When you wake up from a dream that your baby is gone, it's nice to be able to pop the doppler on for a moment and hear that "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh."

 

[Shanti_Mom]

I rented one for a month with my last pregnancy, just to get me from weeks 11-15 (give or take), until I was far enough along that I could feel the baby which was more reassuring than doing the heartbeat. I likely won't do it again this time around though.

 

[mamatolevi]

I got one for my pregnancies. I've had multiple m/c and it was reassuring to hear that heartbeat every so often. the more pregnancies I had the less I checked.

As far as safety goes, that's a personal decision. u/s hasn't been shown to be unsafe and they've been in use for many years. That being said, I wouldn't be listening every day, just every couple weeks or so or if I was particularly worried for some reason.

 

[rzberrymom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama I would not want to be exposing my baby to that routinely as it is not known to be safe, it is my understanding that it is stronger than an ultrasound- a few minutes w/ the doppler is equivalent to about a 20 min scan.

Exactly!

 

[Beppie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama I would not do this. A doppler is an ultrasound. I would not want to be exposing my baby to that routinely as it is not known to be safe, it is my understanding that it is stronger than an ultrasound- a few minutes w/ the doppler is equivalent to about a 20 min scan. If you have a strong desire to hear the baby I would go w/ a fetoscope.

I agree with this too. My midwife is also reluctant to use the doppler very much because of this. She uses a fetoscope on her visits.

 

[frogautumn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beppie I agree with this too. My midwife is also reluctant to use the doppler very much because of this. She uses a fetoscope on her visits.

This is what my midwife said as well. She used it for a very short time and shut it off within seconds of finding a heartbeat. She said she likes to use it just once early on, for the reassurance that hearing the heartbeat brings to the families. But from now it will be nothing until 18 weeks, when she'll begin to use a fetoscope.

 

[maisiedotes]

I rented one from dynamic doppler and it was a lifesaver for me... because of my history, i needed that peace of mind with DD. I used it a couple of times a week early on, and when I could feel her moving and kicking I only used it if I was not feeling movement. I felt that the stress I was feeling was not good for the baby, and was careful about how often I used it. I know it isn't for everyone, but I felt better after I heard her HB. I "just knew" where to look for it, too. DH would be stunned- I would put it on my belly, even early on, and found her immediately.