Click Here To Return To The Item Details Page

What Is A Fetal Doppler?

It used to be that the only time you could hear your baby's heart beat was when you went to your ante-natal appointments - and waiting between appointments for up-dates on your baby’s health can be nerve-wracking! Waiting for that first kick or movement from your baby seemed to take forever…. But now, parents can have their worries and curiositys laid to rest thanks to the introduction of Fetal Doppler’s or Heart Rate Monitors that are now available for use at home.

‘At Home’ Doppler’s allow you, your family and friends to hear your baby's heartbeat whenever you want to in the privacy of your own home. Most Dopplers for use at home work from about ten or twelve weeks into pregnancy and many parents find them invaluable for reassurance and comfort, which is a great benefit in pregnancy! Fetal Doppler’s are not intended to replace proper professional care and check-ups so you should always keep to your ante-natal appointments.

A Fetal Doppler is also useful for parents who might be experiencing complications with a pregnancy. Having a Doppler at home so that you can monitor your baby's heart rate whenever you like can give you great peace of mind and allows you to know a bit more about what's going on with your baby. It is a truly amazing experience when you hear the heartbeat of your unborn child for the first time.

How Does It Work?

Fetal Doppler’s are battery operated handheld devices and are very easy to use. You simply place the Doppler just above your pubic bone and listen through headphones. You will probably have to tilt the device and move it around at different angles until you find the sound of your baby's heartbeat as it will depend which way your baby is positioned. Usually, you can hear the fetal heartbeat between the 10th and 12th week of pregnancy but some have been known to find it as early as eight weeks!

Fetal Doppler’s put absolutely no stress on your baby, so they are perfectly safe to use during your pregnancy. Additionally, some Fetal Doppler’s, like the Angelsounds Fetal Doppler allow you to record your baby's heartbeat which you can then download onto your computer and e-mail it to friends and relatives.

Click Here To Return To The Item Details Page 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does A Fetal Doppler work?
A Fetal Doppler listens to the sounds of very small, high frequency sound waves that are reflected from within your womb. These sound waves are picked up by the main part of the Fetal Doppler and then amplified through the doppler headphones so that you can hear the sounds clearly. Many sounds can be heard, including your baby's heartbeat, which is quite distinctive and easily identified. You can also hear little kicks and hiccups when your baby grows larger.

Is A Fetal Doppler Safe To Use At Home?
Our Fetal Doppler uses the same medical technology as the Fetal Dopplers used by your midwife throughout your pregnancy. Ultrasound technology has been used for years without any side effects on either the foetus or mother so is perfectly safe to use our Fetal Doppler at home. our Fetal Doppler uses ultrasound in a low power output so there is no danger what-so-ever. Around 5 million Fetal dopplers are in use around the world every day! Also, our Fetal Doppler is CE approved and meets all safety standards.

Do I Need To Use Ultrasound Gel With The Fetal Doppler?
Absolutely not! This particular model of Fetal Doppler does not require the use of gel in order to hear clear sounds. You can use it on it's own, or if you wish, you can use a little oil or water.

How Do I Know That It Is My Baby's Heartbeat And Not My Own?                                                                            The sound of a fetal heartbeat is very distinctive - a regular, very fast beating sound. About twice as fast as your own heartbeat! you will also hear a roaring sound, like waves on a beach - this is the sound of your placenta and the 'whooshing' noise is the sound of the blood supply to your placenta! You will also hear a beat that is higher in pitch than your baby's heartbeat but with the same rhythm - this, amazingly, is the pulse through the umbilical cord!

How many heartbeats per minute will I hear?
The fetal heartbeat is usually between 120 and 160 beats per minute. However, the heartbeat is very likely to vary depending on the time of day and amount of activity.

What if I can't find the heartbeat?
With a little practice, you will find it easy to find your baby's heartbeat using the Fetal Doppler, but it can be daunting at first as your baby may be lower than you expect. Position the Fetal Doppler low down on your abdomen and don't worry if you don't hear any sounds at first, just move the Fetal doppler slowly until you pick up the heartbeat. The heartbeat sounds very much like a galloping horse and is very fast at 120-160 beats per minute. The Fetal Doppler is not intended for self-diagnosis, therefore if you are at all worried, you should contact your midwife immediately.

Click Here To Return To The Item Details Page

Fetal Doppler Tips

Why not take your Fetal Doppler to your next appointment. Your midwife will be able to help you find your baby's heartbeat and provide you with useful information.
When using the Fetal Doppler it may help to have a full bladder, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.
If you are 10 or 12 weeks pregnant, place your Fetal Doppler in line with your belly button right above the pubic area and listen, then as your pregnancy progresses, your Fetal Doppler will find the heartbeat higher up your abdomen. Your baby is normally positioned much deeper in your pelvis than you would think!
Move your Fetal Doppler VERY slowly to avoid interference, as it is quite easy to miss the heartbeat. Tilt the Fetal Doppler downwards towards your pubic bone.
Don't worry if you can't find the heartbeat immediately, some days you will find it straight away and other days your baby may be in a diffferent position making it harder to find.

If at any time you feel unwell, or feel that there may be something wrong, or if any bleeding has occurred or if you have not felt any movement from your baby for some time then please contact your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately.

The Fetal Doppler is for fun only, and DOES NOT replace proper regular medical advice and care.

Click Here To Return To The Item Details Page