Fetal Dopplers – Be at Peace of Mind That Your Baby Is Doing Well

by · December 12, 2019

Are you considering getting a fetal doppler so you can hear your baby’s heartbeat at home between your doctor’s appointments? Being able to listen to your baby’s heartbeat on your own can be a very special moment and if you’re a worrier by nature, it can help you have peace of mind. For some moms-to-be, waiting weeks for a doctor’s appointment to assure themselves whether their baby is alright, can be very stressful. For that reason, having a safe and easy-to-use baby doppler at home is a smart idea.

Mothers want to do everything that’s possible to bond with their baby. Fetal dopplers provide an intimate connection that wasn’t readily available for the previous generations. Thanks to the great advancements in technology, today you can hear your baby hiccups and listen to his/her fast heartbeat. The fetal doppler will be your own stethoscope for noticing any other sound that your baby may make while moving around.

baby-heartbeat-monitor

What Exactly Is a Fetal Doppler Ultrasound?

A fetal doppler ultrasound is a hand-held, battery-operated device that sends out high-frequency ultrasound waves. It usually features a handset, a built-in speaker and a transducer that is placed against your abdomen. The ultrasound waves pass through the skin and tissue and then bounce back. This bounce is then translated into sound. How early can a fetal doppler detect the heartbeat of your baby can vary from a brand to a brand. While some brands claim their fetal doppler can detect heartbeats from 9 weeks into the pregnancy, others claim they only work from around the 12th week.

Where Can I Buy a Fetal Doppler?

You can buy fetal dopplers in specialized stores or online. Generally, online you will be able to find a wide range of products at more competitive prices. Taking into account that there are so many different kinds, styles and brands of baby heart monitors available on the market, it can be hard to know which features to look for to get the best value for your money. Here’s a bit of help on the matter.

Usability

The science behind a fetal doppler is incredibly complex but that doesn’t mean that the device should be hard to use as well.

  • Sit in a reclined position with your feet propped up so that you’re comfortable;
  • Apply the ultrasound gel to your abdomen;
  • Turn on the doppler and gently place it on your abdomen where you’ve applied the gel;
  • Adjust the position of the doppler by changing the angle until you hear it. Then, sit back and enjoy the sound of your baby’s heart;
  • Press the record button if you want to share it with your family and friends later.

fetal-doppler

Portability

You might be expecting this device to be large and come with massive interweaving wires taking into account the complex procedure that it is used to perform. However, a fetal doppler is a portable device that can be taken with you wherever you go. In terms of portability, that means that the device is handheld, runs on batteries and is easy to pack and take on the go.

Listening Options

The best part of the entire process is definitely the listening experience. The right fetal doppler will ensure you have all the different listening options available, including:

  • Headphones – this will allow you an intimate one-on-one experience with your little one. This is also great if, for some reason, there’s a lot of noise going on around you and you’re struggling to find your baby’s heartbeat on the doppler.
  • Built-in speakers – When you feel like sharing the moment with your partner and loved ones, having speakers built into the device helps make the moment equally magical for everyone.

Recording Features

Recording the sound of your growing baby’s heartbeat is a must-have feature if you want to keep these moments for the rest of your life. Also, if you have family and friends who live far away, you can record and send them the heartbeat straight from your home to theirs.

at-home-fetal-doppler

All-Inclusive Packaging

The last thing you will want to do when you first receive your doppler is getting stuck trying to find and figure out all the buttons and wires. The best fetal doppler will be ready to use from the get-go. Just place in the batteries and enjoy the most wonderful sounds that a soon-to-be-mother could hear.

FDA Approved

Before putting anything close to your baby, you want to be certain that it’s of the utmost safety, hence the importance of finding a fetal doppler that has been FDA-approved. This means that the product is both safe and effective and that it has been shown to be equivalent to another product on the market that is also approved by the FDA.

It is important not to forget that a home fetal doppler shouldn’t be used to replace a doctor’s appointment (https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/prenatal-appointments/). These devices are meant to be used in-between visits to the doctor and not instead of visits to the doctor. One of the reasons for this is because your doctor will always have medical-grade, accurate equipment, approved by any required safety agencies. Moreover, doctors are trained to operate a doppler. They know what all the sounds mean and they know what’s concerning and what is not.

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