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Fetal Doppler

FlowersbluepinkFlowersbluepink member
in 1st Trimester

Hi everyone. Congratulations on your babies! I'm about 11 weeks along. I wanted to see if you gals could clear something up for me.

My midwife used a fetal doppler to check the heartbeat. It was a beautiful moment and was pounding away! My fears got the better of me and I started googling. I read that the doppler can pick up other abdominal sounds (including my heart beat which happens to be pretty high). Is it true that my heart beat will be 20-50 times faster on a doppler than it actually is? My heart rate averages between 95-100 when I'm resting. It inevitably goes higher than that when I'm stressed. My heart was pretty crazy when my midwife was using the doppler.

I just want to find some peace that this was really my baby's heart and not mine. Are midwives trained to know the difference even with patients that have naturally fast/high heart beats? The fetal heart rate was apparently 180 which is a little higher than usual... but my heart rate is also higher than average so I'm confused. Especially if the doppler is somehow able to make my heart beat sound faster than it already is. Thank so much and best wishes!

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Re: Fetal Doppler

  • ASmallWonderASmallWonder member
    The doppler doesn't impact the beat reading - it reads what it really is and there's no way your heart is beating at 140+ bpm.  Don't worry, they know what they're doing :)
    Formerly known as elmoali :)

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  • FlowersbluepinkFlowersbluepink member
    Bless you for responding so quickly! Most sources say that the doppler can pick up my heart beat as it is but only one source said that it makes your heart beat sound faster. All it takes is one thing to worry me!
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  • FlowersbluepinkFlowersbluepink member
    Does the baby's heart beat sound louder than mine would on a doppler? I have been in denial about my pregnancy. I wanted it so badly but never had any clear symptoms. I was worried sick that it was a missed m/c or something. This heart beat was my first r
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  • CDMay2006CDMay2006 member

    I just want to reiterate what the others have already said.  If your heart rate was anywhere near 180, your mw would have sent you to the ER, no question.  180 is slightly high for a baby at 11 weeks, but only slightly, and could be impacted

    Boy 10.6.13
    Labored at freestanding birth center using hypnobirthing techniques
    Delivered via csection
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  • sweetp83sweetp83 member
    The doppler cannot make your heart beat sound faster than what it actually is.  The baby's heart beat is distinct.  Just had my doppler earlier this week, baby's heart rate was 175.  My MD said that was a good strong heart beat and meant a
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