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Doppler for baby's heartbeat

adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
in May 2016 Moms
Anyone buying a Doppler to listen to baby's heartbeat. I'm 14weeks and the 4week waits between my appts drive me crazy because I just want a reassurance (sooner than 4 weeks) that my baby's doing ok but I'm not sure if it's worth it to invest on a Doppler. Plus my last appt 3 weeks ago, my Dr didn't even check my baby's heartbeat so I'm dying to know my baby's ok. Anyone using a Doppler? do you think it's a good investment and does it provide reassurance for you?
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Re: Doppler for baby's heartbeat

  • MellieRoseVargasMellieRoseVargas member
    I know we have a thread out there about this already I think we all kinds of agreed that a doppler is a nice thing to have but can actually cause more anxiety then good
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  • adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
    Oh I had no idea we had a thread already, I can't find it though can you send me link please and thank you?
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  • MellieRoseVargasMellieRoseVargas member
    Surw
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  • MellieRoseVargasMellieRoseVargas member
    Can't find hb with home doppler... Is the name I couldn't copy the link from my phone.
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  • gooberdoofus95gooberdoofus95 member
    I bought one and love it I'm 14w 3d and we found the heartbeat last night! They usually run about $30-35 online for a Sonoline B. I got my through a baby site locally so I only payed $10. Anyways it is JUST FOR FUN! Not for reassurance that baby is okay because if you find the HB that doesn't mean everything is okay! It does take patiences and practice to locate the HB! You also have to understand that sometimes you won't find it mostly because it's not a powerful as the one the doctor uses! If you do get one then enjoy the sound whenever!
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  • Jenly17Jenly17 member
    My 2 cents: skip it and save yourself the anxiety of going crazy when you can't find the heartbeat. I personally would never buy one because I would drive myself bananas and use it everyday.
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  • mello13mello13 member
    I borrowed one from a friend, and it's been great. I thought I would become obsessive (and I may well still be that way later on) but I've only used it a few times. Just HAVING it there, and knowing I can check (and I have found the heartbeat the few times I did use it) gives me a little peace. It's probably more of a placebo than anything, and as PP have mentioned, it doesn't really assure me that everything is ok. But all the same, I like having it.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • Ali7151Ali7151 member
    I love mine but yes - definitely learn how to use it and where to search for the heartbeat.
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  • mrstmoosemrstmoose member
    Looking back, I'm so extremely glad I didn't buy one. Found out I have a tilted ute and I would've given myself an anxiety attack because the doctor just found the heartbeat today. Not worth freaking myself out.
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    I think it's different for everyone. Many of us have dopplers and love them. I certainly don't use it every day but I am so happy I had that reassurance, particularly the first trimester when scans are not frequent and you don't feel movement yet. If you get one, you have to be ok with not being able to find the heartbeat and know things are probably still ok. If you think you can't handle that, don't get one. I am a super high anxiety person but I made myself accept that right at the beginning and have really enjoyed having it. A few times I couldn't find the heartbeat and I just put it away after ten minutes and tried again a few days later.
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  • blaisdewblaisdew member
    I just ordered one online! It was $100 on sale from $250 and I was feeling great about it but now I feel like I payed way too much.

    I really wanted the reassurance of hearing the heartbeat, and also wanted to hear that sound. My doctor uses a teeny ultrasound at appointments and can check the heartbeat and looks for appropriate movements but I've never heard the heartbeat and really want to listen.

    For me, it's worth it. It's partly a fun/ special thing and partly for reassurance. I am scared that it won't work and I will get all anxious, but I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it, I guess!
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  • lisatiblisatib member
    I have one and actually found the heartbeat just after 11 weeks. I have only used it 2-3 other times since then and it's mainly for my husband or kids to hear, since they don't go to my appointments with me. It was $30 on eBay.
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    @blaisdew, make sure you watch lots of youtube videos online so you can identify what a baby's heartbeat sounds like, what the whoosh whoosh of your own heartbeat (via your stomach) sounds like etc. Also start really low, press hard - just watch the videos before you get it and it will help loads. Also ladies with extra padding may have more trouble finding the hb - don't stress if that happens if you happen to be a bit overweight. 
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  • MerinmacMerinmac member
    I love my doppler (Sonoline B, $35 on eBay). I had a lot of anxiety early with this pregnancy because I had a mc right before this, so being able to listen to the hb whenever I want is a huge stress-reliever. I couldn't find it the first time I tried, but found it a few days later at 10+2. I only use it once or twice a week, for less than 5 min.

    Like others have said, if it would be too stressful if you CAN'T find the hb, then don't get one. There's any number of reasons why you might not hear it, even if there's nothing wrong with your baby. I just viewed it as a bonus if I could. Since its not a huge investment, I wouldn't have felt too bad if I couldn't find it.
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  • Fredifer1115Fredifer1115 member
    I bought the Sonoline B also from eBay for $35.  Found the heartbeat right away, but know where to look from having so many ultrasounds with my doctors.  The baby is absolutely nowhere that I would have looked if I had not known to start there.  I watched a few videos beforehand and that definitely helped.

    I was on the fence about getting a home doppler, but like others have said, I am a very anxious person and I really like the assurance of having the doppler there to check that things are good.  I use it every morning to say good morning to the baby.  It's my first bonding experience with the little nugget.
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  • yogahhyogahh member
    My doctor couldn't find HB with Doppler at this weeks visit. If she could t find it, God knows if I would be able to with a home "fun" device. I would save my money if I was you.

    cat fail animated GIF

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  • MissingchampagneMissingchampagne member
    Having had a MC previously, having a home Doppler and being able to "check in" with my little dude and make sure he's ok has been really great. It's done a wonderful job at putting my anxiety to rest. I just know by now to do it in the mornings on an empty stomach and bladder, each time I've done it with anything in there I have not been able to find him.
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  • concreteayngelconcreteayngel member
    Not that I tried all that often, but I didn't find the heartbeat with mine (Sonoline B) until just the other day at around 16 weeks. I didn't let this stress me out, because from all the reviews I knew that sometimes baby would be hiding, or just too small, and I wouldn't be able to hear it. If you think you might panic if you couldn't find it, I would suggest not to buy one. My OB told me that her patients who own dopplers make twice as many appointments needing reassurance (for that very reason) as patients that don't.
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  • blaisdewblaisdew member
    You guys…I was SO excited to come home today because I knew my doppler came in the mail, and it's completely defective. It just won't turn on…we used the batteries that came with it, batteries that were from our remote (that we tested to see if they work), brand new batteries from the cupboard…stupid thing won't turn on.

    I am not usually an emotional or irrational person at all and I feel so foolish but I am trying not to cry haha..I was just so excited to hear the heartbeat (last pregnancy ended in Missed MC). My phone also broke, got a new one two days ago and it broke…so I'm just feeling frustrated with everything right now. It's so nice when things just work!
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    @blaisdew which brand did you get? I'm sorry, that totally sucks. 
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  • cmeagscmeags member
    I personally love mine and agree with @seasalt123 It helps with anxiety between appointments and I never got too worked up if I couldn't find it but when we did...awesome! 

    My husband actually loves breaking it out every couple of days to hear our baby. I love that it involves him in the journey.

    When we used the doppler last night, the baby must have been doing backflips in there. Ive never heard such loud noises overpowering the heartbeat. Crazy loud noises. It had us laughing.
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  • osmama456osmama456 member
    love mine (sonoline B)! but we had a mmc this summer, so I really needed the reassurance this time. It wasn't a very big investment at $39. worth every penny for me. I only use it once a week, and have only not found the hb once.
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  • blaisdewblaisdew member
    @seasalt123 it's a sonoline and they are shipping me a new one now. You're so sweet for giving me advice and checking in... I'm actually waiting patiently now, although I was very frustrated before! I totally get you @osmama456 since I also had a missed MC. I'm just so excited to hear the heartbeat!! I really hope it comes in the mail tomorrow!
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    Ugh @blaisdew, sonoline is usually great (it's the brand I have) so that sure is disappointing. I hope your next one gets here super quick! Missed MC were my worst nightmare and the doppler helps so much with that anxiety. 
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  • Dasha420Dasha420 member
    You ladies convinced me. I was going to purchase from a local health store near by but I think I'll go with Amazon or eBay.
    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
    Yeah I think I will go buy one, I thought they were really expensive but 40-50 bucks isn't that bad. I'm so worried all the time because at 15 weeks I still have no bump no one can tell I'm pregnant, when I haven't eaten my belly is almost flat so I keep wondering if my baby is still alive in there. So thanks everyone for your contribution, I will try not to freak out if I can't find a hb.
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    @abaobifediora my belly is the same (unless I eat, the bloating is extra unreal these days, but I have IBS so that contributes) and I'm 16 weeks. I personally notice the difference in my stomach but it doesn't look like what I thought it would look like at this stage. I'm sure that has nothing to do with the health of your baby. Good luck with the doppler and, as I've said to others, please make sure you watch youtube videos on how to use them/what to look for. If I hadn't done that, I would have been lost the first time around. 
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  • vinerievinerie member
    Sometimes I think something is wrong with me. I just assume everything is okay with the baby between appointments. I worry about a lot of other stuff, though...
    Me: 38; DH: 41
    DS: Born 5-17-16 

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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    @vinerie, nothing wrong with that! Everyone worries about different things and some people have a different outlook on life or perspective on a situation. A lot of people who worry a lot may have experienced a prior miscarriage, had trouble conceiving or are natural worriers who are terrified by all the horror stories they've read. It's amazing and great to have a calm/positive perspective instead. 
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  • adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
    Thank you so much @seasalt123 good to know someone else thinks their belly should be bigger than it is lol, so my baby must be fine after all
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  • adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
    All of my messages didn't get posted. @seasalt123 I'm sorry to hear about your bloating, hopefully it subsides as you go further into your 2nd trimester. I know what to look for with the Doppler I worker in labour and delivery for a little bit before working with stroke patients now hopefully I haven't lost my skills lol. Thank you do much.
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    edited November 2015
    @adaobifediora here is the photo I didn't post on the HDBD thread because there's not enough there to call it a bump shot. I am sure there are many other women like this as well who also don't post. Mind you, it inflates as the day goes on due to IBS and my organs being shifted. I need to take an after shot to show the difference by evening. My baby is showing up fine on all scans and I get the heartbeat most times I try on the Doppler. I'm at 16 weeks in this photo. Every woman is different!
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  • adaobifedioraadaobifediora member
    @seasalt123 oh wow that's exactly what my belly looks like, and you say your baby shows up fine on your scans, alright I won't worry then, I guess every woman really is different, some show fast and others just don't. My appt is next week too so I won't worry anymore. Thank you so very much for sharing, I really appreciate it and I feel so much better now. Lots of kisses
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  • blaisdewblaisdew member
    @seasalt123 I got my new one in the mail and I found the hb within a couple minutes! It's so cool. Thanks again for the advice!

    @vinerie I think that's an awesome perspective to have. It's how I felt last time, and my experience just changed things a bit. I'm becoming much more calm as I get further in pregnancy though. Definitely don't feel bad about not worrying! Most pregnancies result in beautiful babies!
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  • seasalt123seasalt123 member
    @adaobifediora no problem. I remember how worried I was before I had my scans/got my Doppler. My baby is 100% on target for size so I am sure you are totally fine. Very glad to help :-)

    @blaisdew yay! So happy for you. Don't get stressed if you can't find it on days you have eaten or are bloated. That has happened to me a few times. It shows up again on another day. Happy dopplering!
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