Doppler

tmdmath3 · March 2016

Has anyone else bought an at home doppler? Mine is arriving tomorrow and I'm so excited but I'm also worried I'm going to freak out if I can't find the heartbeat!

TNgoldengirl · March 2016

Yes, I found the heartbeat at 9.5 weeks after a good long while of trying, and last time I did it, (last week) I found it immediately! I wouldn't worry too much if you can't, but it's definitely reassuring if you can. I think a lot of factors play into the success.

Forever0905 · March 2016

Yes! The first try takes a bit of effort, but once you get accustomed to the different noises it's easier to track down. I think you'll be okay..have fun with it!

homebird · March 2016

I have one. I was able to find the heartbeat at 8.5 weeks with this one, although it took me about 15 minutes to get it, haha. I wouldn't recommend trying that early, especially if you think you might freak out if you can't find it right away (or at all). I would say try around 12 weeks, you should be able to get it pretty easily by then. I just listened to baby bean last night (17 weeks).

kosmo86 · March 2016

I recommend watching a few youtube videos before you try. It can take a while at first. I only do mine once a week and it gets easy to find each week. The first time I did it I couldn't find it I came back a few hours later and it still took 20 minutes to find it!

SaraJuul · March 2016

Yes I bought one. The first couple times it can be hard to find, but once you get the hang of it, and as your baby grows it gets easier. Don't be discouraged if you can't find it, just put it away and try again in a few hours.

Sporty1216 · March 2016

Also be aware that if you happen to have an anterior placenta it may be difficult to find. My OB couldn't find my babe's at 12 weeks with the Doppler and when she did an ultrasound she discovered my placenta is anterior. We'll see if she can do it at 16 weeks!

ChronicleBaby · March 2016

I got one on Amazon for around $50 and I am 16 weeks. Found the heart within about 5-10 minutes. LOVE IT!!!

tinypikachu · March 2016

Have one here too! For me it was actually easier to find when baby was smaller (9-12 weeks). It used to take me a minute or less to find.

Now that baby's bigger, it's easier to point it at its butt, for example, and not know it

Now it can take me anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to find. I think it's gotten harder for me because baby is bigger and, now that she's up in my belly instead of my pelvis, it's a bigger area to try and track her down. My NP found it right away at my last appointment (took her about 10 seconds) because she felt my uterus and knew where baby was and what side her chest was.

I think the most important thing to remember is that it can be hard for everyone, even medical experts, to find the heartbeat, especially those first few times for you. So try to make your peace with that thought and try again in a few hours if that happens.

BabyBoyH92016 · March 2016

I have a love hate relationship with my Doppler. Awesome when you get the heartbeat fairly quickly, a little stressful when it takes a longer time then you are used to. I got mine at 12 weeks and have been using it approximately once a week. I watched a few you tube videos when I first got mine and found it helpful.

AlwaysAuntNeverMom I also found it easier to find the baby heartbeat when he was smaller. I had a bad freak-out around 15weeks. I had been consistently finding the baby's heartbeat within a few short minutes. Then the first time I could not locate it, I was very worried since I was under the impression that it should get easier the bigger he gets. Since then, I've struggled a few times to pick it up. However, now I know to give it a rest and try later. I think having success early on set the expectation that I would always find the heartbeat easily, especially as time goes on.

AnnaS930 · March 2016

I've been finding hearbeat since around 10 weeks maybe? It used to take me quite a while, now I can pretty much place the doppler and hear the heartbeat immediately - I tend to use it about once every week or two (or at times that I just need a little reassurance.. ie after a day of bad food poisoning). Good luck, you've got a good mindset going in. You'll start to recognize your own heartbeat and know to move a little side to side to find baby behind your own system supplying blood to him/her.

jhems776 · March 2016

I will also echo watch several videos first! I first got it at 9w I think. I often find my own heartbeat first. I've been lucky and have found it each time but half of the time I only get it for less than five seconds. My doppler is only good at showing the right heart rate if I can get a sustained very clear sound so don't be upset if you can hear it but it doesn't register.

tmdmath3 · March 2016

I'm very excited about it. I haven't felt any kicks yet and I'm 17 weeks tomrrow so I think it will bring me peace of mind. Have you guys found out the gender? Has the myth about a high heartbeat being a girl been right? Being a first timer is so scary but so great!

kcl219 · March 2016

I love my Doppler. Without a doubt I would be ten times more neurotic and anxious if I didn't have it lol. Baby moves a lot now at 15 weeks so sometimes I just pick it up for a few seconds but that's good enough for me!

Spindlek · March 2016

I got my Doppler at 13 weeks and I've only had it a week but so far it has been pretty easy to find the heartbeat though I watched a lot of videos to be sure I knew the difference in the sounds since there are some non-heartbeat sounds that can get into the 120s and throw me off.

I wondered about whether it would be harder as the baby (and my belly) got bigger, so it's good to know that is the case! I'm just looking forward to feeling movement, I think I'll worry a lot less then!

frogdog06 · March 2016

I've read that if it is difficult to find the heartbeat, try lying on your side to use it.

Huge fan of the doppler. Anytime I worry about little one, I listen in and feel better as @kcl219 says. Plus, you can record the sound via iPhone voice memo (no idea how to direct upload it...yet) and share with family and friends. Pretty rad until we can really start feeling them in there.

missfoxyleide · March 2016

I just received my doppler yesterday...I'm 16w6d today and when I first tried it yesterday, I had a hard time finding the heartbeat so we decided to try again after dinner. One of the videos on YouTube said that having a full bladder helps. I came home from going out to dinner with my husband with an uncomfortably full bladder and we tried it and found the heartbeat this time. Definitely watch a couple videos first...very helpful in knowing what to look for.

cassey910 · March 2016

Love my Doppler and I've found the heartbeat easy since 10 weeks!
i did have a freak out moment last week when I heard two heartbeats one was the baby's and one was a little faster. At first I thought twins. Then I googled and found out it was an echo of my heartbeat and the baby's combined. Crazy lol

ab920 · March 2016

I did! I found the heartbeat at about 8 weeks after about 5 minutes of searching. I'd suggest watching the Youtube videos on finding it. Knowing the different sounds your heartbeat vs. your placenta makes helps you find the baby's heartbeat faster.

Also, I found it much easier that early-on after eating a meal. Have fun!

tinypikachu · March 2016

@cassey910 you can sometimes pick up both your and your babe's heartbeat at the same time, it all depends on where baby is. It happened to me once. I'd say the faster one was more than likely baby's and the slower one was yours.

noelani42 · April 2016

The doppler is also a really cool way to incorporate siblings into the process...my daughter gets so excited about "checking the baby" and even helps squirt the gel on my tummy and move the doppler around until we find the heartbeat

Want a personalized experience?

Doppler

Re: Doppler

Choose Another Board

Search Boards