Why use a fetal doppler?

Fetal dopplers are used by medical professionals every day to detect heartbeats of babies in the womb. They are completely safe and do not require a prescription. The waves emitted by a fetal doppler are about 40 times lower than those emitted from an ultrasound machine. Every Babyheart fetal doppler we sell is FDA Cleared to ensure safety and quality.

When choosing a fetal doppler, it is important to choose a company that offers quality products and a high level of customer service and support. Also, be sure to look for FDA approved fetal dopplers to ensure you are getting a safe, high-quality device that you can feel good about using on your baby.

Choosing a Babyheart fetal doppler is an important decision and you should choose the device that is right for your needs. Babyheart offers a wide range of fetal dopplers to choose from including ultraportable models as well as much larger fetal dopplers that are perfect for parents looking for long-lasting durability and higher sensitivity. You may easily find the right fetal doppler for you through our model comparison table.

Using a fetal Doppler is easy and convenient. You can use it by yourself, or with your partner. A couple of tips to consider before getting started include:

• The baby’s heartbeat will be easier to hear in the morning when your belly is less bloated.
• Using the fetal doppler while you have a full bladder will also make it easier to hear.

How to use the fetal doppler:

• To use your fetal Doppler, lie down on your back on a flat surface and expose your abdomen.
• Apply the ultrasound gel to your lower belly, ensuring that you use a liberal amount.
• Apply the gel to the fetal Doppler probe as well and turn the device on.
• Starting at your pubic bone, glide the probe upwards toward your belly button. Move the probe across your belly slowly making sure to touch every part until you find your baby.
• A higher heart rate means that you have found your baby. This is usually around 120 BPM or higher.
• Once you are completed with the procedure, turn off the device and thoroughly clean the probe.

Your doctor might ask that you do not rely on a fetal doppler as the only source for listening to your baby’s heartbeat. Home users are not as skilled as medical professionals and may receive false readings causing them to panic. They might also misread the test and overlook something very important that could show your baby needs medical attention.

Fetal heart rate monitors provide moms with a wide range of benefits from reducing their anxiety and providing reassurance that their baby is doing well, to helping parents bond with their baby by listening to the heartbeat.

Usual detection rate is 12 to 16 weeks. However, most of our customers report to hearing it as early as 9 weeks. This can vary from person to person.

A typical fetal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute (BPM). It does vary greatly based on a wide range of factors including movement, sleep cycles, and other baby activity.

Typically, fetal Doppler measurements are reliable but there are some factors that could cause the measurement to read improperly including:

• Smoking tobacco products.
• Drinking large amounts of caffeine.
• Extra noises, such as the mother's heartbeat or stomach rumbling, can mask the signals.
• Sleep patterns.
• Baby movement.

Our Babyheart fetal doppler monitors work similar to an ultrasound, but they shouldn’t be used as a replacement for regular ultrasound appointments and doctor visits.

Ultrasound gel is recommended as it enables better skin contact for the doppler probe. However, any gel lubricant will work.

If you are receiving a measurement of 120 to 160 BPM, your baby’s heart rate is normal. Measurements which are lower than 120 BPM could be your own heart rate and you should reposition the probe.

If you are hearing more than one heartbeat, you could either be hearing the same heartbeat in two different locations, or you are pregnant with twins. If you’re in the later stages of pregnancy and the two heartbeats are within 10 beats per minute of each other, it’s probably just one fetus.

If you are unable to hear your baby’s heartbeat, don’t panic. Your baby could be too small for the doppler to detect its heartbeat and you should wait until your baby is more developed. Your baby could also be in a position which makes it difficult for the monitor to pick up the heartbeat. However, if you have a feeling something is wrong, contact your physician.