A baby Doppler is a home ultrasound device used to monitor a baby’s heartbeat before birth. Baby Dopplers are recommended for women who have had past miscarriages and they offer the parents the piece of mind to know that their baby is all right. Baby Doppler equipment can be rented from many companies for a monthly fee or they can be purchased. A rental baby Doppler is priced at approximately $25 or more a month, depending on the company you rent them from.
If you plan on purchasing a baby Doppler, the price is approximately $600. A baby Doppler is very safe to use and causes no ill effects to the fetus. Baby Dopplers can detect a fetal heartbeat at around ten weeks of pregnancy and may be used during the entire pregnancy. Regulated by the FDA, baby Dopplers should only be purchased or rented from a qualified dealer.
Most baby Doppler systems are designed to be hooked to a computer to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Others have options that allow you to record the baby’s heartbeat without the aid of a computer because they have built in recorders and playback. Some baby Doppler equipment comes with home speakers and SSQ-superior sound quality.
Here are some tips for using a baby Doppler:
- A full bladder helps you hear the heartbeat better.
- Early in pregnancy, begin in the middle of the abdomen (in line with the belly button) but right above the pubic hair line.
- Move the probe slowly — it is easy to scan over the heartbeat.
- Tilt the probe downward toward the pubic bone.
- Be sure to use plenty of baby Doppler lotion. Other body lotions may be used as well. Be sure to remove all air bubbles in the lotion to prevent static.
- It is normal at times to pick up the baby's heartbeat in more than one place. You may hear the same heartbeat a few inches apart — do not be alarmed, the baby doppler is intersecting the heart in a different location. Physicians listen for the difference in two heartbeats to determine if there are multiple fetuses.
- If you are carrying twins, it can be difficult to distinguish between heartbeats (even physicians have a hard time with this). It is best to count the heartbeats and find two different rates. You can count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4 to figure the beats per minute.
Other facts to consider when using a baby Doppler:
- A 3MHz probe is better than a 2 MHz probe because the 3 MHz probe is at a higher frequency than that of a 2 MHz. A higher frequency can reflect off of smaller objects so a 3 MHz probe is recommended, especially in cases of early pregnancy.
- Pregnancy can be a time of concern for some mothers. The use of a baby Doppler can provide relief from worry, as well as a way to preserve the precious moments of your child’s life.
By R. S. Wagner