One of the most comforting sounds for a mother-to-be is the sound of her baby’s heartbeat, and now she can hear it at home with a fetal Doppler. A fetal Doppler allows you to hear your baby’s heartbeat just like at the doctor’s office. Fetal Dopplers have been used by doctors and midwives for years and now you can use them in your own home. Here are a few of the reasons why fetal Dopplers have become so popular and some things you should know about them before you use a fetal Doppler.
Bonding
Hearing your baby’s heartbeat with a fetal Doppler is one of the most concrete ways you and your family can bond with your unborn baby. Of course, you get to feel your baby squirm and kick, but those ways of bonding are unique to your experience. At the doctor’s office, your husband can come with you and hear the heartbeat; but in this world of busy, conflicting schedules, many times it is impossible for your husband and your children to come to every doctor visit. If you have a home fetal Doppler, your whole family can share in the joy of hearing the beating heart of the new little member of the family.
Peace of Mind
Not only will you be able to bond with your unborn child by hearing the heartbeat with a baby Doppler, you will also receive untold peace of mind each time you hear the comforting sound of your baby’s heartbeat on the fetal Doppler. Of course, a baby Doppler is not a replacement for a doctor or a method of making diagnoses, but it is a wonderful way for you to listen in on your baby between check-ups.
How it Works
Fetal Dopplers are based on the Doppler Effect. They send thousands of short sound pulses into your belly and “listen” for the sounds to get bounced back. The fetal Doppler uses the bounced back information to create a representative sound of your baby’s heartbeat.
You can start hearing the baby’s heartbeat with a fetal Doppler as early as eight to nine weeks along in your pregnancy. Most people begin using fetal Dopplers around 12-13 weeks. One of the easiest ways to find your baby’s heartbeat for the first time with your baby Doppler is to take it with you to your next doctor’s appointment. Your doctor will be able to help you find the heartbeat and give you “insider” tips.
FDA Regulations
Although ultrasound and home fetal Dopplers are considered safe, the FDA still regulates the distribution of fetal Dopplers. You must have the approval of a physician to use a baby Doppler at home. You can either have your own physician fax his or her approval to the company from which you want to rent or buy a fetal Doppler, or some companies (such as Sweetbeats) have their own physicians that can approve the use of a home fetal Doppler.
On the Web
Check for fetal Dopplers on the Web. Look at www.storkradio.com and www.sweetbeats.net; these companies offer rental options for use during your pregnancy, or if you want, you can buy one and bond with your baby by listening to its heartbeat at any time.
By D. Blair Thompson