Fetal Doppler

Hi Jasmine, read the nhs guidance on home dopplers. They are not recommended: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/your-babys-movements/#:~:text=Do%20not%20use%20a%20home,mean%20your%20baby%20is%20well.

As they’re so small they can move about and still be quite low down. Full bladder and cushion under your pelvis. Also put the Doppler in one place and move it in a circle then move to another spot. You should only use them for a short time. You can YouTube videos to see the technique.

@Georgie when you’ve had 5 miscarriages including a missed miscarriage you might not be so insensitive.

@Danielle ahh perfect thank you so much! I’ve been following all the guidance and advice on using them but I’ve not had a full bladder so that’s probably why I can’t find it!! I will try it thank you so much xxx

@Jasmine I find it so much easier with a full bladder and a cushion under my bum. Once they’re bigger you don’t need to. The worry is that people A. Don’t know how to use them and it causes more anxiety because they can’t get a heartbeat, or B. in the later stages people use it when they get reduced movements and then think everything is ok. Baby movements take over the heartbeat once you’re further along and reduced movements should always be checked. I use it sparingly for reassurance (previous missed miscarriage too) and once I get the heartbeat I listen for 30 seconds and stop. So I’m hardly using it at all. They should be used for long periods of time.

@Danielle I don’t know how to use it but it doesn’t worry me. If I hear it I hear it if I don’t I don’t. I don’t do it to cause myself worry. I’ve had 5 miscarriages including missed miscarry I do it just so I can take as much from this pregnancy as I can. If I get a glimpse of the heartbeat it’s more than I’ve ever had. I won’t worry if I don’t hear it and if I had reduced movements I’m not stupid enough to ignore that. I will always be the first to rush to the doctor if somethings not right. In purely doing this to take as much from this pregnancy as I can in case I do loose the baby again. I know that moments will take over and they are more important. I’m well aware.

The heart beat will be really fast. Like a wob, wob, wob, wob noise, if it’s more like a whooshing noise it’s likely the placenta and if it’s slower it could be your heartbeat. Mine is still quite low in the pelvis. Right by the pubic bone maybe left, right or middle.

@Danielle yes I know thank you. Yeah I’ve been trying but not found anything yet.

It definitely gets easier when you can feel baby and you won’t need to hear the heartbeat because you can feel them so the movements will reassure you.

My sister is a midwife and she used her Doppler on me the other day, I was 14w at the time, she initially found it but then baby moved and she struggled to find it again so try not to stress too much if your struggling as at this stage it depends so much on position and if the baby is moving around loads etc.