Listening to your baby’s heart beat before he or she is born is an amazing experience. With a baby heartbeat monitor that you purchase or rent, you no longer have to wait for your next pre-natal doctor’s appointment to check in with your unborn child.
If you have had a miscarriage in the past or a previous difficult pregnancy it is understandable to be concerned about the current unborn child you are carrying. Regular visits to your OBGYN are extremely important, but a home fetal monitor may make your pregnancy a more relaxed experience for both you and your baby. A calm, relaxed mother is good for the baby.
The portable Doppler baby heart rate monitor is very similar to those used in doctor’s offices. They are simply smaller and more portable and are perfect for home use. Midwives love them as well.
A home monitor can detect your unborn child’s heart rate as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Powered by batteries, Doppler baby heart rate monitors detect the heartbeat of a fetus using ultrasound. The sound waves are picked up through a probe and broadcast by speaker. The more expensive monitors have an LCD screen as well to show the heart beat visually and head phone jacks.
If you decide to rent or purchase a Doppler fetal heart rate monitor you may wish to bring it with you when you visit your doctor. Have your physician help you use the monitor for the first time to locate the heart beat. They range in price from to 0 depending on quality and features.
To find your baby’s heart beat using a Doppler baby heart beat monitor a gel is used to help detect the sound. It is recommended to attempt this with a full bladder and use plenty of gel. Gel can be purchased and often comes with the monitor, but mineral oil or a body lotion of your own choice will work as well.
To locate the heartbeat, move the probe slowly and in a rocking motion keeping the face of the probe against the skin at all times. Begin below the belly button and about the pubic area. Above all else, do not panic if you cannot readily pick up the heartbeat. It may take some practice to locate it.
Thirty years of research have shown no ill effects from the use of Doppler baby heart beat monitors. The FDA has approved them for home use and does not even recommend the approval of a doctor before using.
Doppler baby heart beat monitors can make the ‘waiting for baby’ experience fun for the whole family. Not only will Mom find it reassuring, Dad and brother and sister can join in the excitement as well. A monitor can also make a difficult pregnancy less stressful and offer reassurance that everything is okay.
Use the monitor to relax and enjoy this special time of waiting and anticipation and keep your doctor informed of your progress. Continue to follow his recommendations and keep up with your pre-natal visits. Use the Doppler baby heart beat monitor to assist you and your doctor to make your pregnancy an easier experience.