Am I hearing the baby's heartbeat or something else?
I purchased a 3.0 MHz Fetal Doppler Heart Monitor that is supposed to be the same caliber that the doctor has. It’s really neat!
I can pick up my own heart beat with a rate of about 80 bpm when I put it over my own heart.
When I put it near my uterus I can move it around until I find a fainter Woosh-Woosh-Woosh, which I think is my baby’s heartbeat! The rate is about 120 bpm, which I think is lower than it should be. Also, I can pick it up in two places about 4 inches apart.
I know I’m not having twins because I just had an ultrasound last week and the doctor found just one healthy 10 week old baby.
Am I picking up an echo or my own pulse? If it’s my pulse I’m picking up then wouldn’t it be at the same rate to 80 bpm?
I’ve moved that probe all around my stomach and heart and in my uterus was the only place I picked up that Woosh-Woosh-Woosh at 120 bpm.
Does anyone have any experience with these things?
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
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This is one of the tough things about fetal dopplers at home - if you aren’t sure what you are hearing, it can cause worry! It is a bit early to have reliable results with a fetal doppler, but you are definitely picking something up!
I would suggest that you find out if you can have your doctor show you how to use it. They can tell you what is normal and not in terms of heart rate, and they can explain better how it is working. I asked my doctor if I could get one, and he basically told me that I can come into the office any time I want to hear the baby’s heart. As a result, I didn’t get one for home use. They have used one on me in the office, though, so I know a bit about what they did.
My guess is that you are hearing the baby’s heartbeat and that you are able to hear the baby’s heartbeat from 2 different parts of the uterus. (Imagine aiming the wand at the center of a large pear covered by a blanket, first from one side and then from the other, a few inches away).
The rate you are hearing may be somewhat low, but your doctor will know best what to be concerned about. The published ranges of "normal" heart rates don’t account for every possible baby, and some healthy births will fall outside of the range. During one of my ultrasounds, I asked if the rate they picked up was normal, and they told me that at that point in development, they don’t worry unless the heart rate is 80 or lower, which is lower than the rate I had read about online. What is considered "normal" in terms of heart rate changes a lot in the first trimester and what your doctor tells you should be trusted.
if youre only 10 weeks along then no.
The doctors usually cant even use the doppler till later than that because the baby is too small for the heartbeat to be picked up. Only the ultrasound machine.
Plus if your baby is only 10 weeks and your picking up its heartbeat to be 120 bpm…that is DANGEROUSLY low for a fetus that young. And very unlikely.
So it seems to be just the echo.
Ask your doctor next time you go.
But i HIGHLY doubt it is your babys heartbeat… theres just little to no possibility for it to be picked up by a doppler just yet.
Because you’re still early, finding the heart beat may be difficult for another couple weeks. As far as "two" heart beats in different places - perhaps your baby is laying transversely so you are picking up the front and backside.
You’re correct that if it was your own pulse it would be 80bpm - 120 is normal (range 110 - 160). At your next appointment, bring the doppler and have your Doc help you find the heart beat in the office. Have fun with the doppler, but don’t start freaking yourself out!