How reliable are the fetal dopplers you rent?
I recently went to the doctors last week and heard a heartbeat. I was so anxious to hear it again that I rented one of those fetal dopplers. At my appointment my doctor said the heartbeat was good at 174 bpm but when I am using this fetal doppler it seems waaaay lower like 100 bpm. Is this normal? Im almost positive its the heartbeat because its in the same spot as last week and you can hear the whoosing noise of the placenta around it. I just read too much on line and am starting to worry that somethings wrong! Whats weird though is when I hear the heartbeat it sounds exactly like last week, not slower. Am I going crazy!?!? Thanks 
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
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it depends on how far along you are. I didn’t get one until after my 16 week ultrasound…and it took us a good 10 minutes to find the baby. It will definitely be faster than that. How far along are you? The hospital monitors are MUCH stronger. If you are just at 12 weeks along, then it will be very difficult to find it.
If the heartbeat is that slow, and you are very far along I would call your doctor.
Sorry, but the 100 was probably YOUR heartbeat…. the baby’s is usually higher… How far along are you? Sometimes, even the ones you rent, arent good enough to find the heartbeat until your 3rd trimester.