Is an at home doppler or fetal heartbeat monitor worth buying?
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at
8:27 pm
I’m 12 weeks with twin and have just heard about at home heartbeat montiors you can buy fairly cheap and listen to your baby’s heartbeat at home. Has anyone used these? How effective are they? Am I too early to hear anything?
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
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My doctor told me not to rent one (even if it his hospital grade) because sometimes the baby’s heartbeat cannot always be heard - ie: they turn a funny way - which can lead to tons of anxiety. I am resisting the urge and waiting until I can feel flutters.
I’m 11 weeks pregnant.
It is hit and miss. My sis-in-law bought it and could never hear anything. My husband and I, however, could hear the heartbeat some days and other days all we could hear was the baby moving around. It was still cool to hear either way. I have heard, though, if you are bigger and overweight it is harder to hear the heartbeat. It’s worth a try… If it doesn’t work, sell it on ebay.
ur to early when ur about 22 weeks u can start to hear i got one for 20 bucks n waisted my money i have used it here n there but not enough for my moneys worth id rather see here than hear here lol it all depends on ur weight to if ur heavy u wont hear it as soon and as well
My wife and I bought two of them. The "bebe" one was totally worth it - around $120US (http://www.hibebe.org/catalog/item/3399452/2979631.htm). With a history of miscarriages and other risk factors, it was very reassuring for us to be able to listen to the heartbeat and hiccups.
The other one we bought was purchased at a maternity store for $35US and was an absolute piece of crap. Whenever heard *anything* using it.
I bought the bebe beats one from babies r us, and I can’t hear anything! I’m 22 weeks today, but the box says you usually can’t hear anything til the third trimester. I’m sure there are more expensive ones that work better like the doctors have, but on a budget, you get what you pay for lol. I enjoy mine even though I can’t hear her heartbeat, because I can talk to her with a microphone, read books to her, and even play music! It was only about $40 bucks, so for now I think it’s ok…I would recommend it…
I have heard good and bad things about them. My brother and his wife bought one(pregnant with twins)and they could hear the heartbeats. I never took the chance and bought one. With my first, I tried hearing the heartbeat with a stethascope, nothing. Now 32 weeks with my second and I can find the heartbeat easily! I honestly think it is a take a chance situation. It all depends on how the babies are positioned.
I think you get what you pay for and that 1 or 2 times you don’t pick anything up you will go nuts!!!!
weee,wanted to buy doppler too! i think its really worth buying!
I wouldn’t bother. First off, you don’t know what the side effects of using something like that long term will be on your babies. You could be endangering them, and not even know it. The other problem is that you’re not a technician. You wouldn’t really be able to understand what you were hearing. The next thing is that, yes, things like that are cheap, but aren’t you better off spending your money on something you can use: diapers, wipes, rattles, and all that other stuff. The only time you’ll ever use that gizmo again is if you get pregnant again.
I have heard not to buy the ones at babies r us, walmart etc… The bebe monitor cause they are crap. You have to be like ready to give birth before you can hear anything.
Those ones are Not doppler. they are just heartbeat monitors.
I bought one on ebay. it’s the same one they use at your doc office and it is a Doppler, meaning it detects baby’s heartbeat as early as 10 weeks.
I hear my baby’s heartbeat everyday and I am 14 weeks.
It was $79. It’s brand new and comes with a warranty and everything. I received it within 4 days!
If you want more info let me know. I was def worth it. I know the seller has lots more cause it’s a technology company.
My husband and I bought one this past week, and I think they’re crap. It’s nothing like the one your doctor uses. You can’t hear anything. And the one we bought says not to use it until you’re in the third trimester. I would not recommend getting one. By the way I am 17w 4d with twins.
my best friend bought one and it never really worked very well..i wouldn’t suggest it.
If I had had one of those, I think I would have been way to obsessed with it. Just remember you are not a doctor so don’t read too deeply into it if you don’t find the heartbeat one time or it sounds funny to you. It may cause more anxiety than necessary. If you concerned, pop over to your doc’s office and get checked out.
The answer varies, some people say they can hear the heart beat just fine and with others they cant or either they just pick up their own heart beat. I was looking into getting one but I figured I would get worried if my baby was okay or not just because I coundnt get a heart beat so I decided against. I have heard alot more cons than pros about them. And 12 weeks is early to pick up the heartbeat with them as they say to use them in the end of the 2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester for best results.