Question about the Sonotrax B pocket fetal doppler? If you have ever used it do you have any tips?
I recently purchased the sonotrax b fetal doppler from amazon.com because someone suggested it. They said they heard the heartbeat at 12 weeks using it. The purchase info said I could hear a heartbeat between 10-11 weeks. I am 13 weeks 1 day today with twins and I tried to use it. The display kept coming up with numbers but I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. Am I doing something wrong? I was standing while using it so should I try laying down? I am a thin person so it shouldn’t be too hard to pick it up. Any tips would be great, thanks!
It makes me a little nervous that I can’t get the heartbeats but I know that’s why ppl say not to buy these things! I have already heard them at 8 and 9 weeks with a transvaginal ultrasound and saw them again at 10 weeks 4 days on a transpelvic ultrasound.
I just tried it again lying down and I was able to hear both heartbeats!!! Thanks guys!!! At 10 weeks 4 days my uterus was measuring 14 weeks so I know mine it at least 2 inches below my belly button now but I still did have to find them down near my pelvic bone.
Filed under: Fetal Doppler FAQs
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I have a fetal doppler. Not the same brand but similar. You should be able to hear the heartbeat by 10 - 11 weeks by 13 weeks definately. You should be lying down flat becaues thats the best position to be in. Try moving the doppler around to a few different spots untill you hear something. Sometimes if the numbers are flashing its because its calculating the heartbeat, (read the instructions which you probably already have). But definately the best way is lying down. Sometimes it can be different with twins too but just try lying down or have a look if there is a company website which you may be able to ask questions directly to them. Goodluck
you will need to lie down. aim low as your uterus is just starting to come out of your pelvis. try not to worry if you don’t find it just yet. Im 26 weeks and every time the midwife trys to find it i can feel her move away. So even later on with a doctor or midwife it can take a while to find it
I am not sure how much you paid for this but I have patients that buy these things all the time. The dopplers we use in our clinic cost about $600 and usually the ones you buy online are around 1/10th of that which means the technology is significantly weaker and cannot penetrate deep enough into the belly to hear the fetal heart rate. Usually these home dopplers do not work until you are farther along into your third trimester or maybe late in the second. We are lucky to hear the fetal heart rate at 12 weeks with the more expensive dopplers. I doubt you are doing anything wrong i think these companies inflate what their products can actually do and yes laying down would be a much better way to perform the test.