Fetal Doppler Monitor
wilhelmh on Apr 8th 2010
Hearing those first musical sounds of baby’s heartbeat is enchanting. The wonder and relief that washes through you is usually a encounter you may never forget. That very first glimpse into your unborn baby’s life is the beginning of the growing bond among you and your little one. Between appointments you may wait anxiously to hear that noise yet again. Having a fetal doppler monitor, you and your loved ones can hear your little one without having to wait.
But, what is a Fetal Doppler Monitor? It’s typically a handheld unit that emits ultrasonic sound waves by way of a probe into the abdomen of a pregnant woman. These sound waves are bounced off the unborn baby’s and sent back into the monitor. The monitor can then reproduce the baby’s heartbeat by listening to the depth and frequency of these echoes. It is not a microphone, but device that senses and reproduces the coronary heart beat of one’s unborn baby.
How do I know if what I’m hearing is the heartbeat of the fetus or me? Surprising to some, the stomach makes a great deal of noises and also much more so with pregnancy. At first it may be tricky to ascertain what it really is you’re actually hearing, even so, with a little practice, you’ll soon know what is you and what is the little one. The fetal heartbeat will be a strong quick paced noise that is twice as fast as the mother’s. If you hear a heartbeat that is slow and steady, it’s probably yours. Move the unit and try once more. A baby’s heart beat is around 120-180 beats per minute, and it sounds almost like a washing machine. Other abdominal noises include the placenta and instrument static. These sounds are comparable to hearing the wind blowing through the trees as well as some static and popping noises. When you move the probe it may generate a sound like an old record player. Normally you will be trying to find a really quick swooshing sound that repeats over and over. It is incredibly distinct and as soon as you’ve heard it the first time it’s simple to recognize once again. If you’re having difficulties determining which is which, ask the provider of the baby heart beat monitor for assistance.
To use the baby heart beat monitor, also known as a fetal doppler, a mother-to-be lies down and exposes her belly. Then an ultrasound gel is placed on the probe. This produces a superior signal and permits the probe to glide smoothly over the skin. The probe is then positioned on the abdomen. In the first couple of weeks, place the probe on the lower stomach above the pubic bone and angle it down towards the buttocks and toes. This is essential since the uterus is still tucked in to the pubic region at this stage. If no heart beat is detected, pick up the probe and replace it close to the original position. In case you can’t get a result, try on a full bladder. While this is a harmless process, it is ideal to keep your sessions to no more than 10 minutes at a time. In case you have not detected a sound by that time, try again at a later time.
During the first couple of weeks of pregnancy it is really tough to detect the heart beat, even by trained professionals. Do not get too upset in case you have difficulty. There could be a number of causes such as the quality of the equipment, position of the baby, weight of the mom, shape of the uterus, and inexperience with the machine. Most heart beat monitors will detect the heart tones between 10-14 weeks, with some successful at 8 weeks, and some not until 14-20 weeks. If you’re overly concerned, talk to your doctor.
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