Having your child is a great joy, and hearing their heartbeat for the first time is an unforgettable moment. Many expecting parents want hearing their heartbeat through the at home fetal Dopplers, a feeling of affinity and love will soon be evident in your body. It is probably the most delightful feeling and one that any new mother-to-be can enjoy for the rest of her life. But how to find baby's heartbeat with fetal doppler takes some skill, and that is what we now want to share.

Thanks to the fetal dopplers for pregnancy, that has made it easier than ever for many expecting Moms to hear their little angels by staying at your own home. At home Fetal dopplers are handheld device that uses sound waves to check the baby’s heartbeat while he\she is still comforted in your womb. On the one hand, when you are excited to hear about your bundle of joy. Using a fetal doppler to introduce children to their new sibling is a great way to build deeper relationships in a short periods of time. On the other, you have worried whether it will be safe for your child or not. Still, you want reassurance that things are OKAY with the love of your life. Rest assured, as long as you have the at home doppler with you.

If you already have at home devices and still cannot find your baby's heartbeat, then read this article till the end. Ahead, we will be sharing some tips that will make the use of Fetal doppler device effortless. Get ready to hear your baby's heartbeat!

Before proceeding further, ensure that you have the following things on your checklist：

 

• Ultrasound gel. The ultrasound gel is the key to unlocking the seal between you and your baby. There is nothing wrong with using it as this gel is solely a mixture of water and a gentle solvent known as propylene glycol. It just serves as a lubricant that secures the bond between the device and the womb, eventually producing sound waves.

• Batteries. Generally, fetal dopplers run on batteries. Double-check the kind of batteries your device requires.

• A relaxed place to lie down. If you aren't getting any results with your fetal heartbeat monitors, check whether you were reclining while using it. Lie down on your favorite site then check because finding and hearing a baby's heartbeat can take a while sometimes.

• Patience. The excitement to hear baby's heartbeat for the first time can cause a loss of tolerance. It's not your fault; it takes time to finding fetal heartbeat. But you have to be patient, as your impatience can cause undue anxiety and stress, which is not suitable for you and the baby. especially in early pregnancy. Just keep calm, and remember the fruit of patience is sweet.

 

10 Tips to hear the heartbeat of your baby with fetal dopplers

 

1. Start with a lower dose and increase gradually as needed.

First, be gentle, and gradually increase the probe movement.

Before starting, always remember the fruit of patience comes to those who wait. Begin by placing the probe around the pelvic bone. Now move forward in a mild and gentle shaking motion. Don’t forget to go slow.

Most women press the probe closer to the baby so that they don't miss the heartbeat. Never do that. The best formula to achieve your desired results is gentle angling only.

 

2. Apply the ultrasonic gel to the probe

Don't ever be frugal with the gel use; otherwise, you won't get the desired results. You might have noticed that on your last appointment for an ultrasound to your baby's heart rate in the doctor's office, the technician had spurted a little amount of gel on your lower belly. That's because a small amount of ultrasound gel makes detection easier. But don't apply the same principle to you.

Firstly, because you aren't a technician or healthcare professional, it will not give you the looked-for results. So, be substantial while applying the gel. Another important factor is to use the ultrasound gel directly on the prob's end. Many women apply the gel on their bellies instantly, just like the technician in the laboratory. Don't forget you are doing this from your home's comfort, so avoid such mistakes to achieve your triumph.

Some women use the gel-like a hand moisturizer and rub it for a longer time on the belly. Doing so will reduce the static only.

Last but not least, don't be scared that you will run out of gel. A single bottle of fetal doppler ultrasonic gel is enough for a whole month. And even if it ends up during the month, you can buy the ultrasound gel easily online.

 

3. Overweight? Use a 2MHz probe

The most common hindrance seen in not getting the baby's heartbeat is obesity in women. Yes, the fat impedes you and your baby. You don't need to torch up calories you can't. All you have to do is to alter the probe or buy the fetal doppler set with a 2MHz probe. You can also buy a replacement probe. Generally, the baby doppler sets come with a 3 MHz. In other words, if you are carrying extra weight, opt for the 2MHz. The results will be more accurate and easily detectable.

 

4. Don’t Freak Out with the fetal heartbeat

Don't expect the wanted results in the first go. You may be habituated to listening to your baby's heartbeat, and abruptly when you can’t, chances are you make a fuss. Many women think that God forbids something wrong with the baby or blames the device for unnecessary worry

In reality, there are many likelihoods behind not getting the heartbeat, like

• You have an empty bladder.
• Your little one has transited to a position that makes it challenging to hear his heartbeat.
• You are not lying down properly. The suggested position is to recline in such a way that the uterus is in a vertical state.
• Don’t use the doppler in a standing position.
• You might be using too much gel. Be generous, but not too much. Using loads of gel can decrease statics by creating air bubbles.

Don't be quick in making assumptions. If your baby's activity s present, there is nothing to be bothered about. Still, if you aren’t getting any results, consult your doctor right away.

 

5. Let your neonate grow

Don’t use the fetal doppler if your baby is less than 12 weeks, we called the first trimester. Sometimes even after 12 months, the heartbeat isn't detected. All you have to do is to wait for the right time. Sometimes you cannot detect a heartbeat at home, but prenatal visits in the doctor's office are successful at achieving this. The reason is that a doctor's clinic is highly equipped and they are trained professionals, but you are relying on a handy device, even it's FDA approved. Also, healthcare provider use 4D ultrasound equipment, making the whole process state of the art.  

 

6. Try, Try Again, it's not easy to find your baby's heartbeat

Many of you must have quitted using doppler on the first try, as the reasons behind not getting a heartbeat are already mentioned above. First, the fetal heart is significantly weaker and harder to listen, to compare to the mother's one. At the same time, babies move a lot in the womb; they can't sit still. Sometimes their head blocks the probe's angel, or they pull their knees towards the chest, making it difficult to hear. While most fetal dopplers are designed to detect fetal heartbeats, they may also be capable of detecting other sounds that originate in a pregnant mother’s womb. This could include fetal movement and possibly even the own heartbeat of the mother herself or two heartbeats. Similarly, fetal dopplers could also pick up on environmental sounds such as traffic or other noises. Pregnancy teaches you to be patient with yourself and the baby as well. Apply the same principle while using the fetal doppler for your baby.

Try again, there will come a moment when the baby is lying in optimal condition and ideal position, and you can detect the fetal heart rate.

 

7. Clean the probe after using it

Every time you use the probe, clean it thoroughly. Often the ultrasonic gel build-ups reduce the efficiency of the entire equipment by increasing the static. Eventually, you can't hear the heartbeat. The process of cleaning isn’t complicated at all. Take out a clean cloth and wipe off the gel from the bottom after use. Another way to clean is to sterilize it using a 70% ethanol solution. Avoid putting the probe in water or other cleaning solutions.

 

8. Take the heart rate range into consideration

Sometimes, mommies pick up their heartbeat instead of the babies. Here’s how you can check the heart rate range;

• 60-80 BPM (Beat Per Minute) means it’s your heartbeat.
• 120-180 BPM (Beat Per Minute) shows that it’s the little ones.

You will observe that the baby's heartbeat is faster than yours. In most cases, you hear your own heartbeat in the upper abdomen, but not in the lower abdomen, but that's indeed not a reason to worry. As the fetus grows, Slow heartbeats sometimes mean the fetus is just changing its positions.

Caution:

Alcohol or caffeine during pregnancy may foment the heart rate of the fetus, too. 

 

9. Study the sounds

Frequently, women get anxious by not hearing the heartbeat. It will help if you instruct yourself about the heartbeat. You will find many videos on YouTube regarding recognizing the baby's heartbeat and seeing a difference between yours and the little one's heartbeat.

 （add youtube video)

 

10. The Donts

• DON'T push the prob too hard. 

Be gentle while application. Pressing the prob harder will make the application  difficult and more challenging.  

• DON’T scrub the gel all over.

The gel does improve the connectivity but lathering up the probe with gel isn't the solution. Loads of gel will create bubbles as well, which are a hindrance to connectivity.

• Avoid using in a standup position. 

Many mothers believe that the only way to do this is to put the uterus in a forward position. This is a false sense of using a fetal heart rate monitor. Instead of standing forward, you should lie down in a comfortable and safe position.

 

• Call your doctor for check ups if you find any problem

If you suspect a problem, contact your doctor immediately. Your healthy pregnancy is the most important thing, and it deserves your highest priority of concern 

 

Share this blog with future mothers or your partner in this new parenting adventure!

 

For More Tips->
10 Tips For Hearing The Heartbeats Of Your Baby [Step-By-Step Guide]
How To Use Fetal Doppler The Right Way? 
Is Fetal Doppler Safe To Use? Everything Need To Know [2021]
Is Fetal Doppler Safe? Top 6 Myths You Must Know [QUICK TIP]
7 Tips For Finding Fetal Heartbeat With Baby Doppler [A Comprehensive Guide]
 
 

Our Top Picks for You!

To save your time here are some of our best picks. These models have passed national standards of radiation limits and are FDA cleared!

Model	Features
	SpringBud FD-500B FDA Fetal Doppler: With a modern design, compact size, low frequency (2MHz) and enticing color, this fetal doppler is easy-to-carry and easy-to-use.
	SpringBud FD-200B Fetal Doppler: An economical and durable product with additional recording features is awaiting your click. This fetal doppler is compatible with headphones too.
	SpringBud FD-300B Fetal Doppler: With three modes of operations, this smart fetal doppler with high-quality built-in speakers and auto-shutdown functionalities will rule your heart.

 

 

 

  

 

Reference List

-https://www.webmd.com/baby/fetal-doppler#1

-https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-home-fetal-doppler-use-okay-in-pregnancy-2759785

-https://www.neevababy.com/blogs/fetal-doppler/the-ultimate-best-guide-to-using-a-fetal-doppler

-https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-home-fetal-doppler-use-okay-in-pregnancy-2759785

-https://momlovesbest.com/pregnancy/maternity-health/fetal-dopplers

-https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/at-home-fetal-doppler

-https://sneakpeektest.com/blog/using-an-at-home-fetal-doppler/#:~:text=Turn%20on%20your%20fetal%20doppler,to%20the%20lower%20abdomen%20region

-https://greatist.com/health/when-can-you-hear-babys-heartbeat

-https://www.verywellfamily.com/reasons-for-not-hearing-babys-heart-beat-2759777