Women have discovered that it can be very reassuring to use a home fetal Doppler when monitoring the health of the unborn baby. Pregnant women have been using home fetal Doppler’s for years in order to have peace of mind especially if they have suffered a loss in previous pregnancies. A home fetal Doppler allows an expectant mom or dad to hear the fetal heartbeat. This is made possible because of the sound waves that can be heard using a special probe and a Doppler fetal heartbeat monitor. The monitor amplifies the sound so it can be heard by the proud parents to be and any other interested party.
Home fetal Dopplers are easy to use can be rented or purchased depending on your budget and if you think you will be using one in future pregnancies. There are several companies selling these home fetal Dopplers with rental prices typically ranging from $24 to $49 USD per month and as much as $450 to purchase. Home fetal Dopplers are FDA approved so couples should make sure the Doppler they purchase has this approval.
The home fetal Doppler is sometimes called a fetal stethoscope.
It is easy to rent or purchase home fetal Doppler’s online. You can find FDA approved home fetal Doppler’s at BabyFM.com, BabyBeat.com, and ClinicalGuard.com.
You may also find home fetal Dopplers in local retail stores such as Babies R Us. You may also be able to purchase Doppler’s in the gift shop of the hospital you will be giving birth in so when going to prenatal appointments ask the staff if they know if this is the case for the hospital used by the doctor or other healthcare provider.
It is possible to hear the fetal heartbeat as early as eight weeks of pregnancy using a home fetal Doppler. It may however be difficult to detect the heartbeat this early especially if the woman weighs more than is normal for her height and using the Doppler may take some practice or skill.
Batteries are usually required for home fetal Doppler’s. Some models can even provide you with a recording of the sound of the baby’s heartbeat and this sound can even be downloaded to a computer for sharing with others. A home fetal Doppler heartbeat recording makes a special baby memento.
Risks?
As in most things in life, overuse can lead to possible risks. The home fetal Doppler uses technology similar to ultrasound machines. If individuals use the fetal Doppler continuously there are some concerns about health risks for overexposure just like there is for overexposure of fetal ultrasounds. FDA approval for these fetal devices are given based on recommended occasional use patterns.
Fetaldopplerfacts.org has information on the site to help dispel fears of these risks and is worth a read for those who have concerns of the safety of using home fetal dopplers.
