7 Top Tips for Finding Fetal Heartbeat with a Doppler

7 Top Tips for Finding Fetal Heartbeat with a Doppler

Listening to your baby’s heartbeat for the first time can be magical. Many people love to hear the first lub-dub as soon as possible. Hence, using a fetal doppler, you can easily listen to your baby’s heartbeat. Fetal doppler is easily available out there, and you can listen to the heartbeat while your checking is done. But this doppler cannot emit the ambient sound, and hence, it will be tough for you to listen to the most precious sound of your baby’s heart. In this article, we will help you listen to the sound properly.

Please go through the techniques we explained here.

What is a Doppler, and how does the process work?

Doppler is a handheld object that helps you to listen to any sound, no matter how unheard that can be. You can locate different types of models in the market. Generally, you can listen to the desired sound on speaker or via headphones.

The would-be mother needs to lie down with a good amount of ultrasound gel applied to her belly. Now, the doctor takes out the doppler and starts moving it on the belly of the mother. Now she can listen to the heartbeat of the baby and can watch the beats per minute on the screen. The test is very easy and takes only a few minutes. Once the process is done, the doctor can wipe off the doppler and keep it for further use.

Why do you need this doppler test?

The baby stays within the womb for 9-10 months. Before the birth, the mother cannot see her baby anyways. The only connection between her and her baby is through the ultrasound checkups. During the ultrasound test, when a mother can listen to her baby’s heartbeat, it gives her immense pleasure and a sense of contentment. Besides the motherly love, the doctor needs to know the correct positioning of the baby and whether the baby is safe and growing well. So, this one test can solve all the worries and queries.

Now let’s check the 7 top tips for finding a fetal heartbeat with a Doppler.

1. Be gentle and slow

When you try to listen to your baby’s heartbeat for the first time, you must be very excited. But that doesn’t mean you start stroking the probe roughly to the belly of the would-be mother. She might get hurt during the procedure, and you do not want that. Be a little gentler on her, and no matter how much you push the probe on her belly, it won’t take you closer to your baby. It’s about the correct angle and positioning of the probe. If you try with gentle hands and start slowly, you won’t miss the heartbeat.

2. Don’t be a miser with the gel

You have to apply a generous amount of gel to ease the procedure. The gel will help the probe to glide on the belly easily, and it will be much easier for you to listen to the heartbeat. Do not be a miser thinking the gel would get finished. When you visit a clinic, and the technician applies gel before the ultrasound, have you ever checked the amount of gel he used? Take a dollop of the gel and do not rub it on the mother’s belly. You just need to apply the gel gently on her belly and not rub it like a moisturizer.

3. Take the test in full bladder condition

When you take an appointment for the ultrasound test, the doctor asks you to consume water to a certain point when you cannot control your pee. This is the time, due to the heavy amount of water intake; the uterus comes out of the pelvic cavity. It will be much easier to run the test at this point. You can easily listen to the sound of the baby’s heart now. So, if you can buy a Doppler kit, try to take the test first in the morning, even before visiting your loo.

4. Check for the Whooshing sound

When you try to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, you will get to hear a lot of other ambient sounds as well. It will be tougher for you to decipher which one is your baby’s sound anyways. Hence, you should look for a whooshing sound. This is the sound of the baby’s movement inside the womb. Some people mix it with the sound of the trees blowing. But over time, when you are habituated to differentiating the ambient sounds from your baby’s heartbeat, you can easily listen to it.

5. Bigger probe for heavier mother

If the mother is overweight, it will be tough to listen to the heartbeat of the baby. You need to bring a bigger probe for such cases. Generally, 2-2.5 MHz probes are easily available in the market. If you cannot hear your baby’s heartbeat with this big probe, you can go for a replacement probe available for a higher price that comes with a 3 MHz ability. This probe can be useful in such cases. But it is recommended that you must not lose your hope even if you cannot listen to it. Your doctor understands the sound, and you better visit his clinic soon for clarity.

6. Whose heartbeat are you listening to?

You need to understand the difference between your heartbeat and your baby’s. Sometimes we are so engrossed in finding a heartbeat we do not realize that we are actually listening to our own heartbeats. If the heartbeat is somewhere within 60-90 beats per minute, you are actually listening to your own heartbeat. Your baby’s heartbeat will fall somewhere between 120-180 beats per minute. We will request you not to consume any type of caffeine products or alcohol before or during the procedure.

7. Take some time

Even if all these tips are not useful in your case and you cannot listen to the lovely beats of your baby’s heart, give yourself a break. Take some time and check with the doctor. Maybe you are trying the test way before in the timeline. You can change your position and be more relaxed anytime during the test. Do not pressurize yourself with the outcome. Just breathe and try to stay calm for the sake of your baby.

Conclusion

These steps can be followed at home after buying a home test Doppler kit. While taking the test, you need to go to a room where the ambient sound is not that much. If you are not sure about the test, you better visit your doctor. He knows the procedure and can differentiate the baby’s heartbeat easily. Hope this test goes well for you and you can listen to the precious heartbeat of your baby.
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