When you are expecting a baby, having to wait for the opportunity to listen to your baby’s heart beat on your next pre-natal doctor’s visit is often a frustrating and stressful experience, particularly if you are concerned about your pregnancy. A baby heartbeat monitor can give you peace of mind between checkups.
If you have had a miscarriage in the past or a previous difficult pregnancy it is understandable to be concerned about the current unborn child you are carrying. Regular visits to your OBGYN are extremely important, but a Doppler baby heart rate monitor may make your pregnancy a more relaxed experience for both you and your baby. A calm, relaxed mother is good for the baby.
The portable Doppler baby heart rate monitor is very similar to those used in doctor’s offices. They are simply smaller and more portable and are perfect for home use. Midwives love them as well.
A home monitor can detect your unborn child’s heart rate as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Powered by batteries, Doppler baby heart rate monitors detect the heartbeat of a fetus using ultrasound. The sound waves are picked up through a probe and broadcast by speaker. The more expensive monitors have an LCD screen as well to show the heart beat visually and head phone jacks.
Doppler fetal heart rate monitors are available for rent or purchase. They range in price from $50 to $500 for home use. It can be extremely helpful to take your monitor with you to your next prenatal exam and let your physician help you find the heart beat for the first time. There are a few ‘tricks’ that will make the process easier for you.
The procedure is simple. It is recommended that the monitor be used at a time when the bladder is full. This makes the heart beat easier to detect. You will need a gel product that often is included when you purchase the monitor.
Begin by place plenty of gel on an area above the pubic hair line and below the belly button. Locate the probe on the area where you have applied the gel. Keeping the full face of the probe against the belly, move it very slowly in a rocking motion around the area until you find the heart beat.
The Doppler baby heart beat monitors have been approved for home use by the FDA. They have been test regularly over the last 30 years and no adverse effects have been shown to occur. The FDA does not even suggest a doctor’s approval before using at home.
Doppler baby heart beat monitors can make the ‘waiting for baby’ experience fun for the whole family. Not only will Mom find it reassuring, Dad and brother and sister can join in the excitement as well. A monitor can also make a difficult pregnancy less stressful and offer reassurance that everything is okay.
Use the monitor to relax and enjoy this special time of waiting and anticipation and keep your doctor informed of your progress. Continue to follow his recommendations and keep up with your pre-natal visits. Use the Doppler baby heart beat monitor to assist you and your doctor to make your pregnancy an easier experience.
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