Anyone used a fetal Doppler?

I haven't used one, but wouldn't recommend one. We aren't trained to use them and could pick up our own heartbeat, or worse not find any heartbeat and make the anxiety worse when everything is actually fine xx

Please don’t use one! I went to my midwife appointment last Thursday and even then at 18 weeks she couldn’t find baby’s heartbeat (baby is perfect)! You could only imagine the anxiety I felt at the appointment, let alone doing it at home. Also you’re not trained and you won’t know if that’s your heartbeat or the placenta you’re hearing or worse no heartbeat at all. It’s just not worth it hunni! It will cause you more anxiety than needed and you’ll panic that something is wrong.

I have one but use it rarely and if I'm worried about baby I don't ever rely on it, I go straight to midwife as if you rely solely on a doppler it can be dangerous (thinking baby is fine when it's not etc) but I've found her heartbeat a few times and it's lovely. Had to do loads of research as its hard to distinguish the difference between the cord, placenta and your own heartbeat etc. It's not great for anxiety, I just use it for fun xx

I’d rather pay for a private reassurance scan as you’ll be feeling kicks soon for reassurance and like the others said oftentimes if it’s not used correctly you’ll drive yourself mad for no reason

I'd say you're better off paying for a scan for reassurance though xx

Try speaking to your midwife, she should be able to get you booked in for a quick listen whenever you feel anxious or worried .. My midwife is part time and even said to me that even if i just wanted to hear it I could message her for a quick session.

Do not use one. It is not recommended by the NHS ever. You are not trained to use it and identify what is what and therefore could fool yourself into thinking things are fine and ignoring symptoms like reduced movement etc.

My midwife struggled using it so I didn’t think of buying one because of this as I think it can lead of me worrying. I did find an ultrasound scan company near the hospital that do reasurance scans for £65 - cheapest one I found ( I am in greater london so it is pricey ) I am in the same boat 20 weeks scan is 2nd of January - I just had cold or flu & worried about the baby so I have booked one for piece of mind for me.

Yes, used one in my first pregnancy as my husband bought it for me as a present and it worked great.

I actually do have one I used through my last pregnancy and this one from 14 weeks, I had to move it around a lot but you know when you catch the heartbeat because it suddenly goes from 130 up to 150ish and makes a gallopy noise, could be helpful to check your own pulse so you know it’s not the same but your heartrate shouldn’t be that high anyway! My midwife used one at my 16 week appointment and I exposed the area where i’d been finding her heartbeat and the midwife was like oh wow I didn’t expect to find it so quickly but it’s because I’d already listened to her that morning and knew where she was 😂 in seriousness I think they’re lovely but like everyone has said not to be relief upon, I’d get one so you can enjoy listening but as you’re anxious anyway i’m sure if you have any genuine concerns you’ll get baby checked out by a professional 😊

I have one and have used it for all pregnancies. If you know the different sounds, blood flow, placenta, etc, it's easy to tell babies' heartbeat and your own as babies sound like a horse galloping.. our own heartbeat is very slow compared. The placenta is like a swooshy sort of sound. Although they do advise that just picking up a heartbeat doesn't necessarily mean all is okay - so if reduced movement or any concerns, etc, even if you find a good strong heartbeat you should still always get checked professionally. I just enjoy listening to babies' heartbeat and their movement. My second used to kick the doopler away, even at midwife and scan appointments and it used to make a horrid noise 😅