41 FAQ for At-home Fetal Doppler

By Myrah M.

1. What is a fetal doppler?

A fetal doppler is a handheld ultrasound device that uses sound waves to detect movement through tissue and translate it as sound. Handheld dopplers can be used to detect blood flow and pulses for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common (and fun) is to detect a baby’s heartbeat through a pregnant mother’s belly.

2. What is a normal fetal heart rate at different stages of pregnancy?

The fetal heart starts to beat as early as a few weeks’ gestation. During the early development of the heart, the heart rate may be around 100-120 beats per minute (bpm) but quickly speeds up to a rate of 120-180 bpm around 12 weeks. During the second and third trimesters, the typical range is between 120-160 bpm, with the average being around 140 bpm.

3. What is the benefit of using a fetal doppler?

For expectant parents, using a fetal doppler to hear your baby’s heartbeat can be a fun and exciting experience that facilitates bonding and provides reassurance. Hearing your baby’s heartbeat can give a sense of reality to the new life you will soon be meeting and can be shared with siblings, grandparents, or other loved ones. For healthcare professionals, listening to fetal heart rate can provide valuable assessment information about your baby.

4. Is it okay to check the baby’s heartbeat at home?

In general, it is totally acceptable to check your baby’s heartbeat at home and can be a fun bonding activity for expectant parents. Just keep in mind that sometimes it is difficult to find a baby’s heartbeat, particularly in early pregnancy or if the baby is in an unusual position, so don’t stress or subject yourself to unnecessary worry if you can’t find it. Checking your baby’s heartbeat at home should also never be used as a substitute for regular prenatal care or at-home medical reassurance if you feel your baby moving around less or otherwise feel something is wrong.

5. What else do I need to use the doppler?

When you are ready to use the doppler, gather your supplies–gel, tissues or a towel, and the doppler itself–and find a comfortable location where you can lie back (like a couch, recliner, or your bed). Position yourself semi-reclined to help lift the baby somewhat out of the pelvis, apply the gel, then the transducer. You will need plenty of gel to reduce static and help the doppler glide across your belly. When you are done, you can use the tissues or a towel to wipe up the gel.

6. Can you use a fetal monitor without gel?

While the doppler will still emit sound waves without gel, it will not glide easily. The increased friction against your skin will create static and distracting noises, making it difficult to find your baby’s heartbeat. It is recommended to always use gel for best results.

7. Where should I place the probe of a fetal doppler during the first trimester?

During the first trimester, you may not be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat with an at-home doppler at all. If you’d still like to try, lie back and place the doppler low on your abdomen, just above the pubic bone. Glide it slowly from side to side, moving up the abdomen as you go. If you make it all the way to your belly button and still haven’t found the heartbeat, you’ll need to try again, starting just above the pubic bone. If you still aren’t successful, wait another week or so and try again. Remember that before 12 weeks, even trained medical professionals are often not able to find the heartbeat using an external doppler and may use a transvaginal probe to assess your baby’s heartbeat.

8. Where should you place the probe of a fetal doppler during the second trimester?

During the second trimester, the baby is bigger and starting to lift out of the pelvis, so finding the heartbeat is much easier. Lie back and place the doppler low on your abdomen, just above the pubic bone. Glide it slowly from side to side, moving up the abdomen as you go. If you make it all the way to your belly button and still haven’t found the heartbeat, start again, just above the pubic bone.

9. Where should you place the probe of a fetal doppler during the third trimester?

During the third trimester, the heartbeat is much easier to find as the baby is quite large with much of your uterus up and out of the pelvis. If you have an idea of the baby’s position, this can help you determine where to start with the doppler. Ideally, you want to try and listen through the baby’s back. If the baby is head down, this means the heart rate will be best detected on the lower half of your belly. If the baby is not yet head down, you may have better luck starting from your belly button up to the top of your belly. If you aren’t sure how your baby is positioned, just start above the pubic bone and work your way slowly from side to side, moving up the belly as you go. If your baby is positioned back-to-back with you (occiput posterior position), this can also make it difficult to detect the heartbeat.

10. Can using a fetal doppler hurt your baby?

Using a fetal doppler is not harmful to your baby as it uses sound waves. There is no current evidence to suggest that intermittent use of at-home doppler is harmful to the baby.

11. How do I safely use a fetal doppler?

An at home-fetal doppler is for external use only and can be safely applied to your abdomen with gel. Glide it slowly from side to side, starting just above the pubic bone. Using an at-home doppler should never replace regular prenatal care or be used to assume your baby is healthy if you have concerns or feel like something is wrong.

12. What does a baby’s heartbeat sound like on a doppler?

You may hear many sounds when first applying the doppler but be patient when trying to determine if it is the heartbeat. Rustling or whooshing noises indicate movement and will often stop when you hold the doppler still or when the baby is not moving. The heartbeat is a regular and rapid thumping or hoofbeat pattern that continues as you hold the doppler in place.

13. How early can you use an at-home fetal doppler?

A fetal heartbeat is difficult to detect earlier than 12 weeks when using an external doppler and even trained healthcare professionals may not be able to locate it during the first trimester without using a transvaginal probe. Your chances of finding the heartbeat at home are much greater when you wait until the second trimester when the baby is bigger and starting to rise out of the pelvis.

14. Can you pick up your own heartbeat with a fetal doppler?

It is possible (and common) to find your own heartbeat when searching for your baby’s. A large artery called the aorta runs through the left side of your abdomen and the doppler can easily pick up this pulsation as you move it around your belly. You can generally tell if you have found your own heartbeat rather than your baby’s by the heart rate. Your heart rate will be much slower, usually 70-100 bpm, while your baby’s is more rapid, generally 120-160 bpm.

15. How do you find your baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy?

In order to increase your chances of finding your baby’s heartbeat with an at-home doppler, make sure you are following a few simple steps. First, make sure you are not trying to detect the heartbeat too early in pregnancy; you will have the best luck after 12 weeks. Next, try listening with a full bladder. A full bladder will take up more space in your pelvis, pushing your uterus and baby up and out of the way, making it easier to find the heartbeat. Make sure you lie back in a comfortable position; this also helps lift the baby out of the pelvis a bit and gives you greater access to the full surface area of your abdomen. Make sure you use gel to reduce friction and cut down on static and excess noise. And finally, start low on the abdomen and go slowly from side to side, working your way up as you go. Don’t rush; depending on the baby’s size and position, it can take a bit to find the heartbeat.

16. What is the difference between the at-home doppler and one used by the doctor or nurse?

There is not much difference between the small handheld dopplers used by your doctor or midwife and the kind you can buy for home use. Both are intended for external use and utilize sound waves to detect your baby’s heartbeat. Your OB clinic may have an attachment that uses a different soundwave frequency to provide deeper signal penetration, but this is usually only needed for mothers whose size or shape warrants this. Healthcare settings do also have some different equipment which can be used to more easily detect your baby’s heartbeat, like transvaginal and larger transducers.

17. How can you detect your baby’s heartbeat at 1st Trimester in the first 9 weeks?

Your baby’s heart will be begin beating as early as 5-6 weeks gestation. However, in early pregnancy, your baby is very small and low down in the pelvis, making it very difficult to detect with an external doppler. As you near 12 weeks, or the end of the first trimester, your baby will be larger in size and your uterus will start to rise out of your pelvis, making the heartbeat easier to find. You can try to find your baby’s heartbeat during the first trimester, but don’t be discouraged if you are unsuccessful. In order to more easily hear the heartbeat, your doctor or midwife may use a larger ultrasound machine or even a transvaginal probe.

18. When can you hear a fetal heartbeat on a doppler?

Your baby’s heart will begin beating as early as 5-6 weeks gestation. However, in early pregnancy, your baby is very small and low in the pelvis, making it very difficult to detect with an external doppler. As you near 12 weeks, or the end of the first trimester, your baby will be larger in size and your uterus will start to rise out of your pelvis, making the heartbeat easier to find.

19. How do you detect fetal heart rate with a doppler when the baby is head down?

As your baby grows and has less room to move around, the baby’s position is useful in knowing where to try and find the heartbeat. You will want to try and position the doppler over the baby’s back to more easily hear the heartbeat. In a head-down baby, this means the back will be located on the lower half of your abdomen, between your belly button and your pubic bone. It may be on one side or the other, or fairly centered. Position the doppler low and slowly move side to side, moving up the abdomen as you go. If your baby is head down but positioned back-to-back with you (occiput posterior), it may be more difficult to find the heartbeat as your baby’s heart is further away from the front of your belly.

20. How do you detect fetal heart rate with a doppler when the baby is head up?

As your baby grows and has less room to move around, the baby’s position is useful in knowing where to try and find the heartbeat. You will want to try and position the doppler over the baby’s back to most easily hear the heartbeat. In a head-up baby, this means the back will be located on the upper half of your abdomen, between your belly button and the top of your uterus. It may be on one side or the other, or fairly centered. Position the doppler around your belly button and slowly move side to side, moving up the abdomen as you go.

21. How do you detect fetal heart rate with a doppler when the baby is transverse?

As your baby grows and has less room to move around, the baby’s position is useful in knowing where to try and find the heartbeat. You will want to try and position the doppler over the baby’s back to most easily hear the heartbeat. In a transverse baby, this means the back will be located right around the middle of your abdomen, near your belly button. It may be on one side or the other, but is likely to be fairly centered. Position the doppler just below your belly button and slowly move side to side, moving up or down the abdomen as you go.

22. How do you detect fetal heartbeats in twins with a doppler?

If you are having twins, there will be two separate heartbeats for you to find in there. You will search for them much the same way that you would with one baby, starting just above the pubic bone and moving slowly side to side with the doppler. Once you have found one and are ready to find the next, you can keep moving over and up until you locate it. The two heartbeats will likely have fairly different rates and be in different locations. If you are picking up the same heart rate not far from where you started, it is likely the same baby. As your pregnancy progresses and the babies get bigger and run out of room to move around, knowing what positions they are in will help. It will also be easier to detect the individual heartbeats as there is likely to be one baby on each side of your belly, though they can move around and get into some pretty silly positions in there!

23. Why can’t I find my baby’s heartbeat with a doppler?

There are a variety of reasons it can be tricky to find your baby’s heartbeat with a doppler. The baby’s size or trying too early in pregnancy are a couple of the most common reasons. The baby’s position, particularly being back-to-back with you, is another. Not having a full bladder, the wrong position, or enough gel are also reasons it may be difficult to find the heartbeat. If you are having trouble, take a break, drink some water, and try again later when your baby may be in a better position. If it is still early in your pregnancy, wait a week or more before trying again.

24. Why do I hear two heartbeats on the doppler?

If you are picking up two heartbeats with your doppler and have had your pregnancy confirmed as only one baby, you are likely picking up your own heartbeat or you may even be hearing an echo of your baby’s heart. If one heart rate is significantly slower than the other (70-100 bpm) then this is your heartbeat. If the other one sounds just like the first, this is an echo of your baby’s heartbeat. If you are hearing two heartbeats at different rates and have not yet had your pregnancy confirmed as just being one baby, you can discuss the possibility of twins with your doctor or midwife at your next appointment.

25. Is it okay to use a home fetal doppler every day?

Using a home doppler is not harmful to your baby and it is okay to use it every day for enjoyment or as a bonding activity. Be careful not to check so often that you are worrying unnecessarily or feeling antsy or anxious to check up on your baby. Regular doppler use is not a reason to skip routine prenatal visits and should not be used to assume your baby is okay if something doesn’t feel right or you are experiencing decreased fetal movements.

26. How can you distinguish between normal blood flow, mom’s heartbeat, and fetal heartbeat?

You might hear a variety of other sounds when trying to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, so knowing how to identify other sounds can be helpful. Whooshing or static type noises may be movement from the baby (they might even try to kick the doppler!) or even blood flow from the placenta. You may also find your own heartbeat going at a much slower rate, usually 70-100 bpm. A steady, hoof-beat thumping sound, in the 120-160 bpm range is when you know you have found the baby.

27. What should you look for in an at-home fetal doppler?

Choosing an at-home doppler can be overwhelming as there are so many out there. Think about features that are important to you: small/compact size, large display screen, noise canceling feature to cut down on static, tracking feature for past heart rates, or even a higher frequency probe to better hear the baby for plus-size moms. Look at reviews online and choose something that users rate as durable and easy to use.

28. Why is my baby’s heart rate different at home than at the hospital or clinic?

Your baby’s heart rate may differ for a lot of reasons, including if it is sleeping or awake and active, if you have had anything to eat or any caffeine recently, and external movement or sound that may be stimulating your baby. If you have just walked from the parking lot or upstairs to your appointment, had lunch, or you’re even just feeling nervous about your appointment, this could all also increase your baby’s heart rate. You may feel more relaxed and it may be quieter at home and your baby will have a lower (but still within normal range) heart rate there. If there is a significant difference, ask your doctor or midwife about your concerns.

29. Why can’t I hear anything on the doppler? Is my baby okay?

If you can’t find your baby’s heartbeat, do not worry. There are a variety of reasons it can be tricky to find your baby’s heartbeat with a doppler. The baby’s size or trying too early in pregnancy are two of the most common reasons. The baby’s position, particularly being back-to-back with you, is another. Not having a full bladder, the right position, or enough gel are also reasons it may be difficult to find the heartbeat. If you are having trouble, take a break, drink some water, and try again later when your baby may be in a better position. If it is still early in your pregnancy, wait a week or more before trying again. If you are concerned something may be wrong, especially if you are feeling a decrease in movements from your baby, contact your doctor or midwife.

30. Is doppler the same as ultrasound?

While doppler and ultrasound both use sound waves that bounce back from a transducer, they are still different. Doppler uses those sound waves to create sounds from moving objects, like blood flow or a beating heart. Ultrasound uses movement to create images of structures the sound bounces off of, showing you a rough picture of internal structures, like your growing baby’s profile.

31. Can I skip my ultrasound appointments since I have an at-home doppler?

Checking your baby’s heartbeat at home should never be used as a substitute for regular prenatal care or ultrasound appointments. Your doctor or midwife have many other assessments they will need to perform in order to make sure you and your baby are healthy and it is important to continue with your regular medical care.

32. How does the baby’s gestational age affect where I place the doppler?

Early on in pregnancy, your baby will be low in the pelvis and have plenty of room to move around. During the first trimester, it may be difficult to locate the baby at all and it is not recommended to try using a doppler prior to 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the uterus starts to rise out of the pelvis and the baby is easier to locate. During the second trimester, you should start just above the pubic bone and move slowly from side to side, moving up the abdomen as you go.

33. Why can’t I find the heartbeat on doppler at 12 weeks?

At 12 weeks’ gestation, your baby is still very tiny and likely still nestled far down in your pelvis (especially if this is your first baby). This can make it difficult to detect the heartbeat on the doppler. A few things you can try to help are to use the doppler when you have a full bladder; this pushes your uterus up and out of the pelvis for easier listening. Also, lie back in a comfortable spot; this helps lift the baby out of your pelvis as well. Start with the doppler low on your abdomen and slowly move it back and forth, working your way upward. If you are still not able to find the heartbeat, take a break and try again in another few days when your baby and uterus have grown.

34. Where should I place my doppler at 14 weeks?

During the first trimester, your baby and uterus are still fairly small and only just starting to rise out of the pelvis. In order to have the best chance of hearing your baby’s heartbeat at 14 weeks, you should place the doppler just above your pubic bone and move it slowly side to side, working your way up your abdomen. If you reach your belly button and still haven’t found the heartbeat, start over back at the pubic bone.

35. Why is my stomach beating like a heart during pregnancy? Is that the baby’s heartbeat?

This is actually your own pulse! During pregnancy, there is increased blood volume in your circulation, as well as increased pressure in your abdomen, all of which makes the aorta (the biggest artery in your body) pulsate more noticeably as your own heart beats. Your belly is also front and center later on in pregnancy and it’s easier to notice that pulsation than it may have been previously.

36. What should I do if I don’t hear the baby?

If you can’t find your baby’s heartbeat, do not worry. There are a variety of reasons it can be tricky to find your baby’s heartbeat with a doppler. The baby’s size or trying too early in pregnancy are two of the most common reasons. The baby’s position, particularly being back-to-back with you, is another. Not having a full bladder, the right position, or enough gel are also reasons it may be difficult to find the heartbeat. If you are having trouble, take a break, drink some water, and try again later when your baby may be in a better position. If it is still early in your pregnancy, wait a week or more before trying again. If you are concerned something may be wrong, especially if you are feeling a decrease in movements from your baby, contact your doctor or midwife.

37. Can an at-home doppler identify heart conditions before birth?

Using an at home doppler is meant to be a fun, bonding experience for expectant parents. It is not intended to assess or diagnose your baby and cannot detect abnormal heart conditions. It is still very important that you attend all your prenatal appointments and ultrasounds to fully assess your growing baby and have any issues properly diagnosed.

38. Why is my doppler not working?

If your doppler is not working, check the batteries and make sure they are new and properly in place. Make sure to use gel to reduce static and conduct the best signal. If you are still having difficulty with your doppler, check the user manual that came with it and troubleshoot problems that way. You may need to return or replace a defective doppler.

39. What steps should I follow to use the doppler the right way?

When you are ready to use the doppler, gather your supplies–gel, tissues or a towel, and the doppler itself–and find a comfortable location where you can lie back (like a couch, recliner, or your bed). Position yourself semi-reclined to help lift the baby somewhat out of the pelvis, apply the gel, and then the transducer. You will need plenty of gel to reduce static and help the doppler glide across your belly. It is best if you have a full bladder and are along more than 12 weeks’ gestation in order to increase your chances of hearing the baby.

40. Can I hear my baby’s heartbeat without a doppler?

Hearing your baby’s heartbeat without a doppler might seem possible as your belly grows, and those little kicks turn into big punches. But regardless of your baby’s growing size, hearing the heartbeat through so many layers of tissue and fluid (skin, fat, abdominal muscle, uterine wall, and amniotic fluid) is not possible. The doppler uses sound waves to detect the movement of your baby’s heart and translates it into sound. Hearing the heartbeat without an assistive device will have to wait until you can put your ear to his or her little chest after birth.

41. Does a fetal doppler cause miscarriage?

A handheld doppler uses sound waves to detect movement and translate it as sounds (like your baby’s heartbeat). Those sound waves are not harmful to your baby and cannot cause miscarriage.

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