feotal dopplers

We bought a doppler similar to the type used by midwives, and used it for our first baby since we were really paranoid.    This time however, Bubs started moving very young so we didn't even get a chance to have a play.
One warning I would give was that at my check up around 15 weeks my very experienced midwife couldn't find the heart and so sent me for a scan - of course all was okay, the monkey was just hiding!! Also when we were using it with number one it was quite hard to work out what was actually the baby and what was Mum.
However when we did manage to find it, it was great for my husband to hear Madam's heart and to actually comprehend that there was a little baby in my tummy.
We used it about once a week for about five mins tops and had an average sized baby with no problems. While it was reassuring I doubt very much you'd want to use it on a daily basis - if you are that worried you should call your midwife to talk through your concerns.

Maudie - here is a link to one like the one I have from trademe (Same user too)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Baby-gear/Other/auction-174322133.htm

Thanks Ladies,
yah now I can't wait to hear the wee one.

I wanted to get one last pregnancy but didn't get around to it, I wil be sure to do so this time.

Thanks again

i suppose we don t care much about mothers smoking whilst pregnant or eating unhealthy food so why should we care about extra ultrasound - after all there is no evidence of harm with the LOW diagnostic levels used by health care professionals.

i guess the evidence will come later when plenty of you use these things adhoc. After all in the early days of Xrays everyone thought it was safe and the exposure was complete when the skin tuned red. We now know many many years later that use use it with care and at a very minimum level to get the maximum DIAGNOSTIC in formation.

Have fun - your baby can't complain.

OUCH!!
I have to assume AmmaS that you have never suffered from miscarriages let alone multiple miscarriages, so can have no idea the anxiety levels of those of us who have. Surely there must be a balance somewhere?!

AmmaS wrote: Your midwife or OB will do as much as is required for baby's safety (not for maternal pacification because of anxiety) . Sad but true

I have to disagree with this. Most midwives/OB's operate on the premise that if a woman is concerned, it warrants further investigation. It is far better to do 99 unneccessary CTG's that generate normal traces than to hesitate and not do the 1 CTG that might have saved a baby's life.

I also disagree with your comments re: self monitoring. During pregnancy it's normal to see your LMC monthly in first and second tri, then more frequently in the third tri. In between these appointments, women have to self monitor, whether it be by watching their diet, checking for swelling or bleeding symptoms or keeping a kick chart. Some women choose to take this one step further and use a sonic aid to self monitor their baby's well being, that's their choice.

In my first pregnancy having a sonic aid at home wasn't an option and even if it had been, I wouldn't have bothered. It was a normal healthy pregnancy. But during my third pregnancy, which was a multiple pregnancy and came after a long period of subfertitility and a pregnancy loss, it was a useful resource. Yes, I had anxiety and the sonic aid helped with that. But even more importantly, when I DID have complications, it reassured me that my babies were OK. When I had a bleed at 25 weeks at 5am it was incredibly reassuring to listen to my babies hearts beating while I waited for the midwife to arrange further investigation. I resent the implication that I put my babies at risk by using the sonic aid.

I think the big issue here is choice. If you don't think using a sonic aid is a good idea, then don't use one. No one is saying you have to. But please don't criticise those of us who did choose to use one for one reason or another.

ok didnt realise such questions were going to cause such a response,
AmmaS - as others have also asked please do not post in here again your comments are not welcome. I personaly am disgusted in your comment "have fun, that our baby can not complain" how dare you suggest that any of us would do anything to harm our little ones!
If you have joined OHBABY just to cause issues i would suggest you find another website.

I used my doppler for no more than the recommended time, my MW was fine with me having my own doppler and my doppler gave me peace of mind as I bled continually for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy. My baby girl, now 6 months old, is healthy and happy. And, should I feel the need to, I will definitely be using my doppler again next time round.

Thanks maudie23. Going completely off topic here, but I have thought about updating the photo on the ticker to something recent, but that photo is my favourite - one of the first taken of her just an hour old.