Posts Tagged ‘fetal monitors’
Listening to your baby’s heart beat before he or she is born is an amazing experience. With a baby heartbeat monitor that you purchase or rent, you no longer have to wait for your next pre-natal doctor’s appointment to check in with your unborn child.
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 home fetal monitor may make your pregnancy a more relaxed experience for both you and your baby. A calm, relaxed mother is good for the baby.
Very similar to the heart rate monitors doctors use, the Doppler baby heart rate monitor is designed to be portable and easy to use. Small and light weight they are perfect for use by midwives and expecting moms.
As early as 10 weeks, the baby’s heart beat can be detected through the use of this ultrasonic device. It is battery powered and contains a speaker through which the sound of the heart beat is projected. Many of these devices have an LCD monitor as well where the heart beat is monitored. Some have head phone jacks so you can listen quietly yourself without disturbing anyone else.
If you decide to rent or purchase a Doppler fetal heart rate monitor you may wish to bring it with you when you visit your doctor. Have your physician help you use the monitor for the first time to locate the heart beat. They range in price from to 0 depending on quality and features.
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.
The procedure is simple. Pour the gel on your belly just below your belly button and above the pubic hair line. Use plenty of gel. It helps eliminate background noise. Place the probe face down in the gel and then begin to move it very slowly across your belly. Keep the face completely flat but move it in a rocking motion.
You do not have to worry about the safety of the Doppler baby heart beat monitors. The Mayo Clinic has been researching them for 30 years and has never discovered any ill effects from their use. The FDA has also approved them and does not even suggest that you seek a doctor’s approval first.
Renting or owning a Doppler baby heart beat monitor can be a thrilling experience. Not only can Mom be reassured that her baby is doing well, the rest of the family can join in the experience as well. A soon to be older sister or brother can start early on to develop a loving relationship with their sibling and begin to look forward with Mom and Dad to the baby’s birth.
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.