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Does the doppler hurt the baby?
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Anonymous
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I'm 19 weeks along and have been using a home doppler since week 13/14 to listen to the baby's HB. It's incredibly comforting. It's been a long road to this pregnancy and then several scares in the first trimester, so hearing my baby's HB has kept me sane. And my OB said it was totally fine to use.
However, in the last couple of days I've heard from two different people that dopplers disturb the baby and can ultimately be harmful (neither were very specific beyond the fact the baby is "disturbed" by the doppler). I've Googled and haven't found anything, nothing in my pregnancy book about this .... Thoughts? The last thing I want to do is harm the baby, so curious if anyone heard this before. |
Anonymous
Oh honey chile, don't be daft! *shakes head* *turns off computer, opens window, hurls computer out of window and into Potomac River.* |
Anonymous
| Yeah, they hear it and it can be uncomfortable. My son always squirmed around like crazy trying to race away from the ultrasound. And there are studies out there that prolonged or excessive ultrasounds can impact brain development. I have no idea how home equipment relates to this, however. |
Anonymous
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This explains the controversy:
http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/pregnancy-checkups-and-tests/dabbling-with-dopplers-4837/2/ I wouldn't stress over checking occasionally, nor would I duct tape the thing to your belly 24/7. |
Anonymous
Ditto this. |
Anonymous
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Ignore rude posters who hate their lives and live for the opportunity to make other people feel bad about themselves. So sad for them.
No, the doppler doesn't hurt the baby - I heard similar concerns when I got one as a baby shower gift. Perrfectly legitimate question. The baby doesn't even have sensory hook ups until about 19 or 20 weeks anyway and at this point you'll probably start feeling the baby (if not now pretty soon). So hang in there, I know it's reassuring. But using it isn't going to severely stress out/impact your unborn child. |
Anonymous
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http://www.ehow.com/about_5347776_dangers-fetal-doppler.html I think there is still some debate about the whole ultrasound/doppler issue. Since this is clearly gratuitous use (ie, non-indicated), put the doppler down, and use this as a time to instead grow in your trust of your body and your baby. The unfortunate reality is that an extremely small number of babies do not make it, and listening with your own doppler is not going to do anything at all all to change that. There are many things you can do for your peace of mind, including meditation/prayer, yoga, positive affirmations and other mind/body work such as acupuncture or prenatal massage. These things have the potential to teach you and help you grow as a woman and mother, while decreasing your fear about your baby. |
Anonymous
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OP doesn't a lecture on growing as a woman from Ms. Sanctimonious or the comments from the B*tch Brigade above.
Many women use dopplers, myself included, without ANY issues. FWIW DS#1 is completely healthy and so far all's good with DC#2 at 33 weeks. As long as they're over used dopplers are totally fine. The baby's heartbeat is the best sound in the world, reassuring and a wonderful way to connect before you feel the baby kick and move. Enjoy OP, and don't worry. As you'll find, people will come up with a million things that pregnant women "shouldn't do". Some of it totally and completely bogus. Your doppler is fine. |
Anonymous
| In my opinion and from what I've read, it's not going to harm the baby. That said, it's obvious that my LO hates it, because at every appointment she hides from it, kicks the machine away, etc. Every single nurse has commented on how she must not like it. Seeing as how I can tell that it bothers her, I wouldn't subject her to daily use, but again that's because of the reaction she has to it. Definitely a personal decision. |
Anonymous
| It's super loud for baby and very startling. Not to say that it hurts them, but it is uncomfortable. |
Anonymous
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I don't even understand the random post above. What does that mean - you are crazy for asking? I have read a lot about this and DO believe (as PP said) it is uncomfortable and bothersome for baby at a minimum. I thought that was universally known at this point?!
I personally wouldn't get one for home use. But I also focus on the big picture - deal with your anxiety, esp. at 19 weeks. Soon (if you haven't already) you will start feeling the baby move. The baby moves sometimes, and doesn't move other times. You have to trust that everything is okay. I would rather take my chances with a normal pregnancy than my baby making an abrupt movement in response to a doppler, and who knows what happens at that point. I guess I'm not on the same page as you in terms of even wanting a doppler, but I can say that I wouldn't do that to my baby outside of routine OB appointments. |
Anonymous
What kind of abrupt move is going to hurt your baby in utero? |
Anonymous
| No, it does not. |
Anonymous
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A doppler? No.
But a dingo will eat your baybay. |
Anonymous
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If you lay down in quiet room from the moment of conception until you give birth 9 months later your baby will be perfect.
ly unable to function in any meaningful way in real life. Life is noisy! Baby's are INCREDIBLY adaptive! Guarantee, bang cymbals all day at you belly, you will have one serene baby who is trained to tune out loud sounds and just sleep. |