Fetal Doppler Purchase?

[PamelaBee]

Has anyone had any luck with purchasing a baby fetal doppler?  I know you can rent them, and from what I've researched you can pay a pretty penny to rent/buy a decent one.  From your experiences, was it worth either renting or purchasing one, if so, which brands?  I really just want to use it on occasion, that's why I'm hesitant to make the purchase.  My New Years resolution is to try and skim all impulsive buys and non-essential purchases.  Does anyone have a used one sitting around collecting dust they want to sell an old pregnant lady for a good deal??  : )  I know that after a few uses, it will end up in my closet shelf.  Any advice or suggestions??

[VASusan]

It's a good idea to get a blood pressure kit too and check it daily, especially in the last trimester. I don't know how long my BP had been elevated when I went into the pre-emclampsia. I was still on the two week schedule and had been checked Nov 17th and everything was fine with my BP and the baby's heartbeat was 140 as usual.  I was due to go back Dec 1st for my next checkup and then I was to go once a week for the last month. We don't know how long my BP had been up and if we lost our baby before or after my BP rise. I read that a high BP can be the cause of stillbirths.  My BP had been fine the whole pregnancy so I didn't worry much about it. My ankles had swollen some during the whole pregnancy mostly at night, so when I couldn't get my snow boots on for church the Sunday before, I didn't think anything much of it. It might have been the beginnings of the pre-enclampsia. I had no other symptoms of pre-enclampsia and felt fine even the morning when we went to the hospital for fetal monitoring, and my blood pressure was high enough to cause a stroke.
I'm not trying to scare anyone.  I just want to alert you other high risk moms to take extra trouble to make sure that you and your baby will be safe and healthy.
~Susan

[IsabelleCanada]

actually, the better alternative to real ultrasound gel is waterbase KY... a little fun fact that my obgyn told me!

[ldivecch5]

Joyce
The doppler I use sounds like horses galloping.  You don't need a gel for it....just water.

[anxi]

I heard that you don't have to use expensive gels but that the non creamy shower gels work just as well.  Haven't tried it myself try it and let us know. I also heard that the sonotrax dopplers work well too my friend got one from facelake.com also about 100 dollars

[IsabelleCanada]

I got the HiBebe for around 100$ on ebay and it is really professional. It works well but you need to use gel with it. Worth every penny if you ask me...

[Helen72]

I rented mine from babybeats.com.  It's not the most sophisticated but it did the job well and was very affordable.  Also, customer service was really good.  You can also buy a more advanced doppler from them but I was happy with the simple rented one.

[Joyce49788]

Idivecch5.....what does the heartbeat sound like on those, is it the whooshing you hear at the doctor's office....or more like horses galloping????

[ldivecch5]

I bought one last week off of ebay...and they still have a lot more on there.  The name of it is Angelsounds Prenatal Fetal Heart Doppler Monitor and we love it!  It cost about $42 (that includes S&H).  I am 17 weeks and we hear the heartbeat VERY clearly....it's great!  My doctor said that's a good brand to buy.  Good Luck!