Got a doppler- Have a few questions

[AmyG89]

I am 10 weeks 5 days today. The heart Doppler I ordered came in the mail today! I was using it for about 15 min and kept picking up a huge varying range of heart rates. Anywhere from 44-160. I *think* I could hear the heartbeat (it sounded like a galloping sound) but again even though I could hear it and wasn't moving the probe much the rate was varying so much! I was just looking for some advice on how to use this. I started the probe really low but actually could hear the galloping sound a little bit higher up. I could also hear the galloping sound on both the left and right side so that was confusing me. It was definitely more prevalent on my left side though.
Has anyone used the doppler that could offer some user advice? Does it get easier to hear the farther I get along or will I still have to search all over and get a wide range of beats. It was just anywhere between 44 beats- 160 beats everytime I heard the galloping sound. Also, is it ok to use it for 15 min at a time or is there a time limit that I should be following. I'm not sure if this is in anyway harmful to my baby.
Thank you for any advice. It was really exciting to hear the heartbeat at home with my husband. I highly recommend getting one of these!

[jschoch8]

you will pick up all different numbers and i pick up mine a lot. the best thing to do is lay down with a full bladder and put it really low. once you hear it for the first time you will recognize it right away even before the doppler picks up the number. many say it sounds like a galloping horse i feel like i hear whoosh whoosh whoosh really quick. when i do it i do it in the morning when i have to pee really bad and i always get it in like 10 seconds! otherwise it can take me up to 10 min or so (im 12 weeks).

[Atia_Julii]

I couldn't find a heartbeat consistenly until about 12-13 weeks.  I had issues finding it before that, which always worried me, but it was just because the baby was too small and too squirmy.

[Brittny27]

I used mine Saturday night for the first time at 11wks 2d. I found the heartbeat right next to my left pelvic bone. Monday the nurse at my Dr appt. found the heartbeat in the same spot so I'm sure it was correct. I got a good range of bpm. It was anywhere from 130-154. The last two ultrasounds it was 174. However on Monday with the dr's doppler they said it was between 150-160 which I thought was weird she just gave me a range like that.

I have a Babysounds pocket fetal Doppler. The probe is on the back of the doppler so it's hard to read while it's against my stomach. It records the last number though when you raise it off your stomach and turn it off.  So I can always know next time I turn it on what the last heartbeat was.

I got mine on Ebay. Where did you get yours?

[tobbeyj]

I was able to use the doppler at about 11 weeks and I had to play around alot to get the heartbeat.  I also had to go really low and face the wand below my pelvic bone. Dont stress out if you cant find it as 10 weeks is still early in the game :)

[worrieddd612]

yep its definitely normal to pick it up in different spots and depending on the doppler it should be much easier the further along you get. and no did you get one fda approved? they use the same thing as an ultrasound which is just high frequency sound waves and harmless. the varying heartrates are probably yours and the baby..sometimes you can hear your own pulse..im guessing from the umbilical cord. when i use mine sometimes i can pick up my heartbeat and also i hear hers in different spots sometimes. if you listen closely you should be able to hear the placenta as well (it'll sound like wind in the trees and when your farther along you'll be able to hear the baby moving (that sounds like a whip in the air or when you move something long and skiny back and forth really fast in the the air) hope this helps!