Buying a Doppler

[terra_dawn]

I've decided to buy/rent a doppler and am looking at them on ebay. Does anybody know the difference between a 2 MHZ one and the 3 MHZ one? Not sure what features I should be looking for in a doppler.

Also, I went to the doctors today and was told that the baby's heartbeat (now 13.6 weeks) was 162. Is this what most of you are experiencing?

Thanks!

[Cheesecake7]

Definatly go 3mhz, more powerful and will be much easier to find the heartbeat.
I rented mine from www. babybeat. com, the one that is 49$ a month, and I officially swear by it and love it.  It is so easy to find the heartbeat, and the sound is so clear.  I know that Niko_TTC also rented this same doppler and also loves it.  The dopplers you buy from like Walmart and Target are not as powerful and very staticy so it can be much harder to find the babies at our stage. Definatly look into the ones on Babybeat, you wont be sorry!!

[nikko*ttc]

I got the same one cheesecake did. It is great. Personally you can get a better quality doppler renting than buying. I was 11 weeks and 3 days and found the HB fairly easy. It is clear and so easy to use. I have figured out how to use the record feature and have sent my family and friends recordings of the baby's HB. It was awesome. Then you can just send it back when you don't need it anymore.

[rachie204]

i was wanting one, but i dont know if i will get one right now or not.  Hubby is about to switch job so i'm a little nervous about money until he starts the new one.  

[terra_dawn]

Thanks for the advice! I would have rented one, but for a surprise I got home and found that one had been ordered online :)  So I'll try that one out. It's a 3 Mhz 2008 Model Sontrax.. I am hoping to get it Friday and hopefully I will hear the heart beat with no problems :)

How often do you guys use yours? I was thinking that I would use it once/week. I know they say they don't "harm" the baby, but they also say that studies have not been done on the effects of daily use either, so I think I should limit myself although I know I will want to listen anytime I will worry!

I cant' believe it's 14 weeks already!  Wow! I remember when 12 weeks seemed so far away! I still have a hard time believing I am pregnant... It just seems too good to be true and more like a dream!   So excited to finally be a mom!! :)

[Cheesecake7]

Hmmm,  I hadnt heard that studies had not been done on every day use.  I have been using mine once a day, twice if I feel something funny. We dont use it for long, 1-2 minutes at the most. Perhaps I will slow down a bit.... But it is hard once you know you can hear the heartbeat at anytime, especially for those like me that need reassurance!!

Have fun and I hope that you love it as much as I do!

[nikko*ttc]

I usually use mine daily. Yesterday, I had a worry wart day, so I used it 3 or 4 times.

[terra_dawn]

The website I was on said this:

"While there is no evidence as yet that Dopplers are harmful in any way, there is also no research available to show the effects of a mother using a Doppler to listen to her baby two or three times a day throughout pregnancy. My answer is, therefore, that we do not know if Dopplers are 100 per cent safe for such use. If you do decide to buy or hire one, you may like to be cautious about how often you use it."


Here is the link to the site incase you want to read more :)

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/testsandcare/dopplersafeexpert/

[Cheesecake7]

I wonder if this applies if one only uses it in the beginning. The article says "throughout pregnancy."  I intended to return mine at the end of this month in anticipation of fetal movement. Hmmm....  this is a tuffy because I, like Nikko, have my worry wort days and that doppler saves me stress and hundreds at the ER!!!

[terra_dawn]

If I had one I would use one right now!! LOL

I'm all paranoid now after what Nikko said about the headaches :(   I hate being freaked out over every little thing! Wish I could relax and enjoy the pregnancy instead of worrying. Was hoping that after 12 weeks I wouldn't worry anymore.. This backpain and headaches are killing me. I hope it is just a regular pregnancy thing for this stage (2nd trimester)

[Cheesecake7]

I think it is normal, our bodies are going through so much.  Im concerned today because, once again, I am throwing up everything.  To be completly honest, I dont think I will stop worrying until my baby is in my arms, screaming and crying. Even then, I think that worrying just takes on a whole new face..... I think it is in the job decription of "Mom"

[terra_dawn]

I guess I'm lucky because I never suffered any real nausia. Only felt nausious at times, but never physically got sick..  I feel for you guys. I couldn't imagine!  I've gained plenty of weight. I honestly look like I am 6 months pregnant! I have a small frame and have exploded in the belly area! I know I am eating way too much but I can't help it! I used to be a big health nut and loved my vegtables.. All I've been craving for months now is french fries, chocolate and junk food! :)

[Avanaar]

I've been looking at dopplers since my last pregnancy.  I found some at www. storkradio .com that were cheaper to rent than at other websites.  But I wonder why some of the 2 mghz ones cost more to rent than the 3mghz one they have on their site, when some of you said the 3's are more powerful.  Hmm ...

Ok, after reading the description of the 2mghz one, it says this:
"With a 2MHz probe the ultrasound impulses sent by the transducer are more direct and are thus able to travel deeper enabling the fetal monitor to pick up the fetal heartbeat earlier than 3 megaherz equiped fetal monitors."

Now I'm confused ...but I still want to rent one!!  =D  

[terra_dawn]

My doppler came in today!! We were able to find the heartbeat right away. It pretty much stayed around 142.  My sister is 25 weeks and we used it on her. The heartbeat kept fluctuating on her - going from 145 to 155.

I found it odd that mine just pretty much stayed at 142 and never got higher. At the doctors last week, I'm sure mine came in at 160. Does this cause any need for worry? For those of you who see your baby's heartbeat daily, do u notice a big fluctuation in it day to day or is it always around the same reading?

[Avanaar]

I tried to find information on baby's heartbeats because I remember hearing that as they grow their heart rate will slow down a little.  But I can't remember where I heard it.

But here's what I found on one site about hearing the fetal heartbeat:

"A normal heart rate for the mother is under 100, but the baby's should be over 120, so they sound different."

"A normal fetal heart rate usually is between 120 and 160 beats per minute."

I'll keep looking and see if I can find anything else.  Gratz on getting your doppler and hearing your baby's heartbeat on your own!!!  =D