The use of fetal dopplers at home is becoming increasingly common and can be a wonderful way for a pregnant woman to bond with her unborn baby whilst providing reassurance that all is well during anxious times. However, it is advisable that women take care to follow a few guidelines to ensure that they use their fetal dopplers as responsibly as possible. Here are a few tips for their use plus some general guidelines which may be helpful if you buy or rent a fetal doppler for use at home.

Tips for use •A full bladder makes the heartbeat easier to locate, especially in the earlier stages of pregnancy. •Sit or better still, lie down comfortably. •The baby is normally positioned lower than you think. •Use a generous amount of ultrasound gel. You may need to reapply more as it will dry up quite quickly. •Start by placing the fetal Doppler probe just above your bikini line and tilt it downwards, towards your pubic bone. •Move the fetal Doppler probe VERY SLOWLY, to locate the heartbeat. By moving too quickly, you may miss it. •Don’t slide the probe around too much, but rather lift it off and re apply it in a new position. This will prevent the build up of background static. •If you cannot locate the baby’s heartbeat, have a drink or snack and take a walk around to encourage the baby to change position. •The baby’s heartbeat should be easy to recognise as it is much faster than your own and sounds like a galloping horse. If you are renting an LCD fetal doppler, the baby’s will be about 110 – 160 bpm which is about twice as fast as yours. •You may also hear a whooshing sound which is the placenta.

General Guidelines

•Tell your obstetric attendants that you are using a fetal Doppler at home. •Try to listen to the baby about once a week, and ideally no more than every 2-3 days. •Try to listen for no longer than 3-4 minutes, and if you are having early (Braxton-Hicks) contractions, use the machine before, during and after a contraction. •Always wipe the probe clean of any residual gel after use ready for next time as build up may interfere with the sound quality. •The average (mean) fetal heart rate is 140 beats per minute, with a range of about 120-160; the rate often falling in the middle of a contraction. •It can be useful, if, each time you use the machine, you write down the time of day, the date and the observed heart rate. Take this recording with you to your next clinic appointment. •Remember that the most common error with these devices is to mistakenly listen to your own heart rate (around 72 beats per minute) because you are aiming at the maternal blood vessels and missing the baby's. •Don’t panic if you don’t find the baby’s heartbeat straight away. There are many reasons as to why this might be but it is most likely that you just need a little practice. Remember that the fetus is still quite small in the early stages of pregnancy so finding the heartbeat will not always be immediate or easy. •If in the unlikely event of picking up a fetal heart which is outside the above range tell your medical attendants as soon as possible, but try not to panic. The chances are that there will turn out to be nothing wrong in over 99% of cases when an expert "rescans" your baby. •Using a Doppler at home is not intended to replace recommended ante-natal care.

If you have any worries or concerns about your pregnancy at any time, talk to your doctor or mid-wife.