When during pregancy can you start using a baby heart monitor?

Answer 1

Well, it depends on the kind you get. You can rent one from several different places on-line just like the ones doctors use. I did this at ten weeks pregnant after a previous miscarriage and it has really eased my mind. Once the doctor can hear a heartbeat by Doppler, then you should be able to hear it at home by the ones you can rent (around $25-$50 a month depending on the one you choose). Some even tell you the beats per minute and you can record the heartbeat! At first, it's really hard to find the heartbeat, but be patient and move it around slowly and you'll find it. After the first few times you use it, you'll know about where to look and you'll find the heartbeat right away.
You can get one at http://www.bellybeats.com/fetal_heart_doppler_digital.htm
Or you can go to yahoo and do a search for fetal heart monitors. There's lots of different places out there. The bebe sounds one that you put on earphones with is only for the third trimester, so it's not helpful in early pregnancy. I've also heard poor reviews on it.

Answer 2

When you refer to "insertion" of the monitor you mean the internal lead right? They do have fetal monitors that simply strap on to your belly. They won't use an internal lead unless your water has already broken, and they aren't getting a good reading from the external monitor and the internal monitor gives them a much more accurate reading. I worked in labor and delivery for several years and never saw an increase in c section rates due to monitoring. I personally think that whatever they need to do to help you have a healthy baby is always the best way to go. I do understand the idea of a "birth plan" and whatnot....but in the end I think having a healthy baby is the more important the the "natural" experience. Some physicians will allow intermittent monitoring...but I've never met a safe doc that will allow no monitoring at all. Edit: I'm not sure what the thumbs down on my answer are about.......BUT....I do have to say that the women who are more concerned about the "natural birth experience" rather than simply delivering a healthy baby are WHACKED. I do understand wanting to have things a "certain way", however, I cannot accept the idea that someone could possibly be interested in risking the wellbeing of their child in order to have what they idealize as the "natural birth experience" or to simply save themselves from having a c section.

Answer 3

If you have an actual doppler you can hear the heartbeat as early as 12 weeks, the ones you get at the store aren't usually effective until 25 weeks or so, and usually it's your own heart you will hear before the baby's.

Answer 4

My doctor got my son's heart beat at 2 months.. Yep, shocked him to no end to.. He told me it was most likely because I had zero belly fat..

That is such a special time for Mom!!.. Just keep trying, it won't hurt the baby.. But don't do what my sister did..LOL everytime she failed to get it, she was at the hospital crying about something being wrong..

Answer 5

Those things barely worked, I bought one, wasted my money, They are sooo loud, im 31 weeks pregnant, And I could barely hear the heartbeat. My husband had better luck when he just put his head on my stomach in a really quiet room!

Answer 6

the ones you buy for home use may not be able to pick up anything till about 20 weeks...but the doctors can hear using their equipment at about 12 weeks

Answer 7

usually with the cheaper ones you can't hear the baby's heart beat until 6 months or so

Answer 8

The day you hear the heartbeat depending on the brand and quality

Answer 9

the kind you use at home- usually don't pick anything up until about 25 weeks