1st Pregnancy
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Can’t find baby’s heartbeat with doppler???

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suerosecisneros wrote:

Hey guys!

So everytime we go to a check up (I’ve been to 3 so far) we are able to see the heart beating on the ultrasound and the baby is fine!

My friend bought me the “Up & Raise” baby fetal doppler and I’ve been trying to listen to the heartbeat but I haven’t been able to find it or hear it! Hubby and I have been trying haha and we tried tilting it etc... I’m 14 weeks 5 days days today!

Any help/advice?

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That's the problem with dopplers they give people anxiety because they won't always find bubs heartbeat they aren't as sensitive as the professional ones I would just put it away for a while so you don't freak yourself out over nothing



This is why most docs and midwives say not to get one for home! Can cause a lot of stress unnecessarily. Try and drink something ice cold, lay on your left side. The baby is so small at 14 weeks and can easily be hiding or in a position where you can’t hear it. If you are concerned head to the doc or emerg. Best of luck :)



I couldn’t hear the heartbeat with anything at home until literally 38wks lol those things suck



We have one (sonoline B) and have used it since 8 wks since we first heard the heart beat at the US. (currently 19+4 wks).  Try to pay attending to the positioning and angle the doc does it.  Don't stress if you can't find it early on, the baby is probably facing away.  I encourage you to keep trying.  it will give you piece of mind.



Couldn't hear anything on a home Doppler until 17 weeks myself



This is why we chose not to get one. Our OB advised against it. Those things can cause more stress than comfort. I would throw it in a drawer somewhere and not use it. That’s just me personally though.



I’m 20w4d and have had been using a sonoline b since 10 weeks. The thing is hit or miss, really. Sometimes I can find it and sometimes i can’t. Two days ago I tried for over an hour with no luck (I’m not concerned because at this point i can feel baby moving - she just must have been positioned in a way that made it impossible for me to hear). I wouldn’t be too concerned if I were you. Try again in a day or two- watch some videos on YouTube of women who are at the same gestation as you and follow their lead/direction.



My baby HATES the doppler. When we has an US we could see her arching away from it and the US tech couldn’t measure the HB for a long time. I have found the HB at home but she wiggles away every time! I wouldn’t be concerned. They’re tricky and babies tend to shy away from them



Do you have transmitting gel?



You’ve still got 1.5 more weeks before you’ll be able to hear baby with a doppler. And make sure you’re not searching too high... baby’s just now starting to peak over your pubic bone so you’re probably just listening to your colon. 



YouTube videos might help



Keep your bladder full- use a pillow to prop up your hips. Start in your middle section right about hip bone(very low down). Angle the Doppler a few different ways before moving it left or right. You will eventually find it!

I'd like to add that I have been using my sonoline b Doppler since week 12. I used it once around 13-14 weeks and had a hard time finding the heartbeat because baby was tucked on the left side of my pelvis area instead of the right where he usually was. Try to stay relaxed! Just take your time doing it and if you have to try again later, there is no harm in that. :]



I've been using a Sonoline B since 11w. My tips:

- Use plenty of the Doppler gel - Aloe gel works too

- Start looking right above your pubic hair line - I find baby only .5-1 inch above my pubic hair line. Smack center of my belly, directly below my belly button. I'm 16w.

- You may have to press the Doppler down a bit, not to the point that it hurts though.

- Move in very small circular motions, very slowly - It's easy to miss baby if you are moving too fast. It takes a very specific angle to find baby usually.

- Turn the volume to max - Listen very carefully, sometimes it's very quiet or hidden behind your heartbeat or placenta. If you hear the whooshing of your placenta, you are very close.

- Be patient and set a cut off time before you begin. If you can't find it in 5 minutes, put the Doppler away and wait until tomorrow. You don't want to get stressed because that is bad for baby. Waiting also gives the baby time to move to a different position.

Finally, watch YouTube videos so you can see some examples of people using it. In the end it is super rewarding. I listen to my little peach every few days and love hearing his/her little movements. So cute. Good luck!



the doctor couldn't even use the doppler on me and I was 12 weeks and 3days



Mine is like that with all dopplers, even at the hospital because my placenta is in the front.



My doc told me with a home doppler I probably wouldn't be able to find the heartbeat until about 16 weeks, and even when i went in there at 14 weeks 6 days she barely found it.