Posted by the author on April 8th, 2010
Hearing those very first musical sounds of baby’s heartbeat is enchanting. The wonder and relief that washes through you is usually a encounter you may never forget. That initial glimpse into your unborn baby’s life will be the beginning of the growing bond between you and your little one. Between appointments you might wait anxiously to hear that noise once again. With a fetal doppler monitor, you and your family can hear your little one without having to wait.
But, what exactly is a Baby Heart Beat Monitor? It is typically a handheld unit that emits ultrasonic sound waves through a probe into the abdomen of the pregnant woman. These sound waves are bounced off the unborn baby’s and sent back into the monitor. The monitor can then reproduce the baby’s heartbeat by listening for the depth and frequency of these echoes. It is not a microphone, but device that senses and reproduces the heart beat of one’s unborn baby.
How do I know if what I’m hearing will be the heartbeat of the fetus or me? Surprising to some, the stomach makes a lot of noises and also much more so with pregnancy. At first it can be difficult to determine what it really is you’re actually hearing, nevertheless, with a little practice, you’ll soon know what exactly is you and what is the baby. The fetal heartbeat will be a strong rapid paced sound that’s twice as quick as the mother’s. If you hear a heartbeat which is slow and steady, it is probably yours. Move the unit and try once more. A baby’s heart beat is close to 120-180 beats per minute, and it sounds almost like a washing machine. Other abdominal noises include the placenta and instrument static. These sounds are similar to hearing the wind blowing through the trees as well as some static and popping noises. When you move the probe it may generate a sound like an old record player. Generally you will be searching for a really rapid swooshing sound that repeats over and over. It is incredibly distinct and as soon as you’ve heard it the very first time it is simple to recognize again. If you’re having problems determining which is which, ask the provider of your baby heart beat monitor for assistance.
To use the baby heart beat monitor, also known as a fetal doppler, a mother-to-be lies down and exposes her belly. Then an ultrasound gel is placed on the probe. This produces a greater signal and enables the probe to glide smoothly over the skin. The probe is then positioned on the abdomen. In the first few weeks, place the probe on the lower abdomen above the pubic bone and angle it down towards the buttocks and toes. That is essential since the uterus is still tucked in to the pubic area at this stage. If no heart beat is detected, pick up the probe and replace it close to the original position. In case you can’t get a result, attempt on a full bladder. Although this is a harmless procedure, it is best to keep your sessions to no more than 10 minutes at a time. In case you have not detected a sound by that time, try again at a later time.
During the initial couple of weeks of pregnancy it is quite difficult to detect the heart beat, even by trained professionals. Don’t get too upset if you have difficulty. There could possibly be a number of reasons including the quality of the equipment, position of the baby, weight of the mom, shape of the uterus, and inexperience using the machine. Most heart beat monitors will detect the heart tones between 10-14 weeks, with some successful at 8 weeks, and some not until 14-20 weeks. If you are overly concerned, talk to your doctor.
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