![]() ![]() It can also be used to examine the blood flow in the umbilical cord and placenta. It’s painless and non-invasive.Ī handheld Doppler may be used to look at blood circulation, especially blood flow to and from the heart chambers. Image Source: Getty ImagesĪ fetal doppler, also called a fetal echocardiogram, uses a handheld device on the outside of the body to look at a baby inside the womb. A Doppler ultrasound is slightly different from a regular ultrasound, as a regular ultrasound produces images but can’t show blood flow (Sheps). What is a Fetal Doppler?Ī Doppler device is a type of ultrasound that measures blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off of circulating red blood cells. However, a study of 22 fetal heart rate monitoring apps found that none of the apps provided accurate readings (Soffer & Chen, 2019). Some smartphone apps claim to detect a fetal heartbeat. However, for most people, this is difficult or impossible (Chertoff, 2018). Some moms report that they can hear their baby’s heartbeat unassisted if it’s quiet enough. Listening to the baby’s heartbeat with one of these simple devices can be a wonderful way for both expectant parents, as well as older siblings-to-be, to bond with the new baby. Despite its simplicity, it’s quite a sensitive instrument. It’s shaped like a tube with a small flare on one end and a larger flare on the other. A Pinard horn is a handheld listening device often made from wood, plastic, or aluminum. Similar to the stethoscope is a Pinard horn, or fetoscope. Toward the middle of the second trimester, at 18 to 20 weeks, you can use a stethoscope to listen to your baby’s cardiac activity (Higuera, 2020). They’re generally inexpensive and can be easily found in drug stores or online. Can You Hear a Baby’s Heartbeat with a Stethoscope?Ī stethoscope is a simple instrument that amplifies small sounds. Other practitioners may wait until 11 to 14 weeks, as the baby’s position can affect the accuracy of the reading (Fields, 2023). Often the first ultrasound, which can be vaginal or abdominal, is scheduled for seven and a half to eight weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor may not schedule that first ultrasound in early pregnancy, however, unless you have a medical condition that may affect your pregnancy, or have had a miscarriage. When Can Ultrasound Detect a Baby’s Heartbeat? Image Source: Getty Imagesĭoctors can detect a baby’s heartbeat as early as five and a half to six weeks of gestation using a transvaginal ultrasound (Chertoff, 2018). Later in your pregnancy, you can listen to your baby’s heartbeat at home, with a stethoscope, fetoscope, or Doppler device. In early pregnancy, an ultrasound can detect a baby’s heartbeat. There are different ways to listen to the fetal heartbeat. However, you may have to wait a bit to hear the heartbeat. It’s exciting to connect with your baby, and no one would blame you for wanting to check your baby’s vitals the minute you get that positive pregnancy test. At How Many Weeks of Pregnancy Can You Hear a Baby’s Heartbeat? Your doctor may continuously monitor your baby’s heart rate during labor and delivery, for example (ACOG, 2023). ![]() ![]() These are single occurrences that may be used over time to establish a pattern.įetal heart rate monitoring, on the other hand, refers to an ongoing process. ![]() Your OB-GYN may listen to your baby’s heartbeat at prenatal appointments, and you might listen to your baby’s heartbeat at home. You might hear these two terms used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Why and when might your doctor check your baby’s heartbeat? What is fetal heart rate monitoring, anyway?Īll of these questions answered and more in this Ultimate Guide to Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring. Have you ever wondered how early you can hear a fetal heartbeat? Are you considering buying an at-home fetal Doppler? ![]()
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