Has anyone ever used a fetal Doppler at home before?? I bought one and it arrived today and I can’t seem to find the actual heart beat, but the doctor has no issue. I’m 17 weeks today, and I do have an anterior placenta
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Did you get gel to? And I’d try putting the Doppler wherever you feel movement more. Mine was anterior and they always found my little’s heart beat lower like by my hips.
I’m fairly sure they don’t recommend using at home Dopplers until you’re at least 20+weeks, it’s not the same thing and you’re not trained to use them. A lot of women freak themselves out when they can’t find the heartbeat
Yes, go lower towards you pelvic bone.
Slather your belly with lotion and slowly move the Doppler around until you find it.
Look up some videos on youtube on placement
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I was able to use mine from 12 weeks or so, BUT I’m pretty experienced with them from having high risk pregnancies. Use a lot of jelly and relax and it can take a while. Also if you’re a bigger gal or over weight it’s harder to get a fetal heart rate, especially early on.
That’s why they don’t recommend them. The rate of user error is very high. They cause more stress than anything.
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Everyone is saying go lower but at 17 weeks and had to go to er and they found my little ones heartbeat darn near next to my belly button he or she was that high. Make sure you use alot of jelly. It can be harder to find if you ha e an anterior placenta and also if you over weight (i am significantly over weight which is the main reason i havent purchased one)
To the women who purchased one-can you recommend a good one and how much it cost? Thanks in advance 
Im 10 weeks and already found the heart beat. But this is my second baby.
It’s gonna be hard right now. If wait a few more weeks.
My only advise is to start low and do small slow circles without physically moving the probe, search one small area at a time and then move upwards/side to side. When I was early it was always easier to find right after dinner when my tummy was full. I’m 18 weeks now and she tends to hang out in the same spot so I know exactly where to look.
I’ve used one since I was about 12 weeks and sometimes it takes a while, but I eventually find it. Make sure that you use the gel (or lots of lotion works too!). My husband is actually better at finding the heartbeat than I am! 
I had one and used it all the time and had no issues sometimes you have to push just a little bit hard and moving around make sure that you get the gel or use heavy lotion to help it slide across your belly. Also I had no side effects from using it all the time but I was a very high risk pregnancy and it helped me calm my anxiety
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I use one but I’m kind of early by my ultrasound I’d been like 9 weeks almost 10 but by my last cycle I was 10 going on 11. I have found the hb one really good time but after that day I can hear it but not that great. (Like not loud) I don’t have a anterior placenta thou. I’m not sure if this matters and do not want to sound mean but I’m super super super skinny and it’s my 4th and I’ve used one before. I’d say go really slow, listen in each spot for a bit sometimes it takes a min. For it to register and pick up. Then keep slowly moving but sitting still in spots. What kind of Doppler are you using??
I had an anterior placenta and found her heartbeat at 10 weeks. Are you positioning it right?
I’m 19 weeks and even the midwife couldn’t find the heartbeat yesterday. I have an anterior placenta too. She could feel her kicking so it wasn’t a big deal.
Don’t stress too much
I had an anterior placenta and was about 18 weeks before I was able to reliably find her heart beat
Yes i use it all the time. Go low and make sure you have enough of the gel on your belly. I found my babies hb at around 12 weeks but sometimes if shes flupped ocer its harder to find. Sounds like a galloping horse lol
I used one but only after I watched the midwife do it so I knew where to put it, I was 14 weeks and had an anterior placenta and I used it up until I could feel my son frequently
I found the HB at 10+1 .
I have one. I used it through out my pregnancy. You have to use lube to find if and I always doing my baby’s heartbeat low in my pelvic area. You can use aloe Vera for the lubricant
Try close to the belly button
I just wanted to warn you that they can give a false sense of security. If you ever feel something is wrong don’t rely on it. See a Dr. It’s not unsual to mistake your own heartbeat for the babies or to not recognize a heart beat in distress. Just use with care.
I’ve used one with both pregnancies. The first I couldn’t find the hb until 11 weeks the second was just before 9 weeks. Ive never had an issue finding it just go slow and move it in different angles…sometimes you can have the thing in one spot facing slightly toward one direction and nothing and then same spot facing ever so slightly either way you’ll find the hb.
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