To doppler, or not to doppler...

I'm still debating whether or not to rent one... my u/s isn't done until 20 weeks. Also, I'm a worrier since I have hardly any symptoms at all (but we did hear the beat at 10 weeks).

For those who rented, how often did you use it? How often SHOULD you use it? Was it worth it? (those who didn't rent it, I'd like your opinions too... didn't mean to exclude )

Message edited 5/21/2007 3:49:43 PM.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I didn't because I saw no reason to drive myself crazy - what if you can't find the HB?? Even at 38 weeks the nurse has trouble finding my baby's HB during my exams....

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I rented mine with DD, started at about 10 weeks pg. It was my lifesaver and panic killer.

I used it whenever I felt panic setting in, sometimes 4-5 times a week, sometimes only once a week.

I stopped using it around 20 weeks when the baby can hear and I felt her more. She would run from it, I read somewhere it sounds like a helicopter flying over their head.

I sent it back by 7 months pg. I rented mine from storkradio.com, it was 20 bucks a month.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I didn't.
1. I never wanted to not find the heartbeat.
2. Too new, I was nervous of any unknown side effects.
3. It seemed mean to disturb the baby.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I used it all the time. I love hearing my baby's HB. It is actually the ring on my phone

You have to do what is right for you. I know that with baby beats if I did not like it I could have sent it back & they would have only charged me for the time I kept it.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

We didn't rent with my first and im not with my second.

I figured once i start to feel the baby - then that's enough reassurance for me - i won't really need to hear the heartbeat.

also -

i didn't want to worry about not finding the heartbeat and god forbid i didn't hear it -then what - i mean - what could I really do at that point - except start panicking and still I wouldnt be sure if I was using the doppler correctly.

third -

I didn't need the extra expense.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I bought one from Ebay and used it from weeks 13-19, after that i could feel her kick and didn't need to use it....

In the beginning I couldn't find the heartbeat at all so that put me into a bit of a panic, but after week 13 or so I found it easily and it helped me to not worry so much until I could feel her movement.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

It's a panic inducer if you ask me. If you can't find the heartbeat what would you do? Or if you found the hb at a slower rate than normal? It's not worth the possible stress IMO. It's hard in the beginning when you can't feel baby move but honestly a doppler isn't going to "protect" you from the unimaginable.

Re: To doppler, or not to doppler...

I love my doppler and would probably get it again. Like you, I am a worrier and I never cared how long it took to find the HB - we always did. And truthfully, it never really took all that long for us. Most weeks we used it once or twice but there have been times we've used it more than that. I don't think I could've gotten through the second trimester without it. I still don't feel the baby as much as I would like (there goes that worrier thing) so it has always been a wonderful peace of mind for DH and I.

Plus it has been a wonderful bonding experience for us both. You can even sometimes here the baby moving around and being active when you can't even feel it.