I didn't use one personally, only had the midwives and doc do it when I had my appointments. I can't remember when you can normally start to hear it. There is a similar thing to a doppler I saw in a babies galore catalogue which is a monitor you strap around your belly and it has headphones and apparently you can also record the sounds. It was a VERY reasonable price... from memory only around fifty dollars?? You can look at stuff online with them... babies galore dot com dot au.
I have purchased one of those prenatal heartbeat listening things from Kmart - for $40. But you can only use it from weeks 21... so I'm waiting, waiting, waiting....
But if it works (?) - you can record the heartbeats and load it onto your computer for emailing! You can also record your own heartbeat... and record that for baby when they are born.
There are more expensive dopplers available - quite a few on eBay... but you're usually looking around $100 upwards. You can use those ones from 12 weeks onwards.
You can also hire professional dopplers for around $40 a month. Just google "hire doppler" and a couple of sites should pop up.
One thing I noticed was a prenatal stethoscope was available on eBay - from the USA - and it was reasonably cheap (like around $25 - plus postage).
Yes I was going to suggest Ebay too. There is one company in sydney, I think, whose auctions for dopplers start at 99c. The one I was watching went for about $66, and they always have them listed for sale. I'm not sure how early you can use it though. Later on in the pregnancy you can use an ordinary stethoscope too.
thanks guys, I have a few friends in the US and they all seem to have dopplers like it's a pre requisite for pregnancy. With my first 2 they weren't really available but 8 years on you can get them anywhere. I probably won't get one but I was curious to see if anyone had one. I know it's a great feeling to hear the heartbeat at your pre natal check ups it's what I look forward to, and they would be great for anyone who's worried about their baby.
I first heard my baby on my SIL's doppler at 10 weeks (but she's a midwife and very clever at finding heartbeats, LOL). I think you're right, it is a lovely thing to look forward to for your appointments. Not sure if its such a good thing if you're worried about your baby... if it were me, I'd be listening out for it *all the time* instead of relaxing and looking after myself... I'd probably get a bit obsessive about it and be intensely stressed if I couldn't find it (like if baby kept moving out of the way or something).
It depends on baby's position as to how early you hear it. My Dr couldn't find it at 13 weeks with the doppler, and the midwife at my 12 week appt said that she didn't want to try because it would stress me out if she couldn't find it.
Actually, I still haven't heard the heartbeat (but I've seen it on ultrasounds) - and I'm 18 weeks!
I decided not to get one as i thought it would freak me out too much if i couldnt hear it, and I am not a professional so it is totally viable that sometimes i wouldnt get the right place etc.. i look fwd to hearing it at each OB appt.
BUT if you did want to get one i know friends have bought on ebay and been v happy with it!
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doppler?
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