Tell me why I should or shouldn't buy.....

[LuluHB]

Its bloody awful when you no longer believe that if you do everything you're supposed to, then your body just does what it is intended to do. I remember having to walk past groups of pregnant women smoking at the hospital entrance after another loss and boy, the desire to smack them all was pretty intense.

It is so hard and it is so completely unfair when you are robbed of what should be a joyous experience, but hang in there lovely. It is your turn to bring home a beautiful, snuggly warm bub.

Its great you're having regular monitoring, but if you need just another quick peek in between scheduled scans if you're having a bad day, don't hesitate to contact your hospital/OB. Your mental/emotional wellbeing is paramount.

[~ Mylitta ~]

I LOVED my doppler when pregnant with both my babies. Even thought the box said "from 12 weeks" I first heard my son's heartbeat at 10 weeks, and my daughters at 9 weeks. We only ever used it for a minute or two at a time, but it was magical.

Not only did we have the peace of mind of hearing that little heart beating away, but I think it also helped us form that early bond with our babies. It also gave DH a way to feel like he was a bit more of a part of the pregnancies.

When it comes to the health side of things I'm usually the first to err on the side of caution, but with ultrasounds having been used for soooooo many years and so frequently I am convinced that it would be known by now if they were causing any harm at all. Having said that, we still limited our time with the doppler, but more so in case it the fluid waves the sounds waves causes were uncomfortable for the baby. You'd think if that was the case though, hat babies would become super active when you are having an ultrasound, but my babies both had a tendency to sleep during ultrasounds, lol.

Anyway, if you are keeping count of yay and nay's, then I'm definitely in the "yay column"

[~Kim~]

blessed, you can hire them too.

[Floweryfields]

I have no opinion whether you should or shouldn't get one (so maybe I shouldn't post at all!) -but I have one question, in general, not specifically for the OP. By having a doppler, how does it change anything? I mean, yes you get the reassurance of hearing a heartbeat, but God forbid you can't find one, having that doppler isn't going to change that at all so how does that make you pregnancy easier?
That's not intended to sound rude - hope it doesn't, I just was wondering, how does having one change something you really have no control over anyway?

[LuluHB]

ooops. Double post. Sorry

[LuluHB]

Ausgirl - you're absolutely right. A doppler is not going to save a pregnancy. What will be will be. But from my own experience only, I found that when you are so used to getting that wonderful BFP only to then have yet another miscarriage, the reassurance on those bad days when you have no hope that you will get through is amazing. I had one occasion where it took me about 10 very, very stressful minutes to find my little girl's heartbeat, but the rest of the time it was almost instant reassurance that today at least, my dream was still alive.

That's me though, and I do agree to a certain extent that sometimes they cause more apprehension - depends on the person. My SIL flat out refused to aknowledge her pregnancy because she was just too scared to build up her hopes.

[blessedatlast]

Ausgirl - A doppler wouldn't change the outcome, neither do U/S or blood tests, but it can be nice to get reassurance. I also agree that it can cause undue stress if the heart beat can't be found which I listed as one of the cons.. I think for me the best reassurance for me will be when I'm looking at my baby alive but it will also be good when I can feel it. I don't think i will bother with a doppler, as it shouldn't be that long until I can regularly feel Bub and that will be reassurance enough..

[AJC]

I have a doppler. I bought it when I was around 11 weeks with this bub. I found a hb for the first time at 11 wks 6 days. I currently use it around twice a week for less than a minute each time. For me the doppler has offered peace of mind but I can see how it would offer anxiety often too. I use it simply because I just love hearing that little hb when I need to. This pg I have anterior placenta so movements are not as soon as as strong as DS so I will probably stop using it as often once I get more regular movements. Big Hugs - I can relate slightly to the way you are feeling, I had two m/c prior to DS and then I had some early and late bleeding with his pg. He was a clomid bub too.

[~ Mylitta ~]

I have no opinion whether you should or shouldn't get one (so maybe I shouldn't post at all!) -but I have one question, in general, not specifically for the OP. By having a doppler, how does it change anything? I mean, yes you get the reassurance of hearing a heartbeat, but God forbid you can't find one, having that doppler isn't going to change that at all so how does that make you pregnancy easier?
That's not intended to sound rude - hope it doesn't, I just was wondering, how does having one change something you really have no control over anyway?

For me personally I think I answered your question when I wrote:

"Not only did we have the peace of mind of hearing that little heart beating away, but I think it also helped us form that early bond with our babies. It also gave DH a way to feel like he was a bit more of a part of the pregnancies."

You're right, it's not going to change anything, but hearing that precious heart beating away when you are having a moment of doubt as to whether your baby is still alive is the most reassuring sound in the world. After about 12 weeks with both my pregnancies I was able to find the heartbeat within at least a minute or two, and most of the times it could be heard the second I placed the doppler on my belly.

The joy my husband and I could share in while listening to our baby's heartbeats was priceless though.

[Lolpigs]

I asked my OB about this, and also about monitoring the baby movements (as not at 25weeks bubs is pretty active) but he told me not to stress about it too much. He said if I couldn't find the heartbeat that would cause me more stress than it was worth, and that was more harmful to bubs. He was the same with the movement told me unless I was feeling nothing at all, not to worry about where, when, how often etc. Until much later in the Pregnancy, just to enjoy it. Heartbeats are good, but movement is better I think, and in my OB's opinion being as relaxed as possible (yeah i know easier said than done) is the best for bubs.

Personally I decided against getting one, because I'm prone to worry about things alot, and if I had one I think while at first it would decrease my stress, ultimately it would give me something else to worry about. Does that make sense?

I can understand after what you have been through wanting the reassurance. I hope everything goes well for you.