Your experiences with Dopplers??

[PumpkinZulu]

So had a fantastic midwife appointment today, but I got a little freaked out when she used the Doppler and couldn't get the heartbeat. She didn't seem concerned at all, just said babies van be hard to find sometimes, but now I'm a tad worried. I'm 15w2d, what have your experiences been with Dopplers (at any stage)? Have they sometimes not worked for you? Just looking for reassurance

[Junglemum]

Hand held dopplers are notoriously unreliable, they are very user dependent and not as specific as a big ultrasound machine. I've had a few midwives unable to find the heartbeat, then another would come along and find it no probs. It's easy to say don't worry, but it's only natural to worry. You could always go to the GP, explain what happened and ask for a fetal well being scan. When is your midwife due back? Can she come and try again. That is horrible to leave you worrying like that.

[~me~]

Yep Dopplers are notoriously unreliable, evern OB's have trouble using them. Trying to figure out which heartbeat is which.
Try not to stress PZ, as Junglemum has suggested, perhaps see if you can pop down to either Sunshine or Footscray and explain your situation, they may be able to do a quick scan for you to ease your mind
I remember my OB using a hand held doppler very late in the pregnancy and was having trouble working out my heartbeat or babies heartbeat, he then took me to a room where he had a little scan machine and all was just fine.

[PumpkinZulu]

Thanks guys. Last hb was at 13w2d and was nice and strong, 157bpm...and she confirmed that I've most likely been feeling the baby move...so I think it's just the crappy Doppler. My next appt is feb 4, I dontthink I'll ask for another scan. I really just wanted to hear that it was normal for them not be always work Hopefully in the next few weeks the movements will become more defined and familiar. Thankyou so much, I already feel more relaxed knowing it can happen with handheld dopplers

[skybie]

i had an emergency 2 min scan (organised by me coz i freaked out) after my 17week mid app because they couldnt find the HB,she wasnt concerned at all and bub was just hiding and was happy as larry in there

[Ahurani]

Might be the user too. They never tried to Doppler me at that gestation. I'm sure everything is fine hun xo

[emc2]

It seemed to take quite some time to find the HB with the doppler, but we were lucky and heard it at 16 weeks. But now I have read it is quite hard to find them that early.

[tellytubby]

I remember having an appointment at 16 weeks, and they couldln't find a HB either. After about half an hour of trying, I was really beginning to freak out!
They got the portable ultrasound though, to have a squizz, and bubby was alive and kicking - was just the doppler couldn't find the perfect spot.

Doppler definately aren't very good before 20 weeks, IMO.
Please don't get yourself too worried, I'm sure everything is going awesome in that uterus!

[HotI]

Me too! MW couldn't finf HB with doppler at 16weeks but bub was fine

[CrazyLady]

My OB used to have to get me to drink iced water and then retry. DD was such a lazy bub in the early days and would tuck herself as far back as possible making it hard to find the HB. Until about 20 weeks I ended up taking a bottle of water with ice in to drink pre appointment in the waiting room so DD would start wiggling. After 20 weeksish DD would flip all over the place and kick the doppler

I wouldn't worry, it's a common thing for dopplers

[thepixie]

PZ I was at the hospital on Wed and the reg tried for about two mins with the doppler before saying "is your placenta on the front wall?" Which it is.... So she just gave up on the doppler and went straight to the u/s machine. I think esp at this gestation it depends a lot on position of bub and placenta as well as the other things PPs have mentioned.

[PumpkinZulu]

Thanks ladies, I feel totally okay about it now I am feeling bubs little flutters hehe.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

My middy wasnt able to pick up the heartbeat on the doppler until I had an appointment @ almost 18 weeks. There was no hope of hearing it @ 15 weeks. DD was fine and is now 2 years old

[Traveller]

Many midwives will not try and hear the heartbeat before 24 weeks because

a) the risk of not being able to hear it is high, which could be upsetting for the mother and
b) if the heartbeat was not healthy there would be nothing they could do about it that early

You are certainly not alone in being upset for the doppler not picking up a hb, and I'm a little surprised your midwife did not explain that this could be the case before attempting to listen in.

[feeb]

Hugs hun they should have warned you that they may not hear HB at current gestation, a lot of mw will not try before 20 weeks for that reason.