please convince me not to buy a doppler

[Roryrory]

Today I was home sick and DH had his Dad's Group over. One of them got a phone call from a friend to hear of another mate's baby being stillborn at full term and another mentioned they had a miscarriage at 16 weeks. Yay, just what I want to hear.

I just found a doppler on ebay for $60. Please convince me to not buy one and to stop worrying

[feeb]

Hun a doppler can freak you out more as sometimes baby is hard to find with them and other times dopplers are cheap and crappy!!

Go with feeling baby movements and if concerned do the iced sugary drink trick and lie down and concentrate on movements.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Yup, totally agree with Feebs - sometimes even doctors have trouble finding bubs heartbeat due to positioning, so you're only going to freak yourself out even more if you're worried and then can't find a beat

On another note - very sad happenings, but hugely insensitive towards you and your DH to mention those things!

[*Beema*]

I agree with Feeb, I think you will get more stressed if you can't pick up the HB if you had one

Sosorry to hear of your friends losses, that must have been so difficult to hear

[Oorki Galoorki]

Hun it wont be long and you will be feeling definate movements(if your not already) that will put your mind to ease a bit, but buying a doppler can add stress like feeb said

[Baby14]

Don't get one! I hired one while I was pg and freaked myself out so much I ended up at my OB's to get checked He made me promise to send the doppler back early

[BellyBelly]

Ultrasound Scans- cause for concern

Dr Sarah Buckley:

One Australian study showed that babies exposed to 5 or more doppler ultrasounds were 30% more likely to develop intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)- a condition that ultrasound is often used to detect.26

Two long-term randomised controlled trials, comparing exposed and unexposed childrens’ development at eight ti nine years old, found no measurable effect from ultrasound.38,39 However, as the authors note, intensities used today are many times higher than in 1979 to 1981. Further, in the major branch of one trial, scanning time was only three minutes.40 More studies are obviously needed in this area, particularly in the areas of Doppler and vaginal ultrasound, where exposure levels are much higher.

[Roryrory]

OK, convinced now

I spoke to a friend of mine this evening, and she reminded me that stressing about something isn't going to change the outcome, whatever that may be, but in fact could make things work. Damn anterior placenta, can only feel little niggles and no definite kicks (but I know I should be happy its not placenta preavia).

Thanks girls

[luna moth]

I'm so glad.

Be brave, hun!

[~*familyof3*~]

wow your post was like reading something from my mind. I have been looking at these to hire :S In the hopes it will help me to stress less......not so sure it will help now

[Traveller]

There have been cases where a mum, worried by reduced fetal movement, reassured themselves with a doppler instead of visiting their midwife. Sadly in some of these cases the mother did not know that they were listening to something other than a good heartbeat and delayed seeking medical help with a poor outcome. I'm glad you have decided not to get a doppler as they can be falsely reassuring. If you are ever concerned seek medial help and never worry that you are being a bother.

[Inanna]

You've asked the right girl. DO NOT BUY A DOPPLER! They can and do and often will cause more pain than they are worth. It is notoriously difficult to hear a heartbeat at your stage & even close to 20 weeks. Please practice letting go. I really do know how stressful this is. I lost 3 babies in my second trimester - so I get it.

Right now is the time to give over - trust in your body & the Universe that the best outcome will happen. Sadly late losses and subsequently stillbirths do happen - most of the time we just don't ever have the answer to why. However, the chances of this happening are statistically minimal - please try hard to focus on that.

Talk to your baby and tell her/him you want her/him to stay, that you love them, cherish them & look forward to holding them. For now darling woman, try hard to let this go.

[Roryrory]

thankyou all - I am feeling a little safer now, especially I feel kicks daily

[*Beema*]

So glad you are feeling much better about it Roryrory and for daily kicks!!!

Ultrasound Scans- cause for concern

Dr Sarah Buckley:

I guess this covers Uterine Dopplers as well, I have already had 5 cervical scans (checking for IC) and quite a few more to come and start uterine dopplers at my 20 weeks morph scan, checking for IUGR due to complete placental placement over the septum of my uterus

[Inanna]

Beema - I share Sarah Buckleys concern about the over use of ultrasound. However, we are talking about normal, regular run of the mill pregnancies. Yours isn't. My last one wasn't either. I had more ultrasounds than I can even count. So, as with all evidence - we use it as a guide but when the benefit of ultrasound out weighs the risk we make an informed decision.

Without regular ultrasoud you are risking your pregnancy. Without regular ultrasound I would have been in a mess & latter in my pregnancy my baby would have died. So please know these facts and figures are to remind us that pregnancy is a NORMAL & natural experience. In low risk pregnancies ultrasound is not necessary. Yours is a different kettle of fish.

[mummatomany]

I am 6 weeks into my 4th PG after the last 2 ending in MC at 6 and 7 weeks gest. I had a Doppler on ebay on my watch list.......I was going to buy it as soon as we got a heartbeat this week at the fetal pole scan(praying that is the outcome anyway!)
THANK YOU so much for posting this thread, I am not going to buy one now......I DO NOT NEED anymore stress that I am already giving myself in the pregnancy.

[luna moth]

Yaaaaaaay mummatomany! I can see how it is really tempting, but it is well worth it to hold off.