Maybe someone you know has rented or purchased a fetal doppler from one of the online rental companies who offer this service. If so, you may have heard how easy and wonderful it is to be able to listen to your growing unborn baby. The ability to monitor your unborn baby has lent millions of woman welcomed peace of mind during this exciting yet stressful time.
Are fetal doppler monitors safe?
This is an important question many expecting parents are asking themselves and the answer is yes! For over 50 years ultrasound technology has been used for various purposes in the healthcare industry with no evidence of any ill effect. This holds true to mother and child. The FDA regulates ultrasound technology and has approved the Fetal Doppler for 'continuous use'. This isn't to say you should monitor the heartbeat of your unborn baby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Current recommendations are monitoring 2-3 times a week for no more than 7 minutes per exam.
Are all fetal doppler monitors created equally?
If you've been researching the fetal doppler market you know that it has become saturated with many different doppler models offering different capabilities and options. The first thing you should be sure of when renting or purchasing a fetal doppler is its FDA approval. Every fetal doppler on the market that uses ultrasound technology (the only kind you want) must be approved by the FDA. First off, with most of the internet companies that have been around for a while, such as Stork Radio.com and SweetBeats.net, you need not worry and can rely upon their solid reputations. Secondly, be sure the equipment you're renting or buying uses ultrasound technology and is not simply a microphone which will just amplify your digestive sounds and are not recommended for use before 6 months into pregnancy (BeBe Sounds etc.). Lastly, with the ever increasing use of fetal dopplers in the home, many companies have attempted to capitalize by bringing to the market place less expensive models. These dopplers are not medical grade dopplers and may not hold up as well or offer the same overall quality as a medical grade doppler system. Medical grade Fetal Dopplers have historically been used only in medical environments such as hospitals and doctors offices and are still expensive instruments to own.
How do I know which fetal doppler is right for me?
Another important question to consider before renting a baby doppler is which one is right for me? For the most part there are two different types of dopplers on the market - regular and digital. A regular is the most basic model available for rent and will allow you to hear your unborn baby's heartbeat (rentals $32 per month). The digital fetal doppler will also give you the audio of the heartbeat but offers the added benefit of a digital display of your baby's heartbeats per minute or BPM (rentals $49 per month). Making the decision between the two is typically purely preference, except in the case of a pregnancy with multiples. In this instance you'd need a digital display to distinguish one baby from another.
Selecting the right probe.
Fetal dopplers come with either a 2 or 3 MHz probe. It is common knowledge among Obstetricians that 2 MHz (specialty probe) probes are better for overweight patients as the more concentrated ultrasound emission (beam) can pass more easily through the extra layers of fat surrounding the uterus. This more concentrated lower frequency beam also enables the fetal doppler a greater ability to pick up the fetal heartbeat earlier in pregnancy and often enables expecting parents to listen in as early as 8 weeks into pregnancy.
What else should I know?
Most companies offer free shipping, a free tube of ultrasound gel, tips, battery, and an instruction manual with rentals. You might want to purchase an extra bottle of ultrasound gel ($7-10) with your rental if you plan on keeping your doppler for one or more months. It's imperative for crisp clear sound to use plenty of ultrasound gel when listening.
As a consumer, you should always do plenty of research before making a purchase. I understand this and would like to offer you my choices on the most reputable and customer-friendly, Internet-based fetal doppler companies - www.storkradio.com & www.sweetbeats.net.
Bryan is an internet entrepreneur and writes for several pregnancy related websites such as FetalDopplerFacts.org where you can find further information as well as professional/user user reviews on several fetal doppler monitors.
With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortable before,... Read More
When a woman in the child bearing years undergoes gastric... Read More
First and foremost I want to start by emphasizing that... Read More
For me, it was "welcome to motherhood". Ready or not,... Read More
Am I pregnant? This is often one of the most... Read More
Every woman gains weight while she is pregnant. This is... Read More
Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during... Read More
If you are pregnant, there are things you should know... Read More
Exercising during pregnancy is always a very good idea, and... Read More
There are a lot of good reasons to quit smoking,... Read More
LIFE AFTER BIRTH: THE FIRST 6 WEEKSLife after birth can... Read More
Headaches are one of the more unpleasant "side effects" that... Read More
How fast you lose weight will depend on a number... Read More
Exclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an... Read More
Some people think that the word sexy and pregnancy do... Read More
Pregnancy can be exciting or daunting, depending on the circumstances.... Read More
A doula is a Greek word meaning "woman servant." Doulas... Read More
There are so many changes the body undergoes during pregnancy... Read More
Ah hah. So you thought that it was just your... Read More
It is commonly recognized that breast milk is the best... Read More
If exercise is so obviously the answer to losing weight... Read More
EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMSAlthough a lot of women experience pregnancy symptoms,... Read More
Pregnancy is not without its side effects. During pregnancy your... Read More
In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their... Read More
Very early signs of pregnancy - are there 10 pregnancy... Read More
Don't get so lazy during your pregnancy. Move your body... Read More
If you are overweight when you become pregnant, your physician... Read More
"Just eat a few saltines and you'll be ok".I don't... Read More
A new baby can be overwhelming for the whole family.... Read More
EPIDURALS CAN SAVE YOU FROM THE "HORRORS" OF CHILDBIRTHIt is... Read More
In some cases, bringing home your brand new baby doesn't... Read More
There are a lot of resources on the internet, in... Read More
It doesn't seem possible at the outset of pregnancy, but... Read More
After four years of marriage my husband and I started... Read More
With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortable before,... Read More
Labor and childbirth was an amazing, positive experience for me,... Read More
Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can... Read More
With so many people giving their opinion on what to... Read More
One of the best gifts you can give your baby... Read More
Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during... Read More
A new baby can be overwhelming for the whole family.... Read More
In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their... Read More
Preparing for a new arrival from the beginning of your... Read More
EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMSAlthough a lot of women experience pregnancy symptoms,... Read More
Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a... Read More
New mothers sometimes experience "postpartum blues." This is understandable. Pregnancy... Read More
Mums to be can often get worried about having sex... Read More
All parents-to-be nurture the dream of a healthy pregnancy and... Read More
After having given birth; weight becomes a lasting issue for... Read More
Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can... Read More
Perhaps the number one complaint of women trying to watch... Read More
One of the best things you can do is set... Read More
It doesn't seem possible at the outset of pregnancy, but... Read More
It is commonly recognized that breast milk is the best... Read More
If you have celiac disease and are well controlled because... Read More
With summer coming near, you would love to put on... Read More
When I became pregnant I planned to run throughout my... Read More
Most women like to go shopping. However, sometimes pregnant women... Read More
One point can't be emphasized enough. Weight loss takes time... Read More
Edema, otherwise known as swelling, will affect almost all women... Read More
Pregnancy is a time where you have to be careful... Read More
The shock and stress of having a baby born prematurely... Read More
FOLIC ACID ? AN OVERVIEWFolic Acid, also know as Vitamin... Read More
Extent of pregnancy prejudice in Britain's workplacesEach year around 30,000... Read More
Pregnancy tests identify a special hormone in the blood or... Read More
EXERCISE SAFELYThe first thing to understand when you exercise during... Read More
Pregnancy |