Baby Heartbeat Monitor Basics

If you are considering purchasing a baby heartbeattechnology yourself before making the decision to
monitor, here is some basic information that shouldpurchase a baby fetal Doppler device for yourself.
help you properly select and use a baby heartUse of the Fetal Doppler
monitor during your pregnancy.Some fetal heartbeat monitors can pick up the fetus'
FDA Requirementsheartbeat as early as ten weeks into the pregnancy,
First, you should know that the FDA does regulatebut twelve weeks is the normal point where they will
fetal Doppler devices. If you are renting or purchasingbe able to get a good heartbeat signal. Most fetal
a baby heartbeat Doppler monitor, you may beDoppler devices are easy to use, and generally
asked by the vendor for a caretaker's prescriptioninvolve running a probe on top of some ultrasound
for the device. Many companies provide agel that is placed on the mother's abdomen. The
prescription form for you online, which you can printbaby's heartbeat will be considerably faster than the
out and take to your doctor or midwife to request amother's heartbeat, and should be easily identified.
signature. Part of the purpose of the fetal DopplerCost
regulation is to make sure expectant parents areDevices can range from as little as $30 up into
using these devices in collaboration with theirthousands of dollars, depending on the sophistication
pregnancy health care provider, and not as aof the device. The more expensive units can often
substitution for this care.be rented online by the month. It is strongly
Safetyrecommended that you consider purchasing or
To date, there have not been any studies that showrenting a fetal heartbeat monitor that has been FDA
any danger from fetal heartbeat monitoring devices.approved.
Still, you may want to read up on ultrasound