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hootie
Lv 5
hootie asked in Pregnancy & ParentingPregnancy · 1 decade ago

Do those fetal heart rate monitors really work?

I've never used one personally (well except for when they use one at my doctor's appointments) but I have a friend that would like one and I want to get it for her. Has anyone else had experience with them and what brand? The ones I'm looking at cost about $40. I believe the brand was Angel Sounds or something like that. Any advice would be great! My friend has tried to get pregnant for 3 years now and the first time she did get pregnant she lost the baby around 8 weeks and she's really nervous she'll lose this one. I thought it might help her if she could listen to the heart beat whenever she wanted to. I couldn't imagine losing a child... I would be heart broken so I want to help her out anyway I can but we live in different states. This is the only thing I could think of to help her out besides giving her encouraging words.

Update:

Valstupendo: Thanks for the warning. I'll try to make sure she knows not to get carried away with it. I thought about getting one for myself the first time I was pregnant but I kept putting it off until I could feel the baby move pretty regular so I didn't see the need to buy one. She's 14.5 weeks pregnant and she can't get really excited because she's so worried she'll lose this one too. I want her to be excited because it's a wonderful time!! But I do understand your side of it and I really do thank you for the warning.

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The cheap ones are very hard to find the heartbeat with.... unfortunately the more expensive ones are better. You can also rent one.... it's only for a few months, so it might be cheaper than buying one.

    One word of advice.... I'm speaking from experience of a very good friend of mine. She lost a baby, and the next pregnancy, she got one of those fetal dopplers.... and she became obsessed! It can be a dangerous game... just be aware, that although she wants one for GOOD intentions... it might make her crazy and compulsive!! If she can't find the heartbeat one time because of the baby's position or something.... she will freak out!!!

    If you want to get her one, that would be a wonderful gift (if you think she can hadle it)... but also, maybe find her a support group, either face to face, or online to help her through her fears in this pregnancy.

    Blessings.

    http://www.babytones.ca/

    http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=2030

    http://www.storkradio.com/

  • Jess
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    you are a really nice friend for doing that for her. I've heard that Angel sounds and Bebesounds are pretty good. BUT the only draw back is that sometimes they don't work or the person uses it wrong, which can lead to more worry.

    How far along is she? She won't even get to hear it using those machines until she's closer to her third trimester, and by then she'll be feeling her baby move.

    I also miscarried before, and was really worried about everything this time around. I thought for sure I would buy a heart monitor so I can hear my baby's heart beat. But since, I've been feeling her move (at about 19 weeks), I really don't feel the need to want to buy the machine. It just makes me more comfortable when I can feel my baby's little tapping in my belly.

  • 1 decade ago

    I'm afraid that the cheap ones don't work until quite a bit later in the pregnancy, if at all. If you're looking for something that will theoretically work from about 10 weeks onwards (with a lot of hunting!) then you need to find a doppler unit instead. They're expensive, but I bought one after my first miscarriage and it did help me quite a bit.

    It's very kind of you to think of your friend. She might be comforted as well by the people at www.pregnancyloss.info - they have a pregnancy after loss board where she can talk about her feelings with people who have experienced what she's going through, and you might like it as well in case you have any questions. Sounds like you're a great friend though.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    type in google then ana wiz i bought mine off there and it has worked brilliantly since i bought it very reassuring for worried mothers to be you are a great friend.

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