Tips on using the First Beats Fetal Doppler

Having a comfortably full bladder often helps to make the heartbeat easier to find.

Use enough ultrasound gel to cover the skin and make sure to remove any air bubbles that may have formed between the skin and the probe. If you run out of ultrasound gel, simply order more from us (a 250 gm squeeze tube costs $10 plus delivery fee) or use a personal lubricant or a body lotion as a substitute.

When searching for the baby's heartbeat, remember to move the probe slowly. Fast movements can result in you scanning past it.

If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, you will find the baby is located lower down your abdomen than you might think. First locate your pelvic rim (it is usually your bikini line or the place where your underwear normally sits). Try starting in the middle of the abdomen. This is where you should hold the Doppler to hear your baby's heartbeat, but remember that the probe can be angled or moved slowly to aid your search.

As your pregnancy progresses, your baby will move upward, out of your pelvis region and into your abdomen which is why you begin to show. However, it shouldn't be necessary to scan above the belly button for your baby's heartbeat until very late in your pregnancy.

Remember that in the early stages of pregnancy, your baby is very small and moves around a lot. Not surprisingly Ultrasound specialists often compare babies in the womb to goldfish in a fish bowl.

It can take several attempts to pick up a heartbeat. Just persevere and don't move the probe too quickly as it's easy to miss the baby.

For the best sound quality, the entire face of the probe should be kept fully in contact with skin surface though only light pressure need be applied.

To help distinquish between the fetal heart beat and other maternal sounds please refer to our CD.

It is normal to pick up the heart beat from more than one place. So don’t be alarmed if you hear two heart beats. Doctors listen to the differences in the heartbeats to determine if there are in fact 2 fetuses.

If you are unsure of what you are hearing, or if you have any other concerns, you should seek medical advice from your medical practitioner.

A constant tone or lack of green power light means the battery will need to be replaced. To do this simply open the battery compartment door located in the back of the unit, remove the old battery and insert a new 9-volt alkaline battery.

If the green light still doesn’t appear, check to make sure the battery is properly installed.

If you have any questions please contact First Beats on 1 300 365 930 or email us at info@firstbeats.com.au.