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A Doppler fetal monitor is a non-invasive device used during prenatal exams to detect a baby’s heartbeat in the uterus. It uses the Doppler effect to produce an audible simulation of the heartbeat. Gel or oil is applied to the mother’s belly, and a probe is used to detect the heartbeat. It has advantages over a fetal stethoscope and is available in 2 or 3 MHz probes. Some women choose to rent or purchase Doppler fetal monitors for home use.
A Doppler fetal monitor or Doppler fetal heart rate monitor is a device commonly used during prenatal exams to translate the sounds of a baby’s heartbeat, while still in the uterus, to an audible level. The device uses the Doppler effect to produce an audible simulation of your heart beat. The use of a Doppler fetal monitor is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure employed during routine prenatal care and is generally considered safe.
First documented by Christian Doppler, the Doppler effect translates changes in the frequency of a sound wave emitted by a source as it moves relative to an observer. Thus, the Doppler fetal heart rate monitor detects high-frequency sound waves emitted when a baby’s heart beats. When you hear a heartbeat with Doppler, it is not the actual heartbeat but a representation. The use of this device is often referred to as Doppler auscultation.
To conduct Doppler fetal monitoring, a gel or oil solution is liberally spread over the belly of the pregnant mother. This solution acts as a conductor. A probe or transducer is then traced back and forth across the belly until a heartbeat is successfully detected. Once the sound waves emitted by the fetal heart are detected, they are transmitted to the monitor where their sound is then amplified to an audible level.
There are advantages of the Doppler fetal monitor over a fetal stethoscope, which also detects a baby’s heartbeat when it’s in utero. The Doppler fetal monitor allows everyone present in the room at the time of the examination to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. The fetal stethoscope only gives the person wearing the earphones connected to the device the opportunity to listen to the fetal heartbeat.
Doppler fetal monitors are traditionally available in one of two frequency levels, 2 or 3 MHz probes. To detect the heart rate of a fetus in the early weeks of pregnancy – 8 to 10 weeks into the gestational period – the 2 MHz device it is commonly the one of choice. For those women who have been determined to be overweight during pregnancy, however, use of the 3 MHz device is more commonly suggested.
Many women choose to rent or purchase Doppler fetal monitors during pregnancy, as they want the opportunity to listen to or check their baby’s heart rate at any time. Created for home use, these models most often run on batteries. Some models made for home use are digital and offer the added convenience of a display screen, showing the number of heart beats per minute.
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