A fetal stethoscope allows people to listen to a fetal heartbeat, but it’s not always audible and failure to listen isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. It’s a quick and easy way to listen to the heart and can be useful in regions where ultrasound and other tools may not be available. Another device known as a Pinard horn can also be used as a fetal stethoscope.
A fetal stethoscope allows people to listen to a fetal heartbeat, starting about the middle of pregnancy. It’s important to be aware that a heartbeat isn’t always audible with a stethoscope, and that failure to listen isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. This tool provides a quick and easy way to listen to the heart and can be useful in regions where ultrasound and other tools may not be available. Some expectant parents like to use it even during pregnancy.
The instrument includes a bell at one end for placement against the belly and may have a chin rest to support the listener’s head. A set of tubes connects to earphones that amplify the sound of your heartbeat, allowing the healthcare provider to gather information about your heart’s rhythm and rate. To use a fetal stethoscope, the caregiver locates the baby’s back and places the bell against it before listening for the heartbeat. You may need to move your device to get the best sound.
Fetal heartbeats can be faint, and sometimes an anatomical trick makes it difficult to detect a beating heart. If people can’t hear the heart when using the fetal stethoscope, they can try to reposition themselves or quiet the room. Ambient noises can drown out very soft sounds from the fetus, especially in early pregnancy. Sometimes the mother’s internal body sounds are also a problem. Midwives and other home care providers may use this device in place of or in addition to an ultrasound when monitoring a pregnancy.
Parents who want to use a fetal stethoscope can be instructed by a nurse, midwife or doctor who can show them how to use the device. This can include placement tips and reminders that it’s not always possible to hear your heartbeat. Parents who notice changes may report them, but they may not necessarily be a cause for concern unless there are signs of a problem, such as a radically reduced fetal activity rate.
Another device known as a Pinard horn can also be used as a fetal stethoscope. It consists of a long wooden or metal tube with a bell at one end and a listening area at the other. To use it, people apply their ears directly to the other end of the Pinard horn after placing the bell, listening for the heartbeat down the short length of tubing.
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