Is it a bad idea to have one of the things where you can hear the heart beat your self at home?

[Melisastar]

My friend has lent me hers and I just want to sit there listening all the time. It worries me of it takes ages to find or even if I'm hearing the right thing or of it's beating fast enough? Feel like I could make myself mad!

[JNDuce12-13]

I think they are dangerous things to have for that reason exactly it panics you if you can't find it straight away! Also a midwife will never recommend you have one as unless you know what your doing and you babies BPM it could be blood flow through placenta or your heart beat you pick up. There was a story in news of a woman buying one cause her babies movements dropped off, she listened in heard what she thought was the heart beat but wasn't and baby had passed but she was unaware cause she thought she had heard the baby. Don't let that worry you, enjoy listening in but take it as a novelty and rely on how you feel and how much your baby is moving and take that as wether your baby I safe. Good luck, enjoy and keep an eye on the movements as well. X

[Melisastar in reply to JNDuce12-13]

I actually don't have a clue if what I am hearing is the baby's heart beat I'm worried enough as this is my second pregnancy had a mc beginning of year. I think going to leave it to the professionals the heart beats was strong at my 16 week check only a week till my 20 week scan so I'll wait till ten to be told how things are going. Thanks for the advice I appreciate it I need all the advice I can get x

[JNDuce12-13]

It's a scary thing especially when you've had a mc, I had a late mc at 21weeks and wanted a heartbeat Doppler for this pregnancy but my partner and midlife advised against it... I'm sure everything is fine, enjoy the 20week scan I loved it as was nice and long so got to see my baby for longer than usual. Good luck x

[Ljameson]

My friend gave me hers yday but haven't used it yet, gonna wait until I'm feeling lads of movement so that if I can't find it, I won't go out of my mind!

[Gaspode]

My wife borrowed one after her 16-week scan and found it easy to find a heartbeat - even I could find it. Make sure you use the gel as it makes it easier. You shouldn't get confused with your own heartbeat as the baby's will be much faster than your own.