Baby: Dopplers
Dopplers are ultrasound scans used to monitor the health of a fetus during the last six months of pregnancy. Dopplers aim harmless low-level sound waves at the fetus through the skin and tissue of the mothers abdomen, via a conductive gel. The paths of these sound waves are disturbed by the movements of the baby and are bounced back to the monitor. These disturbances are then translated into an audible heartbeat or visual picture which physicians use to determine the health of the fetus.
When reading the fetal heartbeat provided by dopplers, physicians are checking to be sure the heart rate falls within the average 110 to 160 beats per minute, indicating that adequate blood and oxygen are reaching the heart. If the heart rate falls outside of that range, it does not necessarily mean there is a serious problem; however, it may point out potential health risks to the fetus.
Medical Benefits of Dopplers
The visual ultrasounds provided by dopplers allow physicians to check for things like early vaginal bleeding, fetal malformation, problems with placental location, and multiple pregnancies. New 3-D and 4-D ultrascans, which provide a much more lifelike and easy to read picture of the fetus, allow doctors to detect problems like spina bifida and cleft palate earlier and more easily.
While all of this information is very helpful to physicians, it also provides parents-to-be their first contact with their unborn child. Many mothers describe their first time hearing and seeing the baby as a blissful experience during which they form a strong bond with their baby. Regular ultrasounds also provide parents with a feeling of security, knowing that their babys health is being effectively monitored and watched over.