Baby: Fetal Doppler
Fetal doppler is a technology that has been used by medical professionals for over thirty years to monitor fetal heart rate. Fetal heart rate is a strong indicator of the health of an unborn baby. A heart rate within the average 110-160 beats per minute indicates that adequate amounts of blood and oxygen are reaching the babys heart.
Fetal doppler is one of several methods of measuring fetal heart rate. When the doppler device is used, low frequency sound waves are conducted by a gel medium through the skin and tissue of the mothers abdomen. When the sound waves encounter sound inside the womb, such as the babys heartbeat, they bounce back to the monitor and are translated into sounds that can be heard by physicians and parents.
Fetal Doppler Is Safe to Use
Use of fetal doppler is regulated by the FDA, which has approved it for home use. There have also been many studies done to assess its safety. No study has yet found any adverse effects from the regular use of fetal doppler. In fact, the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your unborn child is healthy and happy has been deemed such a large benefit that in-home monitoring of fetal heart rates has significantly increased in recent years.
Because of the upsurge in popularity of fetal heart rate monitoring, there are now many businesses and websites which offer sale or rental of doppler devices. These models have been designed for ease of use and clear, consistent readings. Most models are handheld and can be operated by one person, and because of new advances in doppler technology, finding your babys heartbeat has never been easier. While ease of use and peace of mind are very important, many parents say that being able to share the joy of listening to your unborn childs heartbeat with friends and loved ones is the biggest benefit of all.