Using the Doppler:

 

The first step to using the doppler is to get the gel and lay down so that you are comfortable.  Use plenty of gel.  If you don't have a good amount of gel the doppler will not work properly.  There should be enough gel between the end of the probe and your skin that there are no gaps.  You want there to be a constant connection between the probe, the gel, and your skin.  You can place the gel on the end of the probe or on your stomach, whatever is most comfortable for you.  Remember that you may have to move the probe around to find the heartbeat requiring you to have enough gel to slide to another location.

 

Early in pregnancy you want to start looking for the heartbeat right above your pubic hairline straight below your belly button.  You can start by aiming the probe downward towards your pubic bone at a 45 degree angle.  Go slowly and if you don't hear anything start slowly moving the probe to the right or left.  If you don't find the heartbeat by the time you reach the crest of your hip bone, you will need to go back in the other direction.  If you go both directions without find it, try increasing the angle of the probe.  If that doesn't work try again with less of an angle. 

 

Finding the heartbeat the first time can be frustrating, but that doesn't mean it isn't there, just that you are new at doing this.  Stay calm, take a deep breath and try again.  You can also feel right above your pubic bone when you are standing and see if you can feel the top of your uterus also called the fundus.  If you can feel it, you may need to aim the doppler a little higher.  The position of your placenta can interfere with finding the heartbeat.  Also be aware that you may pick up your heartbeat coming through the placenta, but it will be between 60-80 beats per minute.  The baby's heartbeat should be 120-180 depending on whether or not the baby is sleeping or active.  In the early weeks of pregnancy, the baby bounces and flips in the uterus and this can make it difficult to find the heartbeat.  One of the best times to try to find the heartbeat for the first time is when you have been up moving around.  Babies tend to sleep when you are active because you rock them to sleep with the swaying motion of your hips.  Once you start to find the heartbeat you will learn where to look and as the baby grows you will learn their patterns of activity which can aid you in finding the heartbeat.  You should also remember that as your uterus and the baby grow, you will need to position the probe higher on your belly to find the heartbeat.

 

Caring for the doppler:

 

Always wipe the gel off of the probe with a dry paper towel or cloth.  Never use any type of cleaning solution on the probe or the unit.  If the dopper becomes sticky or appears to be dirty, wipe with a damp cloth.  Run some warm water onto a cloth and wring it out thoroughly before wiping the unit and please do not use any cleaning agent on the unit as this could damage it.  And please remember that if you return a doppler that is damaged there will be other mothers like you who will not be given the same opportunity to be reassured by hearing her baby's heartbeat.  And if the doppler is returned damaged, you could be charged for the replacement of the unit.  We greatly appreciate you caring for the unit as if it were yours so other women can benefit from our service.