Can you hear unborn babys heartbeat with stethoscope

Be aware that you may pick up your own heartbeat as well. Don't worry if you do not hear your baby's heartbeat right away. How far along your pregnancy is, the baby's position, and the position of your placenta can all affect whether you detect your baby's heartbeat. If you are unsure whether you are hearing your baby's heartbeat or your own, try to time the beats-per-minute.

The baby's heart rate will be much faster than your own--between and beats per minute. Wallis Bishop began writing in A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Where do you get a stethoscope? The takeaway. Parenthood Pregnancy Pregnancy Health. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. An irregular heartbeat is referred to as fetal arrhythmia and is quite rare — it only happens in 1 to 2 percent of pregnancies.

There are a few reasons it could be happening:. They might also recommend you to go to a maternal-fetal medicine doctor or a pediatric cardiologist. A tilted uterus can make it harder to hear anything because a doppler is directional. If the doctor is using a doppler to pick up on the heartbeat, it needs to be in the exact right spot to catch that sound. Early on in the pregnancy, that little baby is super tiny, and it can take some time and luck for the doctor to get the doppler in the right spot.

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From getting pregnant in the first place, to finding unique ways…. Use a stethoscope. A basic stethoscope is one of the easiest ways to listen to the fetal heartbeat at home. When you are between 18 and 20 weeks pregnant, the heartbeat should be strong enough for you to listen to with this method. Simply place the stethoscope on your belly and listen. You may have to move it around a bit to find the heartbeat. Be patient. Quality does matter, so make sure to purchase a stethoscope from a reputable seller.

You can find a wide variety of brands at your local drugstore, and even at a store selling office supplies. Or borrow one from a friend or family member in the medical field if you can. Download an app. New technology can make it very easy to listen to your baby's heartbeat wherever you are. There are several different apps that you can purchase and download to your smartphone to listen to the heartbeat.

Some will even allow you to record the sound of the heartbeat so you can play it for your friends and family. Get a monitor. You can buy relatively inexpensive fetal heart rate monitors to use at home. This can be a great option if you are prone to stress and are reassured by listening to the heartbeat between visits to your doctor.

However, you should be aware that these monitors are not as strong as the ones used by your doctor. Don't expect them to be able to pick up the sound of the heartbeat until you are in at least your fifth month of pregnancy.

Once you have one, follow the instructions carefully. Learn the factors that affect the sound. Even when you are using the proper tools, there are many reasons that you may not be able to detect the fetal heartbeat yourself. It's important to know that things such as the baby's position and your weight can impact whether or not you will clearly hear a heartbeat. If you feel there is reason to be concerned, make sure to contact your healthcare provider right away.

Method 2. Communicate with your doctor. The relationship between you and your doctor or midwife is very important. When you are pregnant, make sure that you are working with a healthcare professional whom you trust. Talk to your doctor about your baby's development, and the best ways for you to hear the heartbeat, both at home and in her office.

Choose a doctor who thoroughly and patiently answers all of your questions. Prepare for your visit. Ask your doctor when you can first expect to hear the heartbeat. Most physicians will schedule for a prenatal exam in your ninth or tenth week. Before your visit, make sure to prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor.