Tuesday, January 12, 2010

To Doppler Or Not To Doppler

We finally have an appointment with an OB scheduled for the 19th. We picked the place we did because it is a large-ish sized practice with many doctors. I want to be sure that if I have any problems I'll be able to get an appointment quickly. Seeing so many different doctors at the fancy fertility clinic got me very used to the idea of dropping my pants for anyone with a speculum. I'm more concerned with being able to see someone than seeing the same person each time. Besides, it's still early enough that I can change my mind if I really hate this practice.

I think the fertility clinic has turned me into a very needy, coddled patient. I just found out that I will not be getting an ultrasound at my appointment on the 19th. That has me a bit freaked out. I am still sailing through this pregnancy almost entirely symptom free. Sure, I've been filling up quicker at meals, have a new found love of ketchup, some minor food aversions, and have fallen asleep on the couch a few times. But really, nothing major at all. You'd think I would be grateful, but it actually makes me nervous. It makes me worry that something is wrong- that one or both of the babies has stopped growing. I don't think I'll feel confident about this pregnancy until I am sending a healthy, well adjusted 18 year old off to college.

So my dears, this is where I need your advice. I am very much on the fence about getting a doppler. On the one hand, it could ease some of my fears. On the other hand, it could make me more obsessive. I'm not even sure how a doppler would work with twins, and if I'd be able to distinguish between 2 heartbeats, etc. How many of you out there use a doppler? If you do, is there a brand you recommend? For those of you who decided against the doppler, what are your reasons for not getting one?

15 comments:

Melissa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa said...

Ohh ketchup! I had that craving for a while a specific kind of ketchup that you could only get a a specific fast food restaurant. I would drive all over just to get that ketchup.

We did get a doppler and used it during the first trimester until I started feeling movement. It helped put my mind at ease. We did freak out though in the beginning using it when we had trouble finding the heatbeat so don't use it too early either or it will have the opposite effect and stress you out.

We used this one: http://www.amazon.com/Sonotrax-Ultrasound-Fetal-Doppler-Display/dp/B002A1HSQQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1263332475&sr=8-1

If you run out of the gel you can also use aloe vera gel.

Anonymous said...

Jeez, I don't know. I didn't buy a doppler because I know I would panic the second I couldn't find a heartbeat. I can see the allure, being able to check at home during those endless weeks between OB appointments. Would your doc let you stop in just for a 'heart beat check' whenever you needed some reassurance? Mine told me to come in when I was feeling anxious, and I took them up on it several times.

Elana Kahn said...

I loved my doppler. I forgot where I bought it, but I got it for pretty cheap. It made me feel so much better on those days when I was terrified something was wrong. Go for it, but don't be nervous just because you can't find the heartbeats on any given day...until like 20 weeks it can be really hard to find.

Two Moms, Two Monkeys said...

Hey there! We didn't get a doppler for two reasons. 1) I didn't want to stress if I couldn't find the heartbeat or only found one and not the other and 2) They started kicking earlier than usual so we decided as long as I felt them both move we didn't need one anyway. Remember that with twins it gets cramped in there a lot faster so you will feel them move (generally speaking) ahead of singleton moms.

Anyway, that is my two cents. I know the anxiety of not getting a weekly u/s after being spoiled with the RE, which is why we considered the doppler to begin with. The good news is, carrying twins means "high risk" so you get more u/s anyway. We have enough photos from our OB and RE that they have their own album with just u/s pics (32 in total).

Anonymous said...

C wants to get a doppler when the time comes; I'm ambivalent about it. Between the two of us she's the worrier, so I'll do it if it will put her mind at ease. :)

Unknown said...

We rented ours from Babybeat.

AdventuresInBabyMaking said...

Well w/ the caveat that I’m not in your position, I say do it. I have known many people who bought one for peace of mind and were glad that they did. I know some ppl are able to get the off Craigslist or ebay for a pretty reasonable price. But definitely get more input from people who have been there.

Pufferfish said...

We did and I'm glad. We were able to borrow one from another twin mom so I don't know the details of cost, etc. We started using it around...week 11 or 12? I would have to look back at my blog, but you probably already have! I stopped using it when I started feeling movement around 17 or 18 weeks, I think. We only used it once or twice a week but it really gave us peace of mind.

Strawberry said...

We did not get a doppler, and while it may have eased our fears, we just held on until my wife started feeling movement (which happened right at 20 weeks), and from then on, we were golden. So if you think you can hang on until movement, you can save yourself a purchase :)

Anonymous said...

I didn;t use one, but just because I didn;t even know I could! Because I am so well padded it was hard enough for my midwife to get the HB on the doppler (it was 13 weeks before she could) and so I don't think I would have because I would have become totally obessive...

If it will bring you peace of mind I say go for it!

As for the no symptoms, you are one very, very, VERY lucky lady! Maybe this is your prize for undergoing what you had to undergo in your IF jounrey!

boo said...

We did buy a doppler (off of ebay). We tried to be very conservative in our use (used it maybe 5 times total) but it was a great comfort to know that we did have it in case we started to panic. Justine's morning sickness was so intense for so long that we didn't worry as much as we thought we would.

Unknown said...

We rented the doppler from Baby Beat. Its 3 months for about $75. We listen every day...but in the beginning we made a pact not to listen at night, just in case it was hard to find we wouldnt go to bed with the fear. Now that its easier we listen in the morning and at night. sometimes it sounds close and sometimes far away. its kinda neat to imagine what s/he is doing in there.

Lisa said...

We didn't get one only because we had the luxury of being able to call our midwife whenever we felt anxious and he would bring us in to listen to the baby's heartbeat. I only took him up on this offer once but it was nice to know I had it if I needed it. Now had we gone with our OB where I wouldn't have had that same luxury, I would have considered one. However, my only fear was that I'd freak out if I couldn't hear the heartbeat. I think you can tell yourself before you check each time that there may be a possiblity that you won't hear the heartbeat because it's difficult to find and not because there's something wrong with the baby, I'd go for it.

mama bea, bao in the oven said...

Ugh, I don't know. When we were in the ER, the nurse, who had something that's probably WAY easier to use than an at-home doppler, took FOREVER to find the effing heartbeat, and she had a hard time distinguishing between mine and the baby's. I'd imagine that would be exponentially harder with twins. Those few moments were just so awful. After that experience, I can't imagine ever trying to do that at home. But if you can get past the first few times of utter, paralyzing fear when you can't find the heartbeat, it may be worth it if it would put your mind at ease.

I think the fact that your doc is comfortable enough with your pregnancy that a scan isn't necessary at this point is a good sign.