Couldn't find heartbeat for the first time :: Update: lack of gel was the problem

WantsALittle1 · Mar 30th, 2012, 23:18 PM

I was on a very bumpy bus today and I got tossed around a bit so I wanted to make sure that baby was okay when I got home.

I am 11+2 and have found the heartbeat every time I've searched since 9+4 but today it was nowhere to be heard. I was unable to find the Doppler gel and had to use it dry , and am *hoping* that is why I couldn't find it, but am still worried since this has never happened before. OB found it in less than 5 seconds on Wednesday, so it scares me that I can't find it today...

AlwaysPraying · Mar 30th, 2012, 23:45 PM

You have to use the gel for sure. I wouldn't even bother trying without. Be patient and try again.

dfavbaby · Mar 31st, 2012, 00:06 AM

The gel def helps with sound.
Relax and try again with lotion or any water based gel product

cheshire · Mar 31st, 2012, 00:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WantsALittle1

I was on a very bumpy bus today and I got tossed around a bit so I wanted to make sure that baby was okay when I got home.

Baby probably loved the bumpy bus ride, probably put them to sleep. Don't worry about it!

Home dopplers are tricky for this, you panic when you hear nothing. Just try again a little later, the baby might not be in a good position, or like someone else said, you needed gel.

Shezza84uk · Mar 31st, 2012, 01:22 AM

Baby might have changed positions due to being bumped around they can be little fidget bottoms try not to worry as they are very protected in there. I had a scan this week and baby was in an awkward position so sonographer said to get up and wiggle about and sure enough baby changed positions x

mumof1+1 · Mar 31st, 2012, 03:17 AM

I agree with an above post, you *must* use gel. I ran out and briefly used a lotion, it did work by by heck it was so much clearer when my gel came. Im sure all is ok and baby will have loved the bumpy ride

At this stage they can still hide, im 12+3 now and sometimes i can find mine then it shoots away!!! It does make me chuckle... xxx

Katteh · Mar 31st, 2012, 03:21 AM

What others said... You should use the gel.

Also, a bumpy bus ride is not going to hurt your baby.... If they were so fragile then the human race would have died out years ago.

Emerald87 · Mar 31st, 2012, 03:54 AM

It's not a matter of "should" use gel, you HAVE to. You wont even heard your own pulses without gel. It's essential for the conduction of sound waves.
If you use gel and then can't find it - meh, that's fine too. You're 9+4. After I found mine at 8+3 I lost it until 9+6!!! It's only now at 10+2 that I can find it easily.

Jobean03 · Mar 31st, 2012, 07:55 AM

http://www.fetaldopplerfacts.org/fac...oppler-use.php - This has some good info on using gel with your doppler.

Besides the lack of gel, it could be that you wouldn't have found the heartbeat today anyway for whatever reason. You're looking for a really tiny little spot and this early on, you won't necessarily find it every time (or at all, many ladies have to wait until they're a bit further on).

Try not to make yourself too worried about this. The doppler can be a reassuring thing but it can also be a source of confusion and worry. If you're not a medical professional, you're really just taking your best guess on how to use it, so the issue is likely the doppler (no gel) or "operator error" =) The baby is likely just fine if the heartbeat was audible just a few days ago.

WantsALittle1 · Apr 1st, 2012, 21:35 PM

Thank you all so very much, and I think you were absolutely right about the gel being the problem. Just looked for baby again at 11+4 and found him within 30 seconds using a water-based lubricant (still haven't found my Doppler gel). Now I know not to even try without gel!

Mar 30th, 2012, 23:18 PM	#1
WantsALittle1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States Posts: 901	Couldn't find heartbeat for the first time :: Update: lack of gel was the problem I was on a very bumpy bus today and I got tossed around a bit so I wanted to make sure that baby was okay when I got home. I am 11+2 and have found the heartbeat every time I've searched since 9+4 but today it was nowhere to be heard. I was unable to find the Doppler gel and had to use it dry , and am hoping that is why I couldn't find it, but am still worried since this has never happened before. OB found it in less than 5 seconds on Wednesday, so it scares me that I can't find it today...

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Mar 30th, 2012, 23:45 PM	#2
AlwaysPraying Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,147	You have to use the gel for sure. I wouldn't even bother trying without. Be patient and try again.

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Mar 31st, 2012, 00:06 AM	#3
dfavbaby Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,089	The gel def helps with sound. Relax and try again with lotion or any water based gel product

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Mar 31st, 2012, 01:22 AM	#5
Shezza84uk Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: In an enchanted land far, far away Posts: 1,787	Baby might have changed positions due to being bumped around they can be little fidget bottoms try not to worry as they are very protected in there. I had a scan this week and baby was in an awkward position so sonographer said to get up and wiggle about and sure enough baby changed positions x

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Mar 31st, 2012, 03:17 AM	#6
mumof1+1 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,479	I agree with an above post, you must use gel. I ran out and briefly used a lotion, it did work by by heck it was so much clearer when my gel came. Im sure all is ok and baby will have loved the bumpy ride At this stage they can still hide, im 12+3 now and sometimes i can find mine then it shoots away!!! It does make me chuckle... xxx

Status: Offline

Mar 31st, 2012, 03:21 AM	#7
Katteh Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 758	What others said... You should use the gel. Also, a bumpy bus ride is not going to hurt your baby.... If they were so fragile then the human race would have died out years ago.

Status: Online

Mar 31st, 2012, 03:54 AM	#8
Emerald87 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 3,210	It's not a matter of "should" use gel, you HAVE to. You wont even heard your own pulses without gel. It's essential for the conduction of sound waves. If you use gel and then can't find it - meh, that's fine too. You're 9+4. After I found mine at 8+3 I lost it until 9+6!!! It's only now at 10+2 that I can find it easily.

Status: Offline

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:55 AM	#9
Jobean03 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: U.S. Posts: 1,004	http://www.fetaldopplerfacts.org/fac...oppler-use.php - This has some good info on using gel with your doppler. Besides the lack of gel, it could be that you wouldn't have found the heartbeat today anyway for whatever reason. You're looking for a really tiny little spot and this early on, you won't necessarily find it every time (or at all, many ladies have to wait until they're a bit further on). Try not to make yourself too worried about this. The doppler can be a reassuring thing but it can also be a source of confusion and worry. If you're not a medical professional, you're really just taking your best guess on how to use it, so the issue is likely the doppler (no gel) or "operator error" =) The baby is likely just fine if the heartbeat was audible just a few days ago.

Status: Offline

Apr 1st, 2012, 21:35 PM	#10
WantsALittle1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States Posts: 901	Thank you all so very much, and I think you were absolutely right about the gel being the problem. Just looked for baby again at 11+4 and found him within 30 seconds using a water-based lubricant (still haven't found my Doppler gel). Now I know not to even try without gel!

Status: Offline

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