Congratulations on your boys, Dandi and Babylove! I actually really wanted another boy, and was a little afraid when I heard I was having a girl, but came around to the idea pretty quickly.
I THOUGHT that I found the heartbeat with my doppler VERY easily the two times I tried yesterday. However, the rate seemed a little low, so I did some research and realized that what I had actually heard was the whoosh-whoosh sounds of blood flow through the placenta. I tried again today and, it took a few minutes, but I found the more distinct galloping horse pattern of the heartbeat at a faster rate. She kept moving away (hence my not wanting to harass her), but I found it a few more times before I put the thing away.
I also tried really hard not to buy one, but I think I will save me more stress than it will cause. I KNOW this baby will not be as active as my son, who first kicked me at 12 weeks and has literally not stopped moving since - even when he's sleeping. Nurses and doctors always commented during scans. Strangers on the street would look at my belly and ask if I was pregnant with Michael Flatly, Lord of the Dance. My ObGyn has already given me a pamphlet about "normal" fetal movements bc he said he knew I might worry. I knew I probably would anyway, and figured being able to hear the heartbeat would help. I knew I didn't want to get one too early, though. I also would have held off if the doctor hadn't found it quickly at my last appt.
. I knew that would be the case unless they couldn't find her heartbeat on the doppler, which would have terrified me. But, it was there right away and things still seem to be going well.
