Question about doppler usage at 13 weeks?

[Nosy_Cow]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post but the 1st tri section just doesn't feel right to be posting it. I normally post in the stillbirth section but I feel it's something I can't post there either.

I have an AngelSounds Doppler and since about 10 weeks I've been able to pick up baby's HB straight away without any problems. I first heard the HB earlier on around 9 weeks but it wasn't easy to find at that stage.

On Monday I had a small bleed. It wasn't a big bleed nor heavy bleed but I'd say about a tea spoon full with 3-4 small clots in. I reported this to the out of hours doctor (it took me about 4 hours to actually speak to someone) and he said I was to take it easy for a couple of days.

I tried the doppler.... nothing. All I could hear was sort of bubbling noises in one area (I'm guessing movements???).

I spoke to my MW the following morning and she said she couldn't listen in to the HB until after 14 weeks but I was welcome to come in next week. I tried the monitor again - I found a HB but it was only about 80BPM. I tried my HB 80BPM so I was obviously picking up the placenta and not baby.

Well I didn't try it again last night as I was worrying too much and alone. I am however going to try again tonight.

Two questions:
The bubbling noises? Are they movements? There is sometimes a wooshing noise too...
What should I do if I can't find it? I know what the MW will say.

Also any tips would be helpful! I never had a doppler first time round so this is a completly new experience for me!

 

[Babydance]

hey hun i had a doppler and like you used it from 9 weeks-ish, i had days when i couldnt find LO for a whole day and was stressed out my mind but then at bed time found it, for some reason i always found her at bed time.
Go lay in bed completely relax and try again only try for a max on 5-10 mins then try again later.
But as youve had a bleed can you not contact your EPU and see if you can get a scan? xxx
xx

 

[Babydance]

ps the bubbling noise is just the placenta xx

 

[Mindy_mini]

Hun at your stage, baby has lots of room to hide away in your pelvis and out of reach of the doopler.

In my experience, cord sounds like a whoosh but its at the rate of the fetal HB. Other whooshing sounds could well be movement or it could be your gastric movements.

I cant imagine what you've been through previously but i can understand why you are worrying. A close friend had a MMC and is now pregnant again and she is worried about everything.

As baby dance said, given your history and the recent bleed, you could try by passing your MW and speak to your EPU and see if they could scan you.

Try not to worry and keep strong
x

 

[Nosy_Cow]

Thank you babydance & mindy - esp for such a quick response!

I will try the bedtime thing. I found the bubbling noises in my friends tummy too (she's 19 weeks) and so thought it must be "normal"!

I went to the EPU early on in the pregnancy again due to a bleed. The doctors seem to have this impression that the bleeding doesn't matter because I've had it throughout. I'm not very impressed with the way I've been treated TBH. Early on I was treated brilliantly but now I'm almost in the 2nd tri I feel like they don't care! I have already said to my OH if I have any more bleeding I'm not going to bother phoning anyone but the EPU.

Thanks again

 

[fluffyblue]

I have an angel sounds and its a great doppler but I find if im not completely flat with an empty bladder I get zilch !

Yesterday I got it with a gentle push cus bubs was lying back to back with me, later on got nothing as it decided to lay on its back again. I have to use tons and tons of gel as im the larger lady lol!

 

[Mizze]

I asked this question in second tri when I couldnt find anything at the first time of using my doppler (at 15 weeks) basically the ladies there said - fullish bladder, LOADS of gel and baby is REALLY low down - try looking on your bikini line, and have the volume turned up high because the sound isnt that loud.

I found it almost straight away the both times ive used it after that both times baby was in the middle just above my bikini line

The wooshing noise is apparently the placenta

HTH

Mizze x

But remember baby can hide in all sorts of places if it doesnt want to be found!

 

[Beanbabe]

My sister is 14 weeks and yesterday her doctor could not find hb with doppler. She had a scan today and all is well. It can be hard to find. The doctor who scanned her today said they should only be used after 18 weeks cos its so hit and miss before that. Good luck

 

[Nosy_Cow]

Thanks for all your info girls.

Well last night I got in and lied down. I tried after a couple of minutes and found it straight away! I tried later in the evening sitting up and couldn't find it so from now on I'm going to try lying down!

Slightly confused as the placenta seems quite far away from baby (I expected them to be close together) but both found and checked against my own pulse. The "placenta" or the slower HB that I'm finding (80BPM) is my HB. The other HB I found was going a lot quicker when checked against my pulse. Didn't manage to get a BPM though because I didn't have a clock nearby! Going to get my BPM tonight!

Thanks again - huge weight off my shoulders!

 

[Mizze]

Good to know hon -and yes I forgot I always lie down when I use it

Mizze x