What Is a Doppler Baby Monitor?

A doppler baby monitor uses doppler technology to pick up on and magnify the sound of your baby’s heartbeat. Most likely, your doctor uses a doppler baby monitor to listen to your baby’s heartbeat during your prenatal visits. The doctor measures the strength and frequency of your baby’s heartbeats to determine that the baby is healthy and growing well. This can be a special time for you as you begin to connect with your baby and visualize the growing person that the heart belongs to.

Doppler-type ultrasounds have been used for decades for a variety of medical purposes before the first use as a doppler baby monitor. They work by transmitting a frequency which bounces off an object and then returns at a different frequency. This frequency change can be measured and used to find things inside the body. It is very similar to the sonar technology used by ships to locate objects in the ocean.

For parents who want added reassurance between doctor visits that their baby is growing well, it makes sense to purchase a doppler baby monitor for use at home. Many doppler baby monitors for sale today are of as high quality as the ones used in the doctor or midwife’s office. The FDA has approved doppler technology for personal use, so there is no need to fear that listening to your baby often will affect the baby or the mother.

If the thought of owning a doppler baby monitor is appealing, but the thought of forking out the cash for it is not, consider renting one. Many hospitals now allow pregnant women to rent doppler baby monitors during their pregnancy for a reasonable fee.