If you are considering a fetal doppler...

[shedreamsincolor]

One vote over here for don't do it. At least not this early. I got mine on Saturday and vowed I wouldn't use it until at least 10 weeks (was 9w2d). That resolve lasted 6 hours. I've since tried 3 more times without any success. I had a good ultrasound at 7w6d and no signs since then to indicate something's wrong. So for now just going to shelve it until my appointment on Thursday. This has caused me way too much anxiety and honestly I wish I hadn't bought one

[kleigh]

Boooo! I'm sorry you couldn't pick anything up and that it only caused more anxiety . I could never cave and buy one because (a) if I couldn't pick it up then id be a nervous anxious wreck or on the other hand (b) if I did pick it up I'd obsess and do it like once an hour.

[cookswithwine9]

I think I would also panic if I didn't hear anything so I think I'm going to pass on the home Doppler...

[goldenlove3]

I'm sorry shedreamsincolor but try not to worry! You're still so early. If it makes you feel any better, I tried mine twice and haven't been able to find anything yet either. I'm chalking it up to having no idea wtf I'm doing with it. I'm going to wait a few more days and try again with a full bladder since I've read that helps.

[shedreamsincolor]

Thanks for the support ladies. I'm waiting for my midwife to call back...called to find out if I have an anterior placenta because if so it would be almost impossible to find right now. Will make me feel better if that's the case. *fingers crossed*

[cheshie6]

goldenlove3, I've heard that too! My NT scan is during week 12w5d and they still want me to have a full bladder.

I thought dopplers didn't work well before 12-13 weeks, but I can't remember where I read that but it's not recommended before because of this exact reason. If I remember right, it has to do with the Hertz (sorry engineer) and a baby's heartbeat isn't loud enough for what you can pick up on the home dopplers. What you have at home is usually only 3 hz but what's at a hospital they have a range (1-5 Hz) so they can pick up the smallest sounds. You may just have to wait till after 12 weeks.

[sophiegrace]

I've never thought to buy one because we have a few medical grade dopplers at work. @chesie6 is right about the strength and sensitivity of it and since they're is so much room for the babe to move at this point it's hard to hit a moving target, especially when you're guessing to begin with. In all honestly though, the only reason I haven't tried to find it at work is because I'm scared of one of the employees catching me lol.

[sophiegrace]

The differing opinions blow my mind @chesie6 and goldenlove3. Last NT scan I went with a full bladder because everywhere online said to do so and they didn't specify when I made the appointment. Not only did they say it wasn't necessary, but that it's terrible to ever hold your bladder while pregnant because we're at such a higher risk for developing UTI's. Frustrating.

[shedreamsincolor]

Apr 18, 2016 11:36:52 GMT -5 sophiegrace said:

In all honestly though, the only reason I haven't tried to find it at work is because I'm scared of one of the employees catching me lol.

[/br] sophiegrace - I work in an ER and have access to bedside ultrasound every shift. It is so tempting! However I've thought about this a lot and honestly if I'm going to get bad news the last place I would want to be is at work. So for now, I'm making it a non-option.

[cheshie6]

Apr 18, 2016 11:40:55 GMT -5 sophiegrace said:

The differing opinions blow my mind @chesie6 and goldenlove3. Last NT scan I went with a full bladder because everywhere online said to do so and they didn't specify when I made the appointment. Not only did they say it wasn't necessary, but that it's terrible to ever hold your bladder while pregnant because we're at such a higher risk for developing UTI's. Frustrating.

The lady who made my appointment specifically told me to have a full bladder!

[sophiegrace]

Apr 18, 2016 20:05:06 GMT -5 cheshie6 said:

Apr 18, 2016 11:40:55 GMT -5 sophiegrace said:

The differing opinions blow my mind @chesie6 and goldenlove3. Last NT scan I went with a full bladder because everywhere online said to do so and they didn't specify when I made the appointment. Not only did they say it wasn't necessary, but that it's terrible to ever hold your bladder while pregnant because we're at such a higher risk for developing UTI's. Frustrating.

The lady who made my appointment specifically told me to have a full bladder!

I think literally every place but mine had you come with a full bladder. I'm still going with one and asking before they scan me. Much easier to go run to the bathroom than it is to chug water and wait for my bladder to fill!

[hangry]

Also re: full bladder
I have always been told to have a full bladder before an US. Even a non-pregnancy related uS. What's funny is that at my last one, she started the US and then asked what I was there for today. I was like, uhhhh, early pregnancy. Then she's like, Ohhhh! I didn't see it at first cause your bladder was so full. Thanks for giving me a heart attack lady. And also makes me wonder why it needs to be so full if she couldn't even see what she wants to?!

[kleigh]

This is so odd, I've never been told to have a I'll bladder. In fact the opposite, I've always been told/offered to empty my bladder before ultrasounds.

ETA: "Odd" as in how it differs among people/places

[goldenlove3]

kleigh For vag cams, my RE office always asked if I need to empty my bladder. The only time I needed to have a full bladder was for my egg transfer because they used an abdominal US. Maybe that's the difference?

[kleigh]

Apr 20, 2016 7:48:00 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

kleigh For vag cams, my RE office always asked if I need to empty my bladder. The only time I needed to have a full bladder was for my egg transfer because they used an abdominal US. Maybe that's the difference?

Even for the abdominal one I just had at my OB they had me empty my bladder. But that was just one time event.

[peanutmuse]

Transvaginal ultrasounds require empty bladders.

Traditional pelvic ultrasounds typically start out with full bladders because it helps push the intestines out of the way. But the full bladder is not always necessary for every single person.

Regardless of the imaging center or doctor's preference, that is the reason for the full bladder. And like sophiegrace said, it's easier to empty your bladder than try to fill it quickly.

[peanutmuse]

shedreamsincolor, if you read literature about home fetal Dopplers, they highly recommend not using it before 12 weeks.

I am one who highly recommends using one, especially if you have PgAL. I was able to find my son's heartbeat regularly from 10 weeks on, despite having an anterior placenta. If you carry extra weight, or your uterus is tilted, or if you have any other physical factors like that, it can impact the effectiveness of the Doppler.

There is no blanket, one size fits all for anyone when it comes to pregnancy or raising a child. Don't assume that just because it didn't work for one person, that it will be the same for you. And vice versa.

[peanutmuse]

Apr 20, 2016 8:35:22 GMT -5 tgrimes1980 said:

Apr 20, 2016 8:21:21 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Transvaginal ultrasounds require empty bladders.

Traditional pelvic ultrasounds typically start out with full bladders because it helps push the intestines out of the way. But the full bladder is not always necessary for every single person.

Regardless of the imaging center or doctor's preference, that is the reason for the full bladder. And like sophiegrace said, it's easier to empty your bladder than try to fill it quickly.

This isn't always true.  With DD I had to have a full bladder for my first transvaginal ultrasound because they were measuring the length of my cervix, along with some other things.  I remember being terrified that I was going to pee on the tech's hand.  She told me it's only happened a few times.  LOL!

Ok... I will amend, transvaginal ultrasounds *typically* require empty bladders.

(I have had in the neighborhood of 70-80 vag scans. Each one of them required an empty bladder. ETA: Including six this week, as a matter of fact. Haha.)

[shedreamsincolor]

peanutmuse. I agree different for everyone. I am thin and have easily found fetal heart tones on patients who are my gestation at work. So I think I had inappropriate expectations for being able to find it this early. And now, unfortunately, until i find heart tones at home, my midwife finds them at an appointment, or I have another ultrasound, I am assuming the worst. So posted mostly just as a warning to people who were considering using one this early, especially with a loss history, that it may not be the anxiety panacea you are hoping for.

ETA: I am still a believer that they may be helpful later on. I am very hopeful that it will help me get through from 12 weeks to my loss milestone at 16 weeks

[peanutmuse]

Apr 20, 2016 12:15:34 GMT -5 shedreamsincolor said:

peanutmuse . I agree different for everyone. I am thin and have easily found fetal heart tones on patients who are my gestation at work. So I think I had inappropriate expectations for being able to find it this early. And now, unfortunately, until i find heart tones at home, my midwife finds them at an appointment, or I have another ultrasound, I am assuming the worst. So posted mostly just as a warning to people who were considering using one this early, especially with a loss history, that it may not be the anxiety panacea you are hoping for.

ETA: I am still a believer that they may be helpful later on. I am very hopeful that it will help me get through from 12 weeks to my loss milestone at 16 weeks

I absolutely agree with you on doing it too early, and understand how you feel, 100%.

[shedreamsincolor]

I finally freaking found it!! Now I'm putting this damn thing on the shelf until I'm 12 weeks. Wowwwwwza. Thanks for sticking with me through the crazy, ladies.

[calindi]

Apr 18, 2016 20:24:13 GMT -5 sophiegrace said:

Apr 18, 2016 20:05:06 GMT -5 cheshie6 said:

The lady who made my appointment specifically told me to have a full bladder!

I think literally every place but mine had you come with a full bladder. I'm still going with one and asking before they scan me. Much easier to go run to the bathroom than it is to chug water and wait for my bladder to fill!

Count me in as having doctors who frown on holding your bladder. But they also have an in office ultrasound machine so if they couldn't pick up the heartbeat on Doppler, they'd whip out the ultrasound to check.

[peanutmuse]

Apr 21, 2016 5:58:59 GMT -5 calindi said:

Apr 18, 2016 20:24:13 GMT -5 sophiegrace said:

I think literally every place but mine had you come with a full bladder. I'm still going with one and asking before they scan me. Much easier to go run to the bathroom than it is to chug water and wait for my bladder to fill!

Count me in as having doctors who frown on holding your bladder. But they also have an in office ultrasound machine so if they couldn't pick up the heartbeat on Doppler, they'd whip out the ultrasound to check.

The holding of the urine really doesn't have anything to do with the Doppler, though. The conversation about that was related to ultrasounds only. In general, doctors won't ever want you to hold urine, except for specific testing. That's a general rule. No one wants to encourage UTIs!

[calindi]

peanutmuse - no, I meant for ultrasounds or anything. Even my RE with ultrasounds at 6 and 8 weeks told me to pee frequently, not hold it.

[peanutmuse]

Apr 21, 2016 14:28:36 GMT -5 calindi said:

peanutmuse - no, I meant for ultrasounds or anything. Even my RE with ultrasounds at 6 and 8 weeks told me to pee frequently, not hold it.

Ok. I only made the comment that I did because you specifically referenced Dopplers and water.

[goldenlove3]

Apr 21, 2016 14:49:45 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Apr 21, 2016 14:28:36 GMT -5 calindi said:

peanutmuse - no, I meant for ultrasounds or anything. Even my RE with ultrasounds at 6 and 8 weeks told me to pee frequently, not hold it.

Ok. I only made the comment that I did because you specifically referenced Dopplers and water.

I think the whole thing started because I said I was going to try the doppler again with a full bladder. I read it might help to find the heartbeat. 

[goldenlove3]

I found the heartbeat today! I only got it for about 5 seconds then he must have moved because I couldn't find it again. I teared up when I heard it! Hopefully it'll get easier in the coming weeks.

[peanutmuse]

Apr 21, 2016 17:35:13 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Apr 21, 2016 14:49:45 GMT -5 peanutmuse said:

Ok. I only made the comment that I did because you specifically referenced Dopplers and water.

I think the whole thing started because I said I was going to try the doppler again with a full bladder. I read it might help to find the heartbeat. 

The larger discussion was about ultrasounds and water within this thread, though. This is going in circles and it's not really important either way. Doctors have their own ways of doing things. It all works out in the end.