One of the first things some mothers want to do after finding out they’re pregnant is to hear their baby’s heartbeat. Depending on how far into her pregnancy she is, this may only be possible with certain devices and enough time. Below, we take a closer look at the devices that can achieve this for both professional and personal use.

The Importance of the Fetal Heartbeat

The fetal heartbeat is one of the first and most essential markers of a healthy, growing pregnancy. Not only can hearing the heartbeat confirm a pregnancy, but it can open the door to how well the fetus is evolving. Each trimester, a doctor will listen closely to the beats per minute, rhythms, and the beat’s intensity to gain knowledge about pregnancy viability, gestational markers, and fetal positioning.

A mother may choose to limit her listening measures to the care and guidance of her overseeing professional, or she can invest in home-safe devices to equip herself or her partner with the tools to listen at any time. Regardless of these efforts, relying on a healthcare professional to oversee the heartbeat and any concerns is still important and should not go overlooked.

The most common ways to listen to your baby’s heartbeat include the following:

• Ultrasound technology
• Pinard horn fetoscope
• Fetoscope or stethoscope
• Fetal heart mobile apps
• Fetal monitoring system
• Professional fetal doppler

Below, we explore these six variations and offer insight into how to use them and the potential risks associated with each.

Ultrasound Technology

For most women, the first glance at their growing baby’s heart comes in the confirmation ultrasound, typically after a positive pregnancy test. While audible heartbeats don’t come until closer to ten weeks gestation, the first visual pitter-patter is noticeable between six and seven weeks gestation and either confirms or denies a healthy implanted fetus.

A provider commonly uses transvaginal ultrasound technology to help with clarity in the first half of the first trimester. The transvaginal ultrasound is a wand-like instrument that works by scanning internally, as opposed to an abdominal ultrasound that scans externally. Doctors often use abdominal ultrasounds from eight weeks or more gestation and onward. The provider will apply a cool gel to the mother’s belly and then place the probe accordingly to begin scanning the pregnancy.

Regardless of ultrasound techniques, a provider can learn a variety of things, such as gestational sac size, position, heart rates, and gender.

Pinard Horn

A Pinard horn is one of the safest heartbeat listening devices on the market, suitable for in-home and professional medical use. Midwives commonly carry a Pinard horn in their supply bag because of its portability when patients are at home, in a birth center, or at a hospital. There are wooden and metal horns available, though the most common today is metal, and the most common throughout history is wooden. A Pinard horn gets its name from its shape—a horn with a cone-like end for the mother’s belly and a listening end for the practitioner.

Because the horn is manual and without technological advancement, it cannot pick up the sounds of a baby’s heartbeat until about 20 weeks gestation. A midwife can help a mother learn how to use the horn for in-home use so a loved one can listen to the baby’s heartbeat.

Fetoscope or Stethoscope

More experienced providers will use a fetoscope or fetal stethoscope at almost every appointment beginning in the second trimester. The fetoscope is a cross between modern modalities and a Pinard horn and is a safe, risk-free alternative to fetal heartbeat listening.

A fetoscope’s shape is typically like a standard stethoscope, but the cone-shaped device goes on the mother’s belly, and the provider’s listening device plugs into their ears. Because a fetoscope has a more intricate design compared to a Pinard horn, provider experience plays a role in overall audible success.

Fetal Heart Mobile Apps

Fetal heart monitoring mobile apps exist, and while you may find success once or twice, it’s worth taking a certain level of caution. You will see a long list of downloadable options in your phone carrier’s app store. These apps promise to work by using your device’s microphone to magnify your baby’s heartbeat and transmit it through the device, similar to a doppler device.

The issue with these mobile apps is the wide window of inaccuracies and how much stress or fear can occur. It’s always best to consult your overseeing provider before considering these apps. Avoiding unnecessary stress is critical while pregnant.

Fetal Monitoring System

The fetal monitoring system typically doesn’t become a factor until later in pregnancy or during labor. Its primary benefits are non-stress tests of the baby and monitoring the mother’s contractions during labor. When the monitor is on the mother, she must remain still in her bed or chair to avoid altering the system’s results.

Commonly, the fetal monitoring system is an external monitoring device that wraps around the mother’s belly with a listening attachment that functions like an ultrasound probe. These systems are more intricate than most other heartbeat-measuring or listening devices and require a care provider’s presence while the system is on and running.

Professional Fetal Doppler

One of the most common ways to listen to your baby’s heartbeat is through a professional fetal doppler. You may see a fetal doppler sporadically throughout your pregnancy as it is a convenient device for midwives and doctors. These small handheld devices use ultrasound technology to capture the baby’s internal sound wave.

The sound waves emit a heartbeat-like sound, similar to horses galloping, and offer a digital translation on the device’s screen. The probe scans the mother’s belly like an ultrasound machine, but it doesn’t offer visuals other than a numeric heart rate value.

Cascade’s Supplies

At Cascade Health Care, we honor the importance of hearing a baby’s heartbeat, whether at home or in a medical facility. We offer a wide range of devices, from dopplers, Pinard horns, fetoscopes, and more, in our comprehensive selection of medical supplies online. Browse our distinct selection of industry-leading, trusted supplies to equip your facility or care practice with the heartbeat tools you need and a mother deserves.