A fetal heart monitor refers to a handheld Doppler device that doctors and other people in general use to listen to the heart of a baby during pregnancy. The device works based on ultrasound technology by sending sound waves through the mother’s belly tissue to the fetus. Doctors use these devices during the beginning of the second trimester because they want to determine if the baby has a normal heart rate and rhythm. Knowing the heart rate and rhythm of the baby is very important because it tells doctors if the baby is growing and developing okay or not.
After the first fetal heart rate monitor, the doctor will do the same check every time a pregnant woman goes back to the hospital for normal checkup.
Reasons your practitioner will use a fetal heart monitor during your pregnancy
The monitoring of a baby’s heartbeat is done for several reasons. The main reasons why doctors perform fetal heart monitoring is to check the heart rate of the fetus. The monitoring is also used to monitor the rhythm of the baby’s heart. Lastly, it is used to assess the overall health of the baby utero. When the doctor is able to know the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat of the baby, they can gain insight into the overall health of the baby. That is why a doctor will always perform this test when you go for your normal clinic checkups.
Doctors use fetal heart monitors regardless of whether you have a low-risk or high-risk pregnancy. However, in high-risk pregnancies, doctors perform fetal Doppler monitoring to keep track of the health of the baby. This doesn’t mean that if the doctor performs this test that it means there is something wrong with you or your baby. In most cases, it is usually just routine.
What happens when your baby is tracked in utero with a Doppler?
The process of monitoring your baby’ heartbeat in a doctor’s office is simple and very straight forward. First, the doctor will ask you to remove the clothes you came in with and wear a hospital gown. With the hospital gown on, the doctor will ask you to lie down on an exam table. The doctor will then apply ultrasound gel on your belly so that they can get a better reading. Next, the doctor will use a Doppler, which is a hand-held device that they place on the belly of the subject. They will continue to move the device around on your belly until they hear the sound of your baby’s heartbeat.
After your baby’s heartbeat is detected, the doctor will wipe off the gel from your stomach and ask you to dress up because that marks the end of the process.
Last words…
Fetal heart Doppler monitoring is a very useful process that you should not ignore. The process is very simple and you should not be worried about anything because it only takes a minute to get it done.
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