Let me preface by saying I recognize this was a stupid move.
But, in spite of my better judgement, I rented a doppler. First time I used it, I heard the woosh-woosh that they say is blood going through the placenta and the monitor registered something at 156. I told myself that even though I couldn't hear it, the monitor picked it up, so it must be there.
Last two times, I hear the woosh-woosh, but nothing else. And I've decided that monitor part is a piece of crap. Every few seconds it changes numbers, ranging from the 60's all the way to 180's. And that's with it in the same spot.
Now what I'm telling myself (and please don't burst my bubble), is that the placenta is blocking the baby. That's why I only hear that. Delusional perhaps, but it is the only thing that is allowing me to sleep at night. Plus, the manual very clearly says that you most likely will not hear anything in the first trimester. I have just read about so many people hearing the heartbeat around 9 weeks. I'm also telling myself (again, if you know what's good for you, don't disagree with me) that my belly bloat is getting in the way.
But it still makes the DBT's run rampant through my head. I've become really attached to this little thing and would like it to come join our family in September.
If anyone else hasn't been able to hear anything this early, let me know. I don't want to be one of those crazy women who calls the OB over this...because I know they'll be mad at me. The dr told me that they were for professionals to use. (I decided that injections and shots are typically for the professionals too and if they let me do that, I might as well get to do some of the fun stuff too).
Thanks for reading about all my neurosis!
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19 comments:
Don't worry! (I know, yeah, right!) But I am sure that this is not a scientific reason for DBT. I mean, right now you are looking for such a tiny little heart with lots of other stuff in the way. It is awfully early for you to be able to hear anything at all.
Hey, call the doctor! You are paying them your money. Think of it as a service like any other service. If they get mad at you, take your insurance money to another doctor. They are charging you plenty of money, make them work for it. :)
I think you should call your doctor as you won't be able to get a restful wink of sleep until you are sure. I feel for you, I have never been P but once there I think I will be terrified.
I'd forget about feeling stupid and call the doc. It's better than spending the whole time until your next appointment panicking, right?
I'm totally steering clear of the dopplers though. I'm driving myself crazy with dead baby thoughts as it is. If I'm not going to the bathroom to pee, I'm heading there just to make sure I'm not bleeding!
So you are at about 10 weeks right? When I went in for my 12-13 week appt, my OB could not find the heartbeat with the doppler and sent me for an u/s. She warned me ahead of time that she does not always hear a heartbeat that EARLY and she stressed early. I asked her her thoughts on me renting a doppler and she strongly advised against it as it is hard to find the heartbeat. The baby can be in so many different positions etc that it can just cause unnecessary worry. At my later appointments she would find the heartbeat and then baby would move and she'd have to chase her around to find her again. So please don't worry!! Even the OB's have trouble finding the heartbeat!!
I think it might be a faulty machine, maybe a lose wire?
If you are stressing over it, call your doctor. You don't need any added stress.
1) This is not a crazy reason to call the OB. In fact, it should be one of the most common ones they encounter, and they should also react by telling you to come in for a listen.
2) It's very hard to pick up this early, and if placenta is in the way, forget it. However, if you are a glutton for punishment and want to try again, you want to push pretty hard, pointing downwards, about a finger length (although mine are short) below the belly button and straight at where the pubic bones meet. This is so NOT the intuitive spot you want to be aiming at, but this is where it is most commonly heard.
It might make you feel better to call the ob and to go in for a listen. Once they find it, you will know what spot to look in yourself. or maybe even bring yours to the appointment and have them help you find it with it.
BTW, my OB's nurse refuses to even try to listen before 10 weeks. She says it never works. And that is with their massive doplers.
Good luck.
It is sometimes possible to get a doppler HB at 9 weeks but far more often isn't.
You also have to do it with a full bladder and be very precise-the heart is tiny.
J
Ah, the doppler. Ranks right up there with the evil pee sticks, but the stakes are perhaps even higher.
My thoughts for you:
1) It was not a stupid move to get a doppler.
2) The placenta is blocking the baby (just like you think it is).
3) Your wildly attractive belly bloat is getting in the way of getting a proper reading (just like you think it is).
4) DBTs are evil things, please try to keep them to a bare minimum.5) BE THAT CRAZY WOMAN who calls the OB 5 times a day. Who cares what they think? What will they do -- post a bouncer at the door behind a velvet rope and not allow you in? Nope. So maybe they will roll their eyes when you aren't looking but who cares? THEY aren't the ones who are currently carrying around this amazing, precious cargo that you need some positive feedback concerning (like, oh I don't know, a nice strong and loud heartbeat).
Call the doctor to calm yourself down...I had a friend who is a nurse who would find an empty storeroom and lie down to use the doppler. Even when she was far along in her pregnancy, she couldn't always find it...I don't think it's abnormal, but let's try to stave off the DBT's. Good luck!
Ok so I'm not that sure about the doppler thing and when you could hear it etc but I admit I would be right there at work with the doppler and checking to see what I could hear. However, if this is making you nervous (and it is) call your doctor. Who cares if they are mad or think you're nuts. Like others have pointed out, you are paying them good money to take care of you and there are plenty of other doctors you can go to and take your money to. Hang in there.
I'm just over 12 weeks and still can't hear anything at all. Granted, I'm a big fat girl.. but still. I also have fat friends who said they could hear it as early as 10 weeks..
My OB told me it might be TWENTY before a home doppler might work for me (Again- me= really fat.)
I'm telling you. Tom Cruise might be crazy, but if I were rich, don't think I wouldn't be having an ultrasound every couple of days.
Godd luck girl!
Don't worry! But also don't hesitate to call the doctor because trying to talk yourself out of your own fear is hard. It's very early. My OB doesn't even try with the doppler until 12 weeks, and even then they say that it might not be possible to find it.
And thanks for your comforting words on my blog!
Oh, those DBTs! I keep debating whether I'd ever get a doppler. I hope all of your explanations are good ones!
I can't give any words of wisdom but I can tell you if it was me I would call the OB. It's your baby and your body and if you want to call them 5 times a day then so be it!
I feel you on this one. My first doppler attempt was successful and gave me a false sense of faith with respect to the efficacy (and sanity-maintaining potential) of the damn machine. Today's efforts were far less satisfying and did little (read: nothing) to ease my DBTs. Apparently this is why doctors tell pregnant women not to get their own dopplers.
For now, I'm going with placenta in the way theory. The one thing that made me feel better was when my friend who is 20 weeks told me this morning that when she was at the hospital 2 weeks ago (cramps), they couldn't find the heartbeat with a hospital quality doppler and had to wheel in the ultrasound machine (baby was fine). This is probably the one thing that kept me from calling the doctor in full on freak out mode. I'm actually feeling much calmer now.
Which doppler do you have? I have this one: http://tinyurl.com/362m7v.
We will get through this!!
My wife always says, we're paying them over 10 grand, they can be bothered a little bit to answer some questions!
at the clinic where i do prenatals, we don't even try to find a hb with doppler b4 12 wks.
I wish I had some advice, but I don't! My first experience with the doppler was yesterday and I was 12w2d. My OB found the heartbeats, but it wasn't easy. Still, I don't think it's bad if you call them with your concerns. I bet all is fine - there is just a skill in using those devices.
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