Thanks to the invention of the Baby Heartbeat Monitor (fetal doppler) it's now possible for expectant mothers (and fathers!) as well as doctors and midwives to listen to the growing baby's heartbeat, quickly and easily.
The benefits are many, not least the sense of reassurance it gives you between checkups.
There are many types of baby heartbeat monitors that are available to buy online now. The best of which is the Fetal Doppler which is like the ones used in most maternity units in hospitals today.
They consist of a "listening" probe that is connected to the main unit, which has a speaker so you can hear the heartbeat of your unborn baby.
Simply rub some of the gel provided on the probe and your abdomen and move the probe around until you hear your baby's heartbeat.
You need to be at least 12 weeks into your pregnancy before the heartbeat should be able to be heard. Although, this does depend on the model you use.
Most baby heartbeat monitor have the speaker so you and your partner can both listen both at the same time, but may also have the option of listening privately using headphones.
Some newer models also have the ability to record your baby's heartbeat too.
This really is a great feature as you can hook up the heartbeat monitor to your PC or laptop, download the audio file and then either burn it to disk or email it to your friends and family all over the world.
As with all products, it's best to check reviews online before you buy. This may help you avoid making the wrong choice or a costly mistake.
