If you are pregnant and want to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, a fetal monitor is a right choice for you. Until some time ago, it was necessary to go to the gynecologist to do it, but today it is possible to enjoy this possibility at any time.
A device designed to meet the needs of the most anxious mothers, to make them feel comfortable and help them in their new special adventure. In this article, you will find useful tips on what to evaluate for the purchase of the fetal monitor suitable for you.
Here we had selected some of the best fetal monitors that are given below.
Fetal Monitors Buyer Guide
How Does a Fetal Monitor Work?
A fetal monitor creates ultrasound frequency waves that allow you to hear those sounds that are generally muffled and hidden by the presence of the liquid and the bag that contains the fetus, in addition to the barriers constituted by the mother’s belly.
The fetal monitor uses the Doppler effect to create ultrasound frequency waves, the echo of which bounces off the internal organs of the body so as to allow the auscultation of even deeper sounds.
Using it to listen to the heartbeat of the fetus requires some practice in order to distinguish it from other movements inside the belly, such as the kicks of the baby or the blood that flows. The detection period can start from the twelfth week when it is necessary to have a full bladder to perform an accurate check.
The Doppler must be moved slowly and, after each movement, it is necessary to stop a few seconds to have a good reflex signal. The best brand allows you to connect the device to a recorder or to the PC, through a cable that carries the audio track.
From the twelfth week, it will be possible to start listening to the baby’s heartbeat, learning to distinguish it from its movements, or from the flowing blood. The monitor is a very sensitive tool and to use it at its best it will take a few minutes of practice.
How to Use It?
To use a monitor in the right way it is important to perform the correct movements and move slowly, stopping after each movement to try to detect cardiac activity.
Take some time and do everything calmly, so you can familiarize yourself with the appliance. The most innovative models allow you to connect the Doppler to your computer or a recorder.
A monitor is a tool for professional use, revised to make it suitable for home use, this is not a game and therefore we advise you to be wary of the models that cost very little and have functions that go beyond listening to the beat of the newborn.
The Most Important Features
A good quality monitor must comply with European safety standards in order to guarantee complete safety for the baby and his mother. The presence of a guarantee is a symptom of reliability and reassures the buyer in case of failure or problems with the product.
A quality monitor also has probes that can be changed for hygienic reasons and an indicator that indicates when it is time to change the batteries. Finally, in order not to miss anything, don’t forget the ultrasonic gel, often included in the best product
Identify the Main Factors
When deciding which fetal monitor to buy, it is appropriate to rank the factors that indicate its quality. Comparing prices can be a useful element, although it must be remembered that, if the model was chosen has fun functions and costs little, the selection is probably not the best one.
Instead, it will be a valid object if it meets some criteria: first of all, it must comply with European safety standards, so as not to put mother or child at risk. The presence of a guarantee ensures that you are not left alone in case of problems and that the company will intervene when necessary.
The probes must be large enough to allow changing for hygiene reasons and the low battery indicator is useful for knowing when to put the device in charge. Another plus point is the presence of the ultrasonic gel, which should be included in the package, allowing you to save on its purchase.
A Few More Precautions
Since this is an element that will not be used for nine months, it is good to set a budget beyond which not to spend, so as not to find yourself with an object that will no longer be needed. Aside from personal taste and good functioning, which cannot be ignored, referring to the review that other users make of it can direct you to the model with the best quality ratio.
For such products, it is advisable not to stop purely on the aesthetic side, which is of little use, but on functionality: therefore, a fetal monitor that you like is fine but this should not be the main criterion of choice. If you have doubts, the presence of an instruction leaflet will be essential to better understand all the qualities.
