A baby changes everything in your life. It is never easy being responsible for someone else’s life and babies are dependent on adults for just about everything. For first time parents, the arrival of a new baby in your life is met with both joy and apprehension. Yes, apprehension is part of the equation as most first time parents have little or no idea at all on how to take care of newborn babies. They purchase everything from diapers to Baby monitors. But hey those things are important especially in today’s day and age.
Aside from baby clothes, feeding bottles, crib and such; another important thing that first time parents especially the mothers should never forget are the monthly prenatal checkups that include checking baby’s heartbeat with a fetal baby monitor. Some might find the Baby heartbeat monitor a bit redundant but if you need reassurance how well your baby is doing inside your body, then this is a necessary evil for you.
Doppler Technology for fetal monitors was invented by Dr. Edward H. Hon in 1958 to detect fetal heartbeat during pre-natal consultations. This ultrasound device will put parent’s mind at rest as to the auditory evidence of their baby’s heartbeat therefore lessening the stress that expectant women might be experiencing during pregnancy.
A baby’s heartbeat can be monitored as early as 8 to 10 weeks of gestation and prenatal care does not involve the welfare of the would be mother only but as well as the baby inside. As prenatal care is being done once a month, your baby’s heartbeat will also be monitored once a month as well.
You can also purchase or rent your own fetal heartbeat monitor and getting your own baby’s heartbeat is actually very easy to do.
Just follow these steps:
1. Read the manual or the instruction kit that came with the Baby safety monitor.
2. Turn the monitor on.
3. Put ultra sound gel to your belly and to the face of the doppler monitor.
4. Lie down on the bed for a more comfortable position.
5. Place the probe just above your pubic bone and below your belly button.
6. Start moving the probe beginning at the middle of the stomach and making sure that all parts of the stomach have been covered.
7. Probe should remain in contact with your skin at all times. Once static noise is heard, apply more ultra sound gel.
The average fetal heartbeat is between 120 to 180 beats per minute and the sound of it may be similar to the galloping of horses. It is definitely much louder than an adult’s heartbeat.
Now for those who say “why do you need to hear your baby’s heartbeat?” Well you obviously have never had a miscarriage or still birth. It is simply a precautionary measure for nervous parents who are at risk for miscarriages. Baby safety monitors give them peace of mind and with the technology out there why not take advantage.
