Home heart rate detector – is it worth having?

Home heart rate detector – how it works

Home heart rate detectors are an increasingly fashionable part of the layette. Their action is based on the Doppler effect, which is completely safe for the mother and the baby. Ultrasound waves are sent out by the device, and it then analyzes the reflected and returning sound waves. Most often these devices run on batteries and are very handy. To listen to the fetal heart rate, apply the head to the skin of the abdomen over the pre-applied gel. Depending on the week of pregnancy, manufacturers recommend a specific area in which to look for the baby’s pulse. Nowadays it is possible to rent such equipment, so parents-to-be can reduce their expenses.

Home heart rate detector – advantages

Some manufacturers boast that their product is able to listen to heart rates as low as 9.-10. One week of pregnancy. This allows Parents to feel reassured, especially in the 1st trimester, when the risk of miscarriage is highest. Besides, home detectors for many Parents make a bond between them and their child.  The available heart rate detectors are safe and tested before release (CE marking). It is advisable to go for products from well-known manufacturers that have the most experience in the production of such equipment.

Home heart rate detector – disadvantages

If home fetal heart rate detectors had advantages alone, they would be widely recommended. However, it is important to keep in mind the possible disadvantages of this equipment such as the possibility of accidentally reading the mother’s heart rate, which will cause concern among Parents, due to its lower values than that of fetal heart function. Besides, self-interpretation of the results by Parents who do not have medical training can lead to erroneous conclusions. Relying on a home heart rate detector can also reduce Parents’ vigilance, for example, when fetal movements are less noticeable.

Can a home heart rate detector replace an KTG?

Home heart rate detectors are still only an additional test and cannot replace visits to the hospital for follow-up KTG recordings. They are especially important for women with gestational diabetes or hypertension during pregnancy. KTG recordings in the hospital, should also be made for every woman at the time of delivery and when fetal movements are less noticeable. The home heart rate detector has a function only to help provide psychological comfort to Parents, but is not a substitute for professional evaluation of KTG recordings.

Read more:
KTG – what is the test?