Prenatal Care Is Home Fetal Doppler Use Okay in Pregnancy? By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 13, 2022 Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). He is the director and founding partner of CCRM New York and was named a rising star by Super Doctors from 2017 to 2019. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Oleksiy Maksymenko / Getty Images A fetal doppler is a hand-held, ultrasound device used by some medical practitioners to hear your baby's heartbeat at prenatal appointments. Other devices, such as ultrasound, can also be used to hear your baby's heartbeat. Fetal dopplers are approved for use as a medical device. Recently, the question of home fetal doppler use has come up, as there are now many places that rent fetal dopplers for use by individuals. However, the use of a fetal doppler is not recommended for non-medical purposes. Learn more about the potential appeal and risks of using a fetal doppler at home. Reasons for Using a Fetal Doppler at Home Some pregnant people may wonder if it Is home fetal doppler use okay in pregnancy. Pregnant people who use a fetal doppler at home often say that they wish to monitor their baby's well-being and to reassure themselves that the baby is alive. This can be particularly desirable in the early weeks before the baby's kicks can be felt. Parents who have experienced previous miscarriage or stillbirth may also be drawn to the perceived reassurance that a fetal doppler could provide. However, the use of these devices is not recommended for personal use. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against their use by laypeople. "Although there is a lack of evidence of any harm due to ultrasound imaging and heartbeat monitors, prudent use of these devices by trained health care providers is important," says Shahram Vaezy, Ph.D., an FDA spokesperson and biomedical engineer. Listening to Your Baby's Heartbeat at Home Risks While there is not believed to be any harm with occasional use by a medical professional, home fetal doppler use does not fall into this category. Many families use the doppler for much longer periods than they may experience with their practitioner and for more frequent uses — think once a day versus once a month at a prenatal visit. There are three common risks to home fetal doppler use: Hearing the baby's heartbeat and assuming the baby is fine, when other signs, like decreased fetal movement, truly need to be reported. In this case, its use may engender a false sense of security Misinterpreting the fetal heart rate Not hearing the baby's heartbeat, even though the baby is fine, which can cause unnecessary worry The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opposes home fetal doppler use, even when prescribed by an online physician. When to Call Your Doctor During Pregnancy 2 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Avoid fetal "keepsake" images, heartbeat monitors. Aust T, Ankers D, Famoriyo A. Caution with home fetal Doppler devices. Bmj. 2009;339(aug18 2). doi:10.1136/bmj.b3220 Additional Reading Avoid Fetal "Keepsake" Images, Heartbeat Monitors. Food and Drug Administration. March 28, 2008. Obstetric Ultrasound. American College of Radiology. March 15, 2010. By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit