Fetal dopplers can help you bond with your baby—but they can also help others bond with your baby too! By sharing your baby’s heartbeat, you can increase the connection between them and other family members.
In this guide, we’re discussing 9 ways you can share your baby’s heartbeat.
Ready to share the magic? Keep reading.
What is a Fetal Doppler?
A fetal doppler is a handheld device that you use to hear your baby’s heartbeat. Similar to an ultrasound, you use a probe with ultrasound gel to detect the baby. The heartbeat is amplified through the device’s speakers and the heart rate is displayed on screen.
Fetal dopplers are used in the doctor’s office during parental appointments to help detect developmental or heart abnormalities. You can also buy fetal dopplers that you can use at home. Since you aren’t a trained professional, you can’t use your device to detect or diagnose medical problems, but there are many other benefits, which we’ll discuss in the next section.
How early you can detect a heartbeat using a fetal doppler depends on a few factors like:
- Your baby’s size
- Your baby’s position
- Your skill in using the fetal doppler
Many people first try to use a fetal doppler around week 12. However, some people need to wait a little longer until the baby develops more. Although it’s possible to detect your baby before 12 weeks, most are still too small.
Benefits of a Baby Doppler
Parents love their Baby Doppler for a variety of reasons.
- Bonding. The number one reason parents love fetal dopplers is because they provide an opportunity to connect with their baby. Especially before you feel consistent movement, hearing your baby can be an excellent way to bond. You know that your baby is alive inside you and growing, but being able to hear her is a special moment.
- Bonding with partner. For the non-pregnant partner, it can be difficult to find ways to bond with the baby before birth. Hearing the heartbeat gives them a way to “experience” the pregnancy.
- Opportunity to share a heartbeat. When you capture your baby’s heartbeat using the connecting app, you can share the recording with anyone who isn’t present. This is a perfect idea for family and friends who live far away but still want to be part of your journey.
- Keepsake. Parents love that they can use their Baby Doppler recording to make keepsakes to listen to in years to come. Hearing the beginning of your baby’s life is a magical moment that should be cherished and captured. We’ll share a few ideas for creating Baby Doppler keepsakes in this post.
9 Ways to Share Your Baby’s Heartbeat
One of the best things about the Baby Doppler is that you can share your experience with others! Below are 9 ideas for sharing your baby’s heartbeat.
Record Heartbeat and Share Audio
Use the BabyDoppler app to record your baby’s heartbeat. You can then email the audio file to anyone you wish! Long-distance family members will love getting to hear the beginning of your baby’s life. You might also consider sending it alongside your pregnancy announcement.
Make Heartbeat Recording into a Keepsake Video
Create a keepsake video using your heartbeat audio. Here’s how:
- Use the BabyDoppler app to make a recording of your baby’s heartbeat
- Download the audio file
- Download a video editing app of your choice
- Create a new video
- Insert your heartbeat audio as the soundtrack to your keepsake video
- Insert files for your video, like images, sonogram photos, videos and more
- Save your project to your device
For more detailed instructions and ideas on what to include in your video, read DIY Heartbeat Video Keepsake with Fetal Doppler Sonoline B.
You can share your video with friends, family, on social media or simply keep it private as a family keepsake.
Share Video on Social Media
If you’re looking for ways to share your pregnancy with your friends and family online, consider uploading a video of yourself using the fetal doppler.
While hearing the audio is a special experience, friends may find it interesting to experience how your fetal doppler works.
If social media is too open, you can share your video more privately, like in personal messages or group chats.
If you want to share your video, tag us @BabyDoppler!
Share a Photo on Social Media
Take a photo next time you’re using your fetal doppler! It makes for a great social media post, whether you’re announcing your pregnancy or just keeping friends updated. You can also consider getting a closeup of the screen, which displays your baby’s fetal heart rate.
Make sure to tag us @BabyDoppler!
Use Device to Introduce Child to New Sibling
Share your baby’s heartbeat with your child to introduce them to their new sibling. For young children, it can be difficult to understand what getting a sibling means. And getting used to the idea of having another child around can be hard.
Hearing a heartbeat provides a gentle way for your child to understand what having a baby means. It also allows you to explain that she’s growing, on her way and will arrive soon.
Another idea is to let your child glide the probe across your baby until they correctly detect the heartbeat. Getting them involved and letting them help can increase their excitement.
Use Your Baby Doppler for Maternity Photos
Consider taking maternity photos with your Baby Doppler in hand! Wear an open, flowy maternity dress and have your photographer take long-distance and closeup shots featuring the heart rate on screen.
When you take the photos, you might consider recording the heartbeat audio. When you look back on the photos, you’ll be able to pair the visual of your belly to the sound of your baby’s heartbeat at that exact time!
Make a Pregnancy Keepsake Time Capsule
Make a time capsule during pregnancy and share it with your child on their 18th birthday!
When most people think of baby time capsules, they create them after their child is already born during the first months. But what if you captured your baby as they were just forming? Your child can look back on what life was like while you were pregnant, just before they entered the world.
The first step is to choose a container which you’ll place your keepsake items into.
As your first keepsake item, use the BabyDoppler app to record your baby’s heartbeat. Download the file and transfer it to a USB.
Then choose other items to include in your keepsake box, like:
- Maternity photos
- Sonogram photos
- Family photos
- Written wishes to baby from parents or family members
- Nursery photos
- Photos of your home
- Collage of social media congratulatory comments
- Historical memories, like newspaper clippings or a list of the current top 40 songs while you’re pregnant
Keep your keepsake box in a safe location and don’t show your child until your chosen date.
For more ideas, read DIY Pregnancy Time Capsule: 20 Baby Keepsake Box Ideas
Share it with Your Partner and Make it a Date
Share the heartbeat with your partner and make your fetal doppler session into a date! This is a great way to both bond with your partner and to bond with your baby together.
First, set the scene. Dim the lights and light a few candles. Choose a relaxing playlist to play on very low volume, like classical, massage or nature music. Have your fetal doppler and supplies ready (i.e. ultrasound gel and paper towels). Your partner may start by giving you a soothing foot or back massage.
When you’re ready, turn on your device and detect your baby’s heartbeat. For the short time you’re listening to your baby’s beating heart, take turns talking to her. You can tell her how excited you are to meet her or your wishes for her.
Ask Doctor
If you have questions about something you hear on your device, you can always ask your doctor or midwife for advice. If there’s something non-urgent that you’re wondering about, use the BabyDoppler app to record the sound. You can either send it to your doctor or show them during your next prenatal appointment.
Another idea is to get your midwife or doula’s assistance in using a fetal doppler. If you have questions about whether you’re using it correctly and would like a professional to show you, you can ask them during an appointment.
Summary: Sharing Your Baby’s Heartbeat with a Fetal Doppler
Fetal dopplers have various benefits, one of the most popular being their ability to create bonding experiences. While your Baby Doppler can help connect you and your partner to your baby, that bonding can also extend to friends and family.
There are multiple ways you can share your baby’s heartbeat with others, whether in person or online. Sharing your baby’s heartbeat can also help you connect with other people, encouraging you to strengthen your social supports during pregnancy.
Do You Have a Fetal Doppler Yet?
If you don’t have a fetal doppler yet, you’re missing out on amazing bonding experiences. The Baby Doppler comes with everything you need to get started, including batteries and a free sample of ultrasound gel.