Fetal dopplers connect you with your baby at the moment. But they can also be used to create a keepsake you’ll cherish forever.
Using the BabyDoppler app and a fetal doppler, record your baby’s heartbeat while they’re inside the womb. Then, use it as a soundtrack to a memorable baby video that you can share with the whole family.
In this post, we’ll show you how to make your own DIY heartbeat video, complete with personalized ideas!
What is a Fetal Doppler?
A fetal doppler is a handheld device that you can use to hear a fetal heartbeat.
It works similar to an ultrasound. A probe is placed on the belly until a fetal heartbeat is detected. You’ll be able to hear the heartbeat through speakers and see the fetal heart rate (FHR) on the display screen.
You might have already seen a fetal doppler. They’re used during prenatal appointments in doctor’s offices and hospitals. Healthcare professionals can use them to evaluate the heartbeat and detect irregularities.
Now that fetal dopplers are affordable, parents are also using them. The device can only be used by trained professionals to detect problems, but there’s many other uses for at home fetal dopplers:
- Parents love the bonding experience of hearing their baby’s heartbeat before birth. It can also be shared with grandparents, family, and friends.
- For anxious parents—especially those who have experienced prior miscarriages—a new pregnancy can feel worrisome. Between prenatal appointments, you might wonder if the baby is still okay. If you learn how to correctly detect a heartbeat, you can feel calm knowing everything is probably ok (as long as there’s not a loss of pregnancy symptoms). Still, it’s important to remember the device isn’t a replacement for medical advice or appointments.
- Show recording to doctor. If you hear something on the fetal doppler and you suspect something might be wrong, record it and play it back to your doctor or midwife. Even without an appointment, sending the file over email or playing it over the phone can help them confirm or ease your concern.
- Introduce child to new sibling. Fetal heartbeat monitors can be used as a gentle way to introduce your child to their new sibling. For young children, it may be hard to understand what a new family member means. Even if they do, it may not feel “real” yet. Letting them hear their sibling’s heartbeat gives them a way to experience them. This can help ease your child into the change, helping them feel less overwhelmed after birth.
How to Use a Fetal Heartrate Monitor At Home
You can first use a fetal doppler around 12 weeks. Although you might detect your first beat before or after that mark, the second trimester is a good time to begin checking.
Here’s how to use a fetal doppler:
- Add a generous blob of ultrasound gel to your lower belly
- Insert the probe into the gel and turn the device on
- Starting at the pubic bone, slowly rock the probe back and forth, gliding with the gel to cover all areas of the stomach
- Stop when you think you’ve detected the fetal heart rate
Discerning the correct noise is the most important part. Is it a fetal heartbeat or something else, like placenta noises or your own heartbeat? A heart rate of 120-180 bpm is most likely your baby’s (it should be much faster than yours). It also sounds like galloping horses as opposed to the “whooshing” noise placenta can make. For more tips, see:
- Fetal Doppler Instructions
- 10 Must-Know Secret Tips for Finding Fetal Heartbeat with Doppler
- Videos of Fetal Heartbeat Noises
How to Make a Heartbeat Recording
Before you make your DIY heartbeat video, you’ll need a recording of your baby’s heartbeat. You’ll need:
Directions:
- Download the BabyDoppler app
- Make an account
- Tap the “Record” icon at the bottom of the screen
- Use your fetal doppler to detect the heartbeat (directions above)
- When you’ve detected it, tap “Tap to record”
- When you’re finished, tap “Tap to Stop”
- Listen to recording and select “Submit” to save or “Re-record”
- Save to your device
Each recording will be saved with the fetal heart rate and date. To see all of your recordings, tap the “Record” icon at the bottom of the screen to view a list.
When you’re making your heartbeat video, you might want to make a few heartbeat recordings and choose the clearest one.
Another option is to use multiple audio files to create your heartbeat video.
Directions:
- Download the BabyDoppler app
- Make an account
- Tap the “Record” icon at the bottom of the screen
- Use your fetal doppler to detect the heartbeat (directions above)
- When you’ve detected it, tap “Tap to record”
- When you’re finished, tap “Tap to Stop”
- Listen to recording and select “Submit” to save or “Re-record”
- Save to your device
Each recording will be saved with the fetal heart rate and date. To see all of your recordings, tap the “Record” icon at the bottom of the screen to view a list.
When you’re making your heartbeat video, you might want to make a few heartbeat recordings and choose the clearest one.
Another option is to use multiple audio files to create your heartbeat video.
How To DIY Heartbeat Video with Fetal Doppler Sonoline B
Here’s how to make a heartbeats keepsake video with your fetal doppler device.
- Make heartbeat recording. Make a heartbeat recording using the directions above. Save to your device.
- Download video editing app. Popular suggestions for iPhone video editing apps include iMovie, InShot, or Magisto. Popular suggestions for Android include InShot, FilmoraGo, and Magisto.
- Insert heartbeat audio. Insert your heartbeat recording file(s) into your video editing app. If you want, insert other audio (ideas below).
- Insert visual files. Pictures, handwritten notes, video messages and more can be added to your heartbeat keepsake video. Check out the next section for more ideas.
- Save your completed project to your device.
- Keep scrolling for ideas on how to use your heartbeat video.
Ideas for DIY Heartbeat Video: What to Include
When it comes to making your heartbeat video, there is no right or wrong. Include what will be meaningful to you and your family.
Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Heartbeat Soundtrack
- Record multiple heartbeat sessions to select the clearest one
- Record a heartbeat session every week for a month to show your baby’s progress
- Make the heartbeat video at the end of your pregnancy, allowing you to record one heartbeat a week from weeks 12 to birth.
Music
- Include intro or outro music
- Add music if your heartbeat soundtrack is too short for your visual clips
- Check out these 45 Songs About Having A Baby
- Consider adding one of these 20 Most Popular Nursery Rhyme Songs
Baby Details Text or Titles
- Baby’s name
- Baby’s gender
- Baby’s due date
- Fun pregnancy facts- like mom’s cravings or favorite nesting activities
Photo Ideas
- Sonogram photos
- Maternity photos
- Weekly belly photos with belly stickers
- Scan a memorable page from your pregnancy journal
- Photos of mom and dad
- Photos of the grandparents, godparents, aunts, and uncles to be (with text overlay “Aunt-To-Be,” “Baby Sam’s Grandma,” etc.)
- Photos of fun activities you did while pregnant (ex. “mom and dad painting the nursery”)
- Photos of the baby shower
- Photos from important events/holidays while baby was inside the belly (ex. “baby’s first Christmas from inside the belly”)
Note Ideas
- Handwrite a note to your baby and scan it
- Have the grandparents, aunts-to-be, etc. write a note for your baby
- Not sure what to write? Use these pregnancy journaling prompts for ideas
Video Clips
- Record a video message to your baby telling them your hopes and dreams for them
- Ask other family members to record short messages
- Add clips from important events or holidays while you’re pregnant (ex. “baby’s first Easter from inside the belly”)
- When the kicks are strong enough to see through your belly, record for your video
How to Use DIY Heartbeat Video
Here’s a few ways you can use your heartbeat video.
Share on Social Media
Upload your heartbeat video to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to share with family, friends, and followers. Show us your creation by tagging us on Instagram @babydoppler
Pregnancy Announcement
You can also use your heartbeat video as a way to announce your pregnancy. If you want to keep it private for only a select few, you can share it over email. You can also upload it to Dropbox or Google Drive and provide the link to those you want to know.
Keep in mind that although the doppler may detect a heartbeat before or after, it typically starts working around 12 weeks. So if you want to announce your pregnancy using the doppler, you’ll probably need to wait until your second trimester.
Show It To Your Baby Years Later
One of the best things you can do with your heartbeat video is to save it forever as a keepsake. You’ll enjoy looking back on the earliest days and experiencing it from the beginning again. As your child grows up, they’ll also find it interesting to hear their first heartbeats. Make sure to transfer your video to an external hard drive or cloud storage system for safekeeping.
Play At The Baby Shower or Use As Gender Reveal
After the cake has been cut at your baby shower, play your heartbeat video on the TV or a projector for all to celebrate. You can also edit the video to use as a gender reveal. Announce your baby’s gender by using text or blue/pink backgrounds. You can even add drum roll audio effects to build up anticipation.
P.S. Do you have a fetal doppler yet? Start hearing your baby from inside the womb! Get Next-Day Shipping by ordering today.