Deluxe Prenatal Heart Listening System

S & A & Baby Makes 3...or 4 from Rockville, MD              August 28th, 2009
The instruction manual says you can typically begin to hear a heartbeat with this system between 21-28 weeks, so I knew I was a bit early at 19 weeks today. Add a 9 volt battery and directions for set-up & use are very clear, including suggestions on sensor position on your belly according to second or third trimester, that a thinner woman may be able to hear sounds earlier and a woman with "more insulation" may not be able to use it successfully ever, a Sound Guide (fairly steady, rapid drumming=heartbeat, strong thump=kick, multiple thumps 3-5 seconds apart=hiccups) and what sounds to discount (growl=stomach, gurgle=intestine) and other comments. Play with it and it's fun, not that it replaces professional medical care. It does not give the satisfying complete sound of your baby's whooshing heartbeat like during a sonogram or with a midwife or doctor's fetoscope or doptone, so be prepared for that, but it is reassuring to hear baby in utero. It was pretty easy to get the hang of it. The kicks we heard today remind me of when someone accidentally bumps in to a microphone boom, that dull loud thud. The manufacturer, Summer Infant, claims, unlike ultrasound, it emits no energy into you or your baby. It's still electric and puts light pressure on your abdomen, so I'd go easy on using it, but that's us. On the stretchy white belt to attach the device to you, the velcro closure is roughly sewn and not comfortable, no matter how I tried to line it up, so I'll try it next time under a Bella Band or the stretch panel of maternity pants later, which you can do. You just can't hold the device to your belly, it powers down, probably as a way of not overloading on the interference of the pulses and movements in your hand(s). And you're instructed to recline, unlike the package picture of a mother sitting up listening. That two people can listen at once is great. I'm not sure we'll use the record to an e-mail option (that extra cord shown). The sounds aren't instantly recognizable like a heartbeat through a stethoscope. It makes sense in the moment with the belly. Once the baby's here, though, s/he's here and we'd never listen to random thuds again that sound fake without the firsthand experience. This device is nice while you're pregnant for entertainment.