A baby heartbeat monitor, also known as a fetal Doppler, is a device that allows you to monitor the heart rate of an unborn baby.  While it does not actually record the sound of the fetal heart beating, it uses Doppler technology to create a representation of the heartbeat that you can listen to easily.  Listening to the beating of your baby’s heart can be a powerful experience, and until recently was limited to the visits to the doctor’s office.  With the wide area of fetal Doppler baby heartbeat monitor devices on the market, how are you to know which one is the best for you?  Read on to find out about the various features they offer and how to choose the model that is perfect for you.

Most fetal dopplers function in much the same way.  You spread ultrasound gel on the abdomen, press the head of the device against the skin, and slowly move it around until you pick up the sound of the heartbeat.  Models that operate at 3GHz tend to be a little easier to use, and the probe itself should fit comfortably in your hand and have simple, easy to understand controls.

Like any other device that is used for medicinal or health purchases, baby heart monitors fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA for safety concerns.  When shopping, choose a model that is specifically approved by the FDA after extensive testing that has shown that its use will not harm the developing fetus in any way.

Various models will have a varying range of battery life, running anywhere from 100 hours to over 200 hours.  To ensure that you get the best battery life in your baby heartbeat monitor, choose a model that uses a 9V alkaline battery.

Many baby heart monitors will allow for recording of some type, and it is definitely something that you should consider.  Most of them function by connecting to your computer through the USB port to allow you to burn a CD of the sound of your baby’s heartbeat once it has been recorded.  This can be a wonderful keepsake for the years ahead.

While a baby heartbeat monitor can be a valuable purchase if you intend to have more than one child, there may be some question if you are only going to have one.  Luckily, there are a wide range of providers willing to rent you the device for a small monthly fee through the duration of the pregnancy.  Just be sure that they sterilize the device before shipping it to you.

As you can see, there are a great many things to consider when choosing a baby heartbeat monitor.  There are many manufacturers and models available, and it is best to choose carefully.  The magic of hearing the heartbeat of your unborn baby is not something that should be left to substandard equipment.