Has anyone ever used a stethoscope to listen to the baby's heartbeat?

Question

i was thinking about getting one of those dopplers that you can buy/rent. I tried using a stethoscope with my first son and i couldn't hear his heartbeat, but my husband said he could. has anyone heard it themselves and how far along would you have to be. right now i am only 15 weeks along.

Answer 1

You'd have to be pretty far along (mid-third trimester) to hear babies heartbeat with just a regular stethoscope.  The baby would also have to be positioned just right.  Even then, there's no guarantee you could hear it.  You can hear YOUR heartbeat with one of those, but not usually the babies.

As for the dopplers, generally speaking, they are a waste of money.  They also encourage stress.  If you use it a couple times and can't hear the heartbeat, its likely you'll start worrying.  My opinion is to just skip it all together.

Answer 2

A stethoscope would only work later on, like around 30 weeks. The heart must be large enough and closer to the surface to hear (because it's so small). The doppler definitely works later on in pregnancy, too.  

Answer 3

it is too hard to hear it specially in the first 6 months

Answer 4

I tried and never heard anything.