Home Doppler Safety

Ultrasound equipment is used to monitor a fetus.

Doppler fetal monitoring devices—ultrasound tools used for medical imaging—are considered safe when used by properly trained medical staff. The doppler device uses high-frequency sound waves that bounce back and are amplified for you to hear. It is a test that is generally viewed as safe, since it does not use radiation as in a computed tomography (CT) scan, nor does it use the strong magnetic field required for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Home doppler tools for monitoring fetal heart rate can also be considered safe when used according to the product manufacturer’s instructions, but you should inform your doctor that you will be using the home doppler and ask for additional usage guidelines.

Dopplers vs. Doctors

Most of the recent safety concerns that have been in the news have to do with expectant mothers placing too much importance on the doppler tool and using it as a substitute for talking with a physician. If the doppler device is not used properly or if you receive an erroneous result because you unknowingly listened to your own heartbeat rather than that of your fetus, then there could be problems that go undetected because you are falsely reassured that everything is fine by using the home doppler device.

False Sense of Security

Don't reach for the doppler instead of calling your doctor.

The British Medical Journal published an article in August 2009 about a 27-year old woman in the United Kingdom who had used a home doppler while pregnant with her first child. The physician who authored the article said that the woman came to the hospital 32 weeks into her pregnancy because she noticed less movement by the baby. The woman had noticed less activity by the baby two days earlier but did not call the doctor because she had used her fetal doppler and heard a heartbeat. The baby had to be delivered by caesarean section and was in the special care unit for 8 weeks but is reported to have made steady progress.

Home Fetal Monitoring Accuracy

Results can vary by device and how it is used.

Though the home doppler seems like a useful and convenient tool, it can actually cause anxiety rather than provide reassurance if, for example, you have difficulty hearing the baby’s heartbeat. Doppler home devices, which range in price from $25 to $150, are not always reliable. Sometimes home dopplers do not provide the true result if they are not used properly. Sometimes the result is inaccurate even if the directions are followed. Plus, the result heard by the expectant parents may be misinterpreted due to a lack of medical training.

Studies on Doppler Safety

Professionals in medicine study doppler safety and report findings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that ultrasound technology has “earned an excellent safety record” in the 30 years that it has been utilized. However, most of those 30 years refer to the use of ultrasound in a medical setting. There have been some issues raised regarding the frequency of using home ultrasound or doppler equipment—issues related to possible increases in temperature. In 2002, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) published a report on Diagnostic Ultrasound Safety. Though the report summarized that ultrasound has “an enviable safety record,” it also specifically mentioned the potential for heat effects of ultrasound. The NCRP recommended continued study of the safety of ultrasound.

A Trained Medical Professional Is Desirable

Medical staff receive special training in doppler use.

Not all fetal abnormalities will be discovered using doppler devices. When fetal monitoring devices are used, they are best used at a doctor’s office by a trained professional, or if necessary, in your home by a trained professional. An entire organization is devoted to the use of ultrasound for patient diagnostic and monitoring care—it is called the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). The AIUM provides, among other things, practice guidelines for medical staff in the use of ultrasonography for every type of patient need, from abdominal to transcranial doppler. In short, it is probably best to leave the doppler to the medical professionals.

References

• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine: History of the AIUM
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: A Close Look at Ultrasound
• NCRP Report: Diagnostic Ultrasound Safety
• Medical News: Expectant Mothers Cautioned Against Using Home Fetal Doppler Devices
• DoplerFetal.net: Pros and Cons of Using Fetal Heart Dopplers