Fetal heart monitor: What are the different types?
Fetal heart monitor is a device that can detect and amplify the heart beats of the fetus and enable the listeners to count and monitor the rate of heart beats. There are many devices with varying degrees of convenience, technology and comfort. But, all are effective when it comes to detecting and monitoring the heart beats. It choice of the devices boils down to the comfort of the users, more than anything else. Listed below are the most common types of fetal heart monitor that is available in the market.
Pinard Horn: This non technical device was invented in the early 19th century by a Doctor and it has been commonly used since then. This device is a small and short unit consisting of a flat surface of medium circumference at one end and a conical protrusion that forms itself to resemble an elongated cup ending with the open side. The hollow of the conical cup gradually reduces in circumference and is minimal when it meets the stub end of the device. While usage, the flat end is placed on the mother’s abdomen and the hollow end is placed on the ear. The unit is moved around the abdomen till an amplified sound of the heart beat is heard.
The different stages of fetal heart beat
Heart beat of the fetus starts approximately six to seven weeks after ovulation. The heart starts forming by that time along with the other body parts and starts beating immediately to start the blood circulation process. Even though the requirement of circulation in the still developing fetus is minimal, the heart starts its functioning process to not only test itself but also to prepare itself for the rigors and processes that it is deemed to do. Modern heart beat detection units like fetal Doppler are well equipped to detect and time the heart beats from an early stage onwards.
Fetal heart rate and Gender predictions
Fetal heart rate and gender predictions are being done as early as 9 weeks of fetal growth. All of these predictions are not based on scientific practices but on heresy and misconceptions. It is said that the gender of the fetus can be accurately predicted by calculating the beats per minute of the fetus. If the BPM is higher than 140, then the fetus is supposed to be a female and if it is less than 140, it is supposed to be a male. There have been scientific experiments done about this theory and it has been conclusively proved that there is no relation between the heart rate and gender of the fetus. The best way to monitor heart rate is via a fetal Doppler unit.
What is a fetal Doppler?
A machine that uses ultrasound technology to detect the heart beats of the fetuses inside the mother’s womb is called a fetal Doppler or just a Doppler. The technology involved with this machine was discovered in the 1950s; Ultrasound waves are bounced off the growing fetus and the returning waves are analyzed to produce the result as sound. The fetal Dopplers are easy to use and an expert practitioner can detect sounds of the baby’s heart beat as early as 5 to 6 weeks. However, inexperienced people find it difficult to detect heartbeats. This happens due to the movement of the fetus inside the womb and not due to the inefficiency of the equipment.
A fetal Doppler consists of a body unit and a probe that is attached to the body via a flexible cord. When switched on, the probe is equipped to beam out ultrasonic waves into the womb of the mother. These waves bounce off the different body parts and reach back to the probe.
