Throughout a woman’s pregnancy, there are plenty of exciting milestones she’ll experience along the way—like seeing the first sonogram, feeling the baby’s first kick, and even hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time in the doctor’s office.
Rather than waiting for the next prenatal appointment, women may wonder if they’re able to hear the baby’s heartbeat at home with a stethoscope. Continue reading below as we explore why this is such a significant aspect of pregnancy and discuss how to experience this precious moment at home with loved ones.
The Significance of Hearing the Baby’s Heartbeat
For many expectant mothers, the weeks between prenatal appointments can feel endless, especially if they’re craving the reassurance of the sound of the baby’s heartbeat. If they’re having any anxiety about the pregnancy, the fetal heartbeat may help to alleviate this uneasiness and create a powerful bonding experience between the mother and unborn child.
Or, maybe they simply want to share this precious moment with a loved one who isn’t able to attend doctor visits, like a soon-to-be grandparent or spouse.
In either case, hearing the baby’s heartbeat at home furthers connection with the growing baby and signifies that it’s alive and continuing to develop.
How Early Can You Hear a Baby’s Heartbeat?
A fetus’s heartbeat begins very early in the pregnancy, with cardiac tissue beginning to develop and pulse around five to six weeks.
During a prenatal appointment, the heartbeat may be detected as early as six weeks of pregnancy via transvaginal ultrasound.
However, if you’re trying to pick up the baby’s heartbeat at home with a stethoscope, you may have to wait a few more months. Typically, this becomes possible around 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
How to Hear the Baby’s Heartbeat with a Stethoscope
It is possible to pick up the fetal heartbeat with a stethoscope after about 18 weeks. If you have a stethoscope at home, here’s how you can listen to the baby’s heart before your next doctor’s visit:
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Get to a quiet room with minimal background noise.
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Lie down or recline slightly with the abdomen exposed
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Try to locate the fetus’s position, then apply the stethoscope’s diaphragm to the lower part of the abdomen (below the belly button).
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Move the diaphragm around slowly until you hear the galloping sound of the fetal heartbeat.
Even though a stethoscope may help women hear the baby’s heartbeat at home, it’s important to remember that it’s not a replacement for regular prenatal appointments. In other words, home monitoring should never substitute for proper medical care from trained medical professionals.
Monitoring Children’s Heartbeats as They Grow
After the child’s birth, medical providers will continue to monitor the baby’s heartbeat with special infant stethoscopes designed for patients under one or two years of age. Placing the diaphragm directly on the child’s back and chest will allow pediatricians to hear their heart sounds and ensure they’re healthy.
As children continue to develop, the pediatrician will graduate to using a pediatric stethoscope, which is still smaller than adult models and better suited to older toddlers and growing children.