Few sounds compare to hearing their baby’s heartbeat for the first time. For decades, expecting parents could only hear their baby’s tiny heartbeat through a fetal Doppler machine at the doctor’s office. Today, you can hear those first signs of new life right in your living room with an at-home Fetal Doppler machine.

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about when a baby’s heartbeat starts, when you can use a Fetal Doppler, and how to use your at-home baby monitor device.

When do babies first form a heartbeat?

Researchers today pinpoint 22 days as the earliest parents-to-be can detect a heartbeat. Because fetuses receive oxygen through their blood, rather than their lungs, their circulatory systems are built differently while they’re in the womb. Blood circulates via a system of shunts, rather than the full-fledged circulatory system you’d recognize in a fully-grown human.

There are two important features of the fetal heart to be aware of:

• The foramen ovale, an open flap between both chambers of the heart which shuts after your baby is born
• The ductus arteriosus, a major blood vessel which, after birth, will be replaced by the aorta and pulmonary artery to connect with your newborn’s lungs

What does this mean for moms-to-be? It means that at 22 days, your baby’s heart is still just a cluster of cells.

So, while you may be able to sonically hear your little one’s heartbeat with a fetal heart rate monitor, it’s essential to keep seeing your doctor to confirm your baby is developing at a healthy rate.

What is a Fetal Doppler?

A Fetal Doppler, also called a fetal heart rate monitor, is a general term for a device that detects a heartbeat through sound waves, just like an ultrasound imaging machine. By measuring the change of frequency in sound waves from an echo (also known as the Doppler effect), a fetal Doppler replicates the sound of your baby’s little heart.

There are two types of Fetal Doppler devices you may encounter while pregnant:

• Clinical Fetal Doppler – Clinical fetal Dopplers are high-grade and sensitive machines often found in hospitals, with stronger soundwave currents and usually 3D (or even 4D) imaging. Your OBGYN may recommend using this device at your first prenatal appointment (around 8 weeks), second standard ultrasound appointment (18 to 20 weeks), or in the early stages of labor.
• At-Home Fetal Doppler – An at-home fetal doppler machine is less sophisticated than its clinical counterparts. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth your time or money! When used correctly, they can be an excellent tool for connecting with your baby at the comfort of your own home.

At-home fetal dopplers aren’t just a way to connect more deeply with your child: they’re a great way to keep tabs on your growing baby in between visits to the doctor’s office. Just remember that these baby heart rate monitors should always be used to complement, rather than replace, in-person appointments with your healthcare provider.

How soon can you start using a Fetal Doppler?

The majority of Fetal Dopplers work best when used in your second or third trimesters (starting around 16 weeks pregnant), when your baby’s heartbeat is strong enough to register.

That said, there is a pattern to baby heartbeat formation, and, correlatively, how early fetal heartbeat can be detected with clinical or at-home Dopplers:

• Week 5 – A little after a month, your baby’s heart emerges as a cohesive beating structure. However, fetal Dopplers will not pick up this sound because they are used transabdominally (by being placed against the mother’s abdomen). Only vaginal ultrasounds can detect a heartbeat this faint at this stage.
• Weeks 6 to 8 – During this period, your baby’s heartbeat will rise from 110 bpm (beats per minute) to 150 to 170 bpm—about twice as fast as yours. At this stage, your baby’s heartbeat may be detectable by a clinical Fetal Doppler.
• Week 10 – By now, most babies’ hearts beat at 170 bpm. Between now and week 20, it will slow to around 140 bpm. While some at-home Fetal Dopplers pledge to detect your baby’s heartbeat at this stage, most high-quality devices won’t work properly until at least week 16 of your pregnancy. When in doubt, consult with your OBGYN before purchasing and using your device.
• Week 12 – By week 12, your OBGYN should have booked or completed your first trimester check-in to verify your baby’s heart is beating. Why? Because research shows that if a baby’s heartbeat is detected past week 10, it has a 99.4% chance of avoiding miscarriage.

What if I can’t hear my baby’s heartbeat by week 12?

If by week 12 your at-home Fetal Doppler isn’t picking up on your baby’s heart, don’t fret.

Once your physician has confirmed your baby’s heartbeat and a healthy pregnancy, it’s unlikely your fetus is injured or struggling. More often than not, your baby is likely just hiding somewhere in your uterus that’s out of your at-home Fetal Doppler’s range.

Several common physical factors can make it harder for an at-home Fetal Doppler to detect what it’s designed to detect, including:

• A tilted uterus
• Surrounding placenta tissue
• Surrounding abdominal fat tissue
• Slow fetal growth
• Spine-forward fetal lying position

Keep in mind that human error and the slightly lower quality of many at-home Doppler devices can also impact results. That said, trust your instincts—if you’re concerned, you can always request an interim OBGYN checkup.

Fetal Doppler Essentials

There are some practical steps to take before connecting with your little one. So, how to check a baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy at home?

Before you begin, set up a station with your Fetal Doppler, batteries for your device, and these three essentials:

1. Fetal Doppler gel – Fetal Doppler or ultrasound gel is formulated with water and a solvent known as propylene glycol. It serves two critical roles in the heart monitoring process:
   • To lubricate your skin, making for a more comfortable experience
   • To form a bond between the device and your womb, which conducts sound waves and eliminates static output that could meddle with your results.
2. Headphones or speakers – Whether you’re experiencing this magical moment alone or with loved ones, have your preferred listening device on hand.
3. A private spot to lie down – You’ll want to find a private, comfortable place to lie down before you first use an at-home Doppler. Finding the heartbeat can take a few tries to start, so get comfortable—a sofa, bed, or a yoga mat are all fine options.

How to Use a Fetal Doppler, Step by Step

Once your station is set up and you’re feeling calm and collected, it’s time to have that heart-to-heart. Bear in mind that every Fetal Doppler device is different, but most of them will require five basic steps to use:

1. Get into a reclined position and turn on your fetal Doppler (and any other sound devices you’ve connected)
2. Lift your shirt or lower your pants to expose your stomach. Then, apply a healthy dollop of ultrasound gel to the lower abdomen.
3. Place the device on top of the gel and slowly start to move it from the lower abdomen towards your pubic bone. Repeat this movement using continuous, gradual strokes, moving laterally so the device can access a different part of your uterus.
4. When you stumble upon your baby’s heartbeat, you’ll either hear a light thumping in your headphones or speakers or your Fetal Doppler will visually register it’s found your baby.
5. When you are finished, clean the device and your stomach by wiping off the gel with a clean washcloth or towel.

It’s common for moms-to-be to run into some difficulty locating that tiny heartbeat on their first try. If you’re struggling to make contact, be sure to turn your device off after 10 minutes (the longest recommended time for your baby listening sessions) and give it another go later.

Tips and Techniques for Using Your Fetal Doppler

Successfully using an at-home Doppler comes down to the details. Here are tips for finding that little heartbeat with yours:

• Correct placement – Finding the right spot can be tricky at first, as most babies shift positions throughout pregnancy. If you’re earlier on, start at your lower abdomen and work your way up, beginning with your pubic bone. Your baby may shift lower into your uterus later in pregnancy.
• Slow, steady pacing – Maneuvering your Doppler too quickly can make it difficult for the device to find your baby. So, rather than sweeping it from side to side, use a light, gentle rocking motion for 1 minute over a single area before moving elsewhere.
• Gel application – You should have just enough gel to cover all explorable belly surface area. But if you use a heavy hand, the excess gel could result in air bubbles and create static. To find balance, squeeze a generous amount directly onto your skin and use the device to spread it as you go.
• Practice on yourself – Trying out the Doppler on your own heart can help you get the hang of things. Just apply a little gel to your chest and follow the same steps you’d use to find your baby’s heartbeat.
• Have a full bladder – For clearer and easier detection, consider using the Doppler on a full bladder, as it can help push the uterus up, making it more accessible to locate the baby’s heartbeat.
• Distinguishing fetal heartbeat from other sounds – The baby’s heartbeat is often a rapid, rhythmic sound, typically ranging from 120 to 160 beats per minute. Placental sounds may resemble a “whooshing” or “swishing” noise, occurring in sync with the mother’s heartbeat. On the other hand, maternal blood flow sounds can be more constant and lower in pitch compared to the baby’s heartbeat.
• Relaxation is key – When using the Fetal Doppler, try to stay calm and relaxed. Anxiety and stress can make it harder to find the baby’s heartbeat, so find a comfortable and quiet space where you can focus on the experience and enjoy it!

Have Your First Heart-to-Heart with SneakPeek

Fetal Dopplers are a wonderful way to start developing a closer relationship with your baby through sound.

Keep tabs on your baby’s development and get a glimpse inside their world with the SneakPeek At-Home Fetal Doppler. With a sleek single-unit design, our easy-to-use device comes with earphones, a battery, and a recorder so you can start sealing in memories even before your baby arrives.

Plus, you can learn even more about your baby with the SneakPeek At-Home Early Gender Blood Test—the only at-home fetal sex test that can tell you whether you’re having a little boy or a little girl as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy! That’s months before a traditional 20-week anatomy ultrasound can tell you (and why our test is trusted by over 1 million moms and top obstetricians). Plus, our SneakPeek Test results are clinically-proven over 99% accurate¹.

With science-backed, privacy-protected results you can trust, there’s no reason not to choose SneakPeek. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:

Dr. Heather Soper, Certified Nurse Midwife

Dr. Heather Soper brings over 15 years of experience in women's health and obstetrics to her role as the owner of The Genesis Resort for Birth. Complementing her clinical practice, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at James Madison University, where she educates nursing students with a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care. Her advanced training and dedication to midwifery are evident in her contribution to both academia and the wellness of expectant mothers.

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