Home ultrasounds

[OBonio]

Has anyone come across a home ultrasound kit at all?

The good wife is naturally worrying about things, and all I can give is verbal support. No hard evidence that everything is ok.

For example, her breasts have stopped hurting having been very painful for the last 8 weeks. This is worrying her, and worry isn't good.

A home scanning kit or doppler kit would go a long way in reducing the worry / stress of pregnancy.

Any suggestions?

[Hgrove]

I think you can buy or hire them, look in the back of a "baby" type magazine.

[Bangkok]

Mrs Bangkok was the same, so I know how you feel.  The thread below suggests home monitoring is possible but likely to cause more anxiety  - it is difficult to find the heartbeat if not experienced and I assume the home monitors are not as sensitive as the hospital ones. 

 

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=7931 &stamp=030510195128

[calleach]

the breasts are usually only tender in the early phase of pregnancy during their rapid growth.I aggree that a home monitor would only heighten anxiety.What about relaxation classes ?Yoga?Tai Chi?Sex?

[Kay]

I agree with In A Pickle and Calleach. This is something best left to the experts! After having 4 babies now all adults,I can tell you that its normal for breasts to stop hurting after 6- 10 weeks. Your wife could also ask her midwife or GP.

[Kay]

Sorry and Bangkok.

[OBonio]

Thanks all for the advice. Midwife visited yesterday and seems to have steadied her nerves a bit. Unfortunately, she's one of lifes born worriers!

[keen2learn]

There is also some tenuous evidence to suggest that multiple scans can affect unborn babies - I seem to remember some reearch into left-handedness that linked with scans - so sitting at home scanning every day is probably not a great idea. By the way, I'm not suggesting lefthandness is a bad thing, just that if there's one effect, there could be more we don't know about.

[Hgrove]

I did read some literature about risks of multiple scanning too;  I think it was AIMS literature (Assoc. for the Improvement of Maternity Services).  However, they were so OTT in their anti-conventional medicine stance, that I felt they undermined their own position.  By the way, do you think joining an anti-natal class (possibly an NCT one) would help you?  In my view the main value in these classes is that you meet couples who are also having their first baby (I assume it's your first) and likely live near you.  It is a good opportunity to exchange info and compare notes with them, and sometimes as an added bonus you make friends for life.

[H.Wilkinson]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and was extremely anxious for the first twelve weeks, I'm sure your wife will settle down. It is a worrying time but once you learn to relax and just enjoy being pregnant it's wonderful. I haven't been for my twenty week scan yet and so it seems a long time since I have seen our baby - but my expanding waistline settles me down as I know baby is growing well. I hope your wife settles down soon and she enjoys being pregnant as much as I do!!

[secretspirit]

I know it's a while since you posted this but I found hiring a doppler from www.baby-beats.co.uk set my mind at rest no end. It costs �36 for the first month and �29 for each month after that. Some people say it makes you more paranoid but I found that hearing the baby's heartbeat made me feel so much calmer but you have to bear in mind that even if the baby is fine it can be hard to find a heartbeat until 16 weeks and onwards.


I'm almost 22weeks pregnant now and still get anxious but that definitely helps in the early days before you can feel any movement. Good luck for the rest of the pregnancy.