By Andrew Liszewski
Can’t wait until your next checkup to hear your baby’s heartbeat? The FirstSounds Prenatal Heart Listener allows you to tune in to your child-to-be’s heartbeat, hiccups, kicks and other sounds all in the comfort of your own home. The device apparently works best in the late second and third trimester and from what I can tell you just hold it against your belly and it amplifies the sounds which can then be heard through a pair of headphones or recorded for later ‘enjoyment.’
The FirstSounds is supposed to be completely safe but I wouldn’t question any expectant mothers who might be a little cautious of using it. However it was invented by a neonatal nurse and has won awards from nursing organizations so I assume there’s nothing to worry about. And if it’s your first child the FirstSounds also includes an instructional cassette tape (is it 1985 already!?) with sample fetal sounds so you can know what to listen for.
FirstSounds is available from Marilyn Electronics for $34.95.
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We bought one of these a few years ago before we had our son. It’s a neat gadget, but really nothing more than a snuggly-looking (as is anything baby-related) microphone, amplifier, and headphones. Really, it was very difficult to hear anything using this device, even into the 3rd trimester. YMMV. A $10 telephone recording mic with the suction cup would probably work as well. (Come to think of it, we might try that next time.)
From a gadget perspective, I’d much rather have one of those hand-held ultrasound audio-only doodads that the OBs and midwives use.. They give you much better (louder, clearer) results, but of course present whatever danger one might ascribe to ultrasound waves being pointed at your unborn.
AGREED! We bought one a few years ago when my wife was pregnant. It was the one thing we bought that I felt like a moron for buying 10 minutes after we got it out of the box. It is just a microphone as far as I could tell. Nothing remarkable.
This device is not that bad. With technology today the u/s and Doppler device sure its out dated but its not that bad guys. This is my first pregnancy and I am in my second trimester and can pick up movements and kicks and occasionally the heartbeat but it tells you in the manually it works best after week 28 so what do you expect for 25 bucks? So I can’t wait for week 28! If I can already hear things now I cant imagine!!!! It gives as a peace of mind to hear that stuff even if its only a little. My sister passed this on to me she has 5 kids and it has lasted and lasted. And it worked well with her I remember lessening to her last baby at about 30 weeks and could hear the swosh heartbeat just fine. It just takes patience!