A prenatal heart monitor is a device that allows expectant parents to be able to hear their baby’s heartbeat while still in the womb, and in the privacy of their own home. These devices have only recently become available for over the counter sales, and they are also becoming increasingly affordable for most parents.
A prenatal heart monitor is especially important for parents who have concerns about the development of the fetus. When listening to the baby heart monitor, you will not only have the wonderful experience of hearing your baby’s heart beat, but you will also be able to tell if it is beating at a normal rate.
If you are the mother of twins, or are experiencing any complications with your pregnancy, your doctor may recommend you purchase a prenatal heart monitor and use it regularly to check for any signs of fetal distress (such as bradycardia – or a slow heart rate). But even if your doctor has not recommended that you invest in a prenatal heart monitor you may want to do so for the wonderful bonding experience these devices can have for expectant parents.
There are a wide range of prenatal heart monitors currently on the market. Some online companies have models that you can rent cheaply by the month. Some models can cost upwards of $500 and have many special features to them that expectant parents may enjoy (such as the ability to burn a CD while listening to the heart rate monitor). If you are looking for some more affordable models, however, here are some recommendations:
Hearing the baby’s heartbeats could help pacify parents those who are expecting a difficult pregnancy. Even with a healthy pregnancy, parents would still want to know how the unborn child is doing. The BEBE-BE003Prenatal Heart Listener allows parents to hear and record the baby’s heartbeat. The recorded sound could then be sent into an e-mail. Similar to the BE001, it is designed and updated for better sound detection. This updated equipment could enhance clear audio and eliminate static. The sound is very clear, especially during the early period of the third trimester. There is no AC current, and the BE003 uses a 9V battery.
The Sonotrax Pro LCD Fetal Doppler Baby Heart 
Monitor is a professional quality baby monitor that runs at multiple frequencies, reducing the chance that there will be interference from other household electronics when using the device.
In addition, the model is ergonomically designed, making it easy to hold and use and has many additional useful features, such as a large LCD display and the ability to record and playback your baby’s heartbeat.
Finally, expectant may also want to consider the Babyplus Prenatal Education System. This system takes prenatal bonding to a whole new level.
This unit includes a device similar to a prenatal heart monitor, but it works in reverse – instead providing stimulating sounds to the womb.
The manufacturers claim that infants who have used BabyPlus are born more alert and responsive than those who have not used the BabyPlus system, and that they also nurse better, sleep better, and have improved school readiness later on in life as well. Currently the BabyPlus system is on sale at Amazon for under $150.
For more information about how to select and use baby heart doppler devices, please feel free to browse other pages here at the Baby Heart Monitor Information Website.