Congratulations – you’re pregnant! Now you begin the task of worrying about the safety and well-being of another human life. It never ends, but during pregnancy, it seems more intense because you are literally carrying this life. You worry about what you eat, when you eat, where you walk, how you stretch, what you lift – and the list goes on and on. There are a number of devices available to help you calm down during a pregnancy.
12 gifts every new parent can really use
Thoughtful and useful gifts for new parents that they will really appreciate. Here are the best gifts that every new parent can really use.
Should you do a doppler at home for your pregnancy?
Deciding whether to use a fetal doppler at home is a personal decision, but the prevailing medical opinion is not. In 2014, the FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) advises against using fetal doppler. The only time you should use a doppler, the FDA says, is when a doctor is using it, so it’s medically necessary.
There is no definitive research to show that ultrasounds are harmful, but it is always best to seek professional medical advice if you think something is wrong. A strong heartbeat in a fetus is not the only indicator of optimal health.
8 Best Belly Cast Kits for a Unique Keepsake
Create a unique and lovable keepsake of your baby with the best cast kits. Here are the best abdominal cast kits.
What do doctors say about self-checks?
While many ob/gyn have not come out explicitly versus self-checks, caution against using them as a substitute for regular prenatal care or when you have a concern. Monitoring your blood pressure at home weekly to keep track of your numbers is fine, but studies have shown that self-monitoring your blood pressure does not prevent preeclampsia.
It’s also great to monitor your blood glucose/sugar levels, especially if you’re at risk for diabetes, but you should have the required test at 38 weeks.
Here are the best home monitors during pregnancy:
Bezibyal Multi Dopplex II-Doppler pregnancy monitor
Bezibyal Multi Dopplex II-Doppler pregnancy monitor that detects the fetal heartbeat at the beginning of the second trimester.
- Product usage
- fetal heartbeat detection
- What’s Included:
- gel
- accompanied by gel
- good sound quality
The Bezibyal Multi Dopplex II-Doppler monitor used to transmit and receive ultrasound energy. Reviews are mixed, with some parents saying it works great and others saying it’s not worth the purchase. For those who liked it, they say the sound quality is perfect. They also say the instructions are clear and easy to use.
They love that the gel is included. On the other hand, some parents complained that they could not get the heartbeat well after the recommended 16 weeks of the product. One user also says that the monitor does not show an accurate fetal heart rate.
Skywin fetoscope to detect baby’s heartbeat
Skywin Fetoscope for Baby Heartbeat Detection is an at-home device to listen to the fetal heartbeat
- Product usage
- fetal heartbeat detection
- has clear instructions
- does not use ultrasound energy
The Skywin Fetoscope it is non-invasive and allows you to easily hear the baby’s heartbeat around 20 weeks. It is easy and convenient to use. Parents can take it with them to use without worrying about parts and batteries that may need replacing or charging.
Reviews from parents are mixed. While the manufacturers claim that you can detect sound at 6-7 weeks, most users reported that they could not hear anything until five months pregnant.
Care Touch Blood Glucose Meter Kit
The Care Touch Blood Glucose Meter Kit helps monitor blood glucose levels
- Product usage
- monitors blood glucose
- Special characteristics
- Automatic power off, internal memory for 300 readings
- Convenient and portable
- Results in just 5 seconds
- Marking before and after the meal
- Automatic shutdown
The Care Touch Glucose Meter Kit monitors blood glucose levels. This can be a great tool for expectant mothers if you are at risk for gestational diabetes. It is quick and easy to use, requires only 0.5 UL of blood and gives results in just 5 seconds. The kit saves up to 300 measurements and provides a 14-day average of measurements.
Users say it’s a great tool for a great price. It is easy to use and reliable. Be careful, however, when taking multiple readings within a given period, as readings can vary.
Calibrated sphygmomanometer
Customized blood pressure monitor that allows automatic blood pressure monitoring
- Product usage
- blood pressure monitoring
- Special characteristics
- 2 user memory, Voice broadcast
- What’s Included:
- Case, Batteries
- easy to read LCD display
- adjustable cuff
- Store up to 120 readings
The Calibrated sphygmomanometer is a popular tool for self-monitoring of blood pressure. For some pregnant women, even if they had no previous risk, they sometimes develop pregnancy-related hypertension. This can lead to pre-eclampsia. If advised by your healthcare provider, this blood pressure monitor may be appropriate. It is easy to use with large buttons and large numbers displayed on a large LCD screen. The arm cuff is adjustable so it accommodates different arm sizes.
The 12 Best Baby Hand and Footprint Kits for a Unique DIY Keepsake
Create a lasting memory of your little one’s tiny feet with the best baby impression kits Here are the best baby impression kits for a unique keepsake.
It has enough memory to store up to 120 blood pressure readings, with the ability to maintain two user profiles. Users say it works great with accurate and fast results. They also guarantee its accuracy. They also like that it comes in a convenient case and the batteries last a long time.
Dixie EMS Fetal Stethoscope for detecting baby’s heartbeat
Fetal stethoscope detecting heartbeat after 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Product usage
- fetal heart rate detection
- safe and easy to use
- portable
The Dixie EMS Fetal Stethoscope it is used to detect the heartbeat of the fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is safe to use with simple instructions.
Make sure to use it in a quiet room for best hearing as it doesn’t amplify sounds. Users like it and say it works if you follow the instructions. There is no risk of exposure to the baby and it is portable.
Kicktrak Baby Kick Tracking System
Kicktrak Baby Kick monitoring system to track your unborn baby’s kicks
- Product usage
- watches the unborn baby kick
- The user still needs to count the kicks
The Kicktrak Baby Kick Tracking System watches unborn babies kick. It can be helpful if you are worried about stillbirth.
Users say it works well, but it’s kind of redundant since you have to count the kicks yourself. Users have to press a button on each kick, but users say they could easily do it themselves.
8 Best Belly Cast Kits for a Unique Keepsake
Create a unique and lovable keepsake of your baby with the best cast kits. Here are the best abdominal cast kits.
How and why you should count your kicks
Kick counting, also known as fetal movement counting, is a great way to monitor fetal health. Changes in the movement pattern of the fetus may indicate that it is under stress.
There are two ways to properly count kicks, according to Cleveland Clinic.
You can count the number of kicks you feel during an hour or count how long it takes for the fetus to kick ten times. You will probably start to feel fetal movement around the 20th week. If it’s your first pregnancy, it may be later, and you may feel it earlier if it’s not your first.
