As soon as I knew we were pregnant

I bought a doppler

A fetal heart monitor

I have it in a drawer in the lounge

I do not use it very often

But it makes me smile when I do

I love to hear that beating heart

I love to hear that racing heart

It makes my own heart swell with love

It helps me to bond with my unborn baby

I thought if I had one I would use it every day

But I don’t

We don’t

We use it if we have had a really busy day

If I have felt no movement

If I have felt some pain

Or am in any way concerned

I think we have used it at most once a week

But I know it is there

In that drawer in lounge

If I need some reassurance

If I want to take some time

Using the doppler

I leave to David

When I was in hospital

Before Esther and William were born

The midwives used to check for babies’ heartbeats

Several times a day

David became the expert of knowing where each baby was

And helped the midwives find their heartbeats

David is the doppler wielder now

I lie and hold my breath

Until he finds her beating heart

We bought an Angel Sounds Fetal Heart Detector

And have been really pleased with it

It is easy to use (says David)

And the sounds are clear to hear

You can use a doppler from around 12 weeks

I think we started listening at about 14

As this pregnancy progresses

I am thinking, hoping

That we will listen to less

As baby’s movements become more regular

And easy to feel

I hope that they will provide the reassurance

That we so desperately need

And help me to bond more with our Rainbow Baby

I am also a follower of Count The Kicks

And heed their warning about the use of home dopplers

I believe that dopplers do have a place

But when it comes to monitoring

The health and happiness of an unborn baby

Then I believe that regular monitoring

Of fetal movements is the key

But there is something quite magical

About that beating heart