Best At-home Fetal Dopplers For Early Pregnancy - A Midwife's Review
Andrea Hamilton
Lead Maternity Carer/Registered Nurse
Updated 12th of Oct, 2025
Andrea Hamilton
Lead Maternity Carer/
Registered Nurse
Updated 12th of Oct, 2025
Rating Methodology
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WellnessBaby At-Home Fetal Doppler
WellnessBaby owns a well-deserved top spot on my list of best fetal dopplers. The reason is simple — WellnessBaby effectively detects fetal heart rate within the first trimester, as early as 8 weeks, thanks to its unique multi-sensor technology and 3Mhz probe. With numerous positive reviews on social media, it’s clear that WellnessBaby has won the hearts of many moms. It’s no secret that other brands have tried to replicate the design of the WellnessBaby, but none match its multi-sensor technology and performance. As a midwife, I’ve tested many similar dopplers, and none come close to WellnessBabys’ reliable and consistent results.
Accurately measures fetal heartbeat as early as 9 weeks: when moms are not yet able to feel the baby movements and want peace of mind the most. A few other fetal dopplers claim to detect a baby's heartbeat in the first trimester, but in my experience, WellnessBaby is the only doppler I’ve found that actually delivers on this claim
TFT color display: for pristine picture quality both day and night
Smart Noise Cancellation: robust intelligent noise reduction feature conveyed to the listener in a crystal clear audio quality.
3 MHZ Probe: high-sensitivity probe that offers an impressive ± 2 BPM accuracy. Works perfectly for first trimester.
30 Day Guarantee
US based. Free Shipping Available
FREE 60ml Sound Enhancing Gel
Shop Now, Pay Later with Afterpay
9.8
Our No.1 Pick!
Verified Promo Code: Use code 15OFF upon checkout to get 15% OFF and free shipping
RANKED #02
The Babystore Fetal Doppler
The Babystore fetal Doppler is a solid contender to WellnessBaby. I’d recommend this doppler specifically to women with a higher BMI who may have difficulty hearing the baby’s heartbeat due to the extra body tissue. It’s an older model than the WellnessBaby version but still does a good job.
FDA Cleared
Active Noise Cancelling Cancels background noise and amplifies the heartbeat
2 Customization Modes: Real-time fetal rate display, average fetal heart rate, and mean curve chart.
Stylish Design: There's no doubt that the Babystore Fetal Doppler is one of the best looking dopplers in the market place.
High-precision Monitoring: Separates the mother’s heartbeat from the baby’s resulting in an impressive ± 2 BPM accuracy which matches our winner WellnessBaby.
30 Days Money Back Guarantee
US based. Free Shipping Available
FREE Ultrasound Transmission Gel
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Detects fetal heartbeat from 12 weeks onward may not meet the needs of some moms who seek reassurance in the first trimester/early second trimester when not feeling the baby movements
9.0
Solid Contender!
Live Promo: Use code 15OFF upon checkout to get 15% OFF and free shipping
BabyHeart Fetal Doppler
BabyHeart’s Standard Doppler has a hefty price tag for what it offers. It’s a decent product, and I’ve a friend in Australia who swore by this her entire pregnancy but those outside of the country may find better value (and accuracy) in our top 2 choices.
Large LCD display with backlight
FDA approved
Reasonably Clear Sound
Hefty price tag
Long shipping time
Good accuracy but not the best
8.2
Our #3 Pick!
BabyNish Fetal Doppler
BabyNish Fetal Doppler claims to be able to detect heartbeats as early as six weeks — we do not recommend using this device in the early months of pregnancy because even obstetric providers using medical-grade fetal heartbeat monitors don’t expect to pick up fetal heartbeat until later on in pregnancy.
Great Battery Life - Provide 9 hours of total playtime and 18 hours in total with the case.
3 Color Variants - Automatically turns off when reached a temperature of 122F for you and your family's safety.
IP55 Waterproof Rating - Protected from dust, sweat, and splashes of water.
Poor Noise-Cancellation - Can slightly block out noise but not enough for isolation.
Expensive: $160
7.8
Our #4 Pick!
Fetal Dopplers on Temu
As a midwife, I’ve heard from many moms about the tempting prices of fetal dopplers on Temu. While the low prices are appealing, I always advise being cautious and doing thorough research before making a purchase.
Available in multiple designs/colors
Arguably the lowest-priced options
Lack of FDA Approval & Uncertain Product Quality: Fetal dopplers sold on there may not have undergone the rigorous testing and approval process by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Shipping Delays: Moms have reported long shipping wait times when ordering from Temu, which can be frustrating, especially when expecting a timely arrival for prenatal monitoring.
Limited or No Customer Support: challenging to seek assistance or resolve any problems that may arise.
6.8
Our #5 Pick!
How does a fetal doppler work?
When is it safe to start using the fetal doppler?
What are the benefits of using a fetal doppler?
One of the most significant benefits of fetal heart rate monitoring is that it allows you to monitor your pregnancy from the comfort of your own home. It also gives the parents a remarkable opportunity to bond with their little ones before they are born.
Are baby heart fetal dopplers safe to use?
The one common concern you’ll find regarding fetal dopplers is thermal risks— if you hold the device at a particular spot for a very long time, the tissue will heat up. This risk can be minimized and avoided by using the device sparingly (I only used it a handful of times throughout my pregnancy) and not holding the transducer at one spot for too long (I’d turn it off if I didn’t find the heartbeat in minute, then try again another time).
Also, I recommend connecting with your baby in other ways too, like feeling the baby’s kicks and movements. I did this towards the end of my pregnancy. This way you won’t be over-reliant on this device, since frequent use isn’t recommended.
Is fetal doppler readings reliable?
Fetal Doppler test results
If you’re in your first trimester and can’t hear your baby’s heartbeat, don’t worry. Dopplers, especially at-home types, often won’t reliably detect a baby’s heartbeat until 12 weeks.
The average fetal heart rate is between 110-160 beats per minute and can vary by 5-25 beats per minute. BPM changes based on whether the baby is sleeping, or moving, and also depending on your uterus’s conditions. An abnormal heartbeat may signify that the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or has another issue.
If your doctor is concerned about your baby’s heartbeat, they may recommend a fetal echocardiogram. This is a safe, non-invasive test that gives a detailed picture of your baby’s heart. It can help see if and what kind of irregular heartbeat (or arrhythmia) your baby may have so it can get the right treatment early.
Does a fetal heart rate monitor replace ultrasounds?
Is an ultrasound gel necessary?
Do fetal dopplers use radiation?
How do you use a fetal doppler?
- Get in a reclining position, or lay down flat on your back.
- Turn on your doppler, and adjust its volume. Plugin the earphones if needed.
- Apply the ultrasound gel across your lower abdomen (if you purchase Newborn’s Fetal Doppler, you only have to place the gel on the probe, not your stomach)
- Place the doppler at the lower abdomen and slowly move it upwards.
- Cover different areas and try different device positions till you find the baby’s heartbeat (the WellnessBaby Fetal Doppler comes with a handy chart that shows the optimal points to try based on your trimester. We find this very useful).
- Once finished, clean the device and your abdomen with a dry cloth.
Again, regardless of which you choose, don’t use this device every day and only use it for minimal periods of time. If you can’t find the heartbeat within one or two minutes, stop trying. Also, turn off the device once the baby starts moving.
Why do I hear two heartbeats?
Why WellnessBaby At-home Fetal Doppler is the best?
WellnessBaby owns a well-deserved top spot on my list of best fetal dopplers. The reason is simple — WellnessBaby effectively detects fetal heart rate (FHR) as early as 9 weeks (12 weeks tend to be the norm with most fetal dopplers).
Here’s why this is important — most pregnant women want the freedom to check in on the baby throughout their pregnancy, especially when even a faint heartbeat is a meaningful experience for the parents to realize that bond with their baby. Outside the medical setting, WellnessBaby is the only fetal doppler I can confidently recommend to women who want to safely check in on their baby starting from 8 weeks.
WellnessBabys’ simple build makes it easy to use. The fetal heartbeat is displayed in two modes — curve display and Beats Per Minute (BPM) reading. The curve display gives you a snapshot of the BPM across a specific timeframe, while the BPM reading displays the FHR in numerical form.
The device has an LCD screen with a TFT color display, a combination that results in superior picture quality with sharp visuals 24/7. You can even use it in a dark room as the back-lit screen display makes the FHR result visible without turning the lights on.
The Best-in-class Noise Cancellation
Final Rating – 5/5
The WellnessBaby Fetal Doppler has a built-in speaker and has a headphone jack. Moreover, its 3MHZ, high-sensitivity probe, and robust intelligent noise reduction feature ensure that the high-precision detection of ± 2 BPM is possible and conveyed to the listener in a crystal clear audio quality. The mother may often choose to use this device in family gatherings where there might be a lot of background noise. This device’s noise cancellation feature will ensure that the irrelevant cacophony is eliminated, and you can zone into your baby’s heartbeat.
BPM Accuracy Test
Final Rating – 4.8/5 Stars!
The WellnessBaby At-Home Fetal Doppler hits the mark with ± 2 BPM precision. It uses a sophisticated multi-sensor technology that differentiates the baby’s heartbeat from its mother, outputting high-accurate measurements. The BPM precision I got with his device was uncanny — it helps you to not to get unnecessarily worried by false readings.
Our Final Verdict
WellnessBaby At-home Fetal Doppler is my No.1 choice for early pregnancy.
It’s made from medical-grade material and has great reviews. As a midwife, I can assure you that responsible and sporadic use of this medical-grade newborn fetal Doppler is entirely safe for both the mother and the baby, as it does not emit any radiation or heat.