This means that when you listen in, you may not be hearing the baby’s heartbeat at all and can be falsely reassured. “When using an app or hand held doppler it is possible for there to be some confusion with the mother’s own heartbeat and pulsing of the placenta which can be doubled to sound like the baby’s heartbeat. There is often no way of knowing if the technology has been tested, how it's been tested, and whether any health professionals have been involved. There is also little regulation of these apps and devices, and the claims they make. Unless you are professionally trained, it is easy to confuse what you are hearing or seeing and be falsely reassured.

That can only be done by a midwife or health professional who has received special training and knows what to listen and look for.

We’ve noticed a worrying rise in the number of mobile apps claiming to be able to monitor your unborn baby’s heartbeat, and now there's even a device that supposedly allows you to do home scans! As with home dopplers, these apps and devices may sound tempting but they are not a safe way to listen to your baby’s heartbeat or check if they are well.