Baby Heartbeat or Maternal Pulse: Can You Tell the Difference?
It is easy to interpret a rhythmic sound from your phone as your baby’s heartbeat. However, the microphone captures many body sounds at once, including the mother’s pulse, blood flow, breathing, digestion and fabric movement. Without clinical equipment and professional training, you cannot reliably identify the source.
Written by HelloMommyHelloMommy editorial teamUpdated Published 2 min readSounds a phone may record
A sensitive microphone can pick up rhythms from the mother’s blood vessels, breathing, digestion, baby movements and the phone or clothing sliding. Some repeat regularly and can sound convincing.
Why checking your wrist pulse is not a diagnosis
Feeling your wrist at the same time may be interesting, but this home experiment cannot confirm the recording’s source. The pace may match by chance, change with movement or appear with a delay. Do not use it to calculate BPM.
How a healthcare professional assesses it
A doctor or midwife assesses the heart rate with specialist equipment, recognises common artefacts and considers gestational age and the clinical situation. Ultrasound can also provide information about growth, position, movement and the placenta—far more than an audio file.
The right role for Bubbi
Bubbi helps create an emotional moment and save a sound that matters to your family. The app does not confirm which rhythm was recorded and should not provide false reassurance or cause alarm.
When not to rely on a sound
If your baby’s usual movements decrease or change, do not spend time listening. The NHS stresses that even hearing a rhythm with a home Doppler does not mean the baby is well. Contact your maternity unit or healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
Can you identify a heartbeat by the rhythm’s speed?
No. A single number or the perceived speed of a home recording does not confirm its source.
Why can I hear several different rhythms?
The microphone may capture pulse, blood flow, breathing, digestion and movement at the same time.
Can Bubbi make a diagnosis?
No. Medical assessment requires a qualified healthcare professional.
Sources
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust — Listening to your baby’s heartbeat
- NHS — Your baby’s movements during pregnancy
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or midwife about your own pregnancy.
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