Summit Fetal Doppler

One of the greatest joys of life, or so I’m told, is that of parenthood. Not only is it the most rewarding task one will ever undertake, but also the most frustrating. Regardless of how you personally feel about parenthood, at some point in the journey that is life you’re likely to see a fetal Doppler. Used by healthcare professionals to gauge a developing baby’s heart rate, a fetal Doppler provides not only an audible simulation of the baby’s natural heart beat, but some models also display the heart rate in beats-per-minute. The reason that a digital display model might relate the heart rate in beats-per-minute has to do with the ways that a fetus’ heart rate ties into the baby’s overall health and development.

A device such as the Summit Fetal Doppler, produced by Summit Doppler Systems, works based on a phenomenon known as the Doppler effect. The Doppler effect explains why, as an object moves toward an observer while producing sound, the pitch of sound will increase. Similarly, as the object emitting the sound is moving away from the observer, the pitch will seem to decrease. This is due to the frequency of the object’s sound being altered relative to its location to the observer. As the object moves toward you, the sound waves that it is emitting are technically being emitted from a source that is growing closer and closer to you, i.e. you are hearing faster and faster sound waves. As a sound wave speeds up, its frequency increases, and as its frequency increases, so does its pitch.

A great real-life example of the Doppler effect in action would be at any auto race. Have you ever heard the characteristic ‘zoom’ sound that racecars make as they round a corner? That is caused by the Doppler effect. Since each car is getting closer and closer to you while you watch from the corner, and then further and further away as it speeds down the straight-a-way, you perceive a high pitched roar followed by a fading rumble. The reason I say ‘perceive’ is that the racecar is only making one sound—an evenly pitched hum. However, due to the racecar’s position changing rapidly in relation to the position you are sitting, you perceive a ‘zoom’ sound being made.

Now, this is not to the say that the Summit Fetal Doppler systems are racecars. However, they do utilize the science behind Doppler waves to electronically mimic the beating of a baby’s heart. Importantly, although fetal dopplers are seeing more and more use outside of the doctor’s office, it is still recommended that only professionals use the device due to potential harm if used improperly.