Listen to your baby’s heartbeat at home

There’s nothing more special than hearing your baby’s heart beating for the first time. It’s probably one of the most memorable moments of your pregnancy. Did you know you can do this on you’re phone’s microphone? Yes, you heard your baby’s heartbeat at your ultrasound this morning, but maybe Dad couldn’t be there to hear it as well – or maybe you just want to listen to the sweet sound again.

These are the apps you can use:

Hear My Baby Heartbeat Monitor Pregnancy App Only available on the App Store for iPhone, R79.99

This app was developed by parents who wanted a trustworthy, safe and easy-to-use way to record their baby’s heartbeat and other sounds. It may take time to pick up your baby’s heartbeat and it will also depend how your baby is lying in your tummy. It is possible (but less likely) to hear your baby’s heartbeat from as early as 16 – 20 weeks. The creators of the app say that you’ll definitely be able to hear something from 27 weeks and that the results are best between 30 – 40 weeks as your baby is bigger and stronger.

Is it safe? Many moms worry that putting the phone so close to their belly might be dangerous for baby – but you can rest assured that it is completely safe to use as long as you follow the instructions. They also recommend putting your phone on airplane mode when doing this.

Bellabeat Shell: Pregnancy App Available on the App Store for iPhone, Free

Hear your baby’s heartbeat in a few simple steps and make a lifetime memory. This easy-to-use app uses your phone’s microphone in conjunction with algorithms to make it possible for moms and dads-to-be to hear their baby’s heartbeat and other sounds. Use between 30 – 40 weeks of pregnancy for the best results.

Baby Heartbeats Lite Available for Android

This app also allows you to listen to your baby’s heartbeat and to record it. The paid version lets you share the recording with friends and family.

Important note about the apps It’s really important not to go into a panic just because you can’t heart your baby’s heartbeat, and think that something is wrong. None of these apps are intended to be used as a medical device. If you are worried that something is wrong with your baby, contact your doctor for peace of mind.