Badum
Phone heartbeat app vs fetal doppler: what's the difference?
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A fetal doppler uses ultrasound to pick up the fetal heart rate and is a regulated medical device. A phone app like Badum amplifies the phone's built-in microphone and is a keepsake tool, not a medical device. Neither one replaces prenatal care, and neither should be used for reassurance when something worries you.
At a glance
| Phone heartbeat app (Badum) | Fetal doppler | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Amplifies the phone's built-in microphone. Emits nothing. | Sends ultrasound into the body and listens for the echo from the baby's heart. |
| What you hear | Whatever reaches the skin: heartbeat, blood flow, movement and body sounds. The app cannot tell you which is which. | A processed heartbeat sound, often with a heart-rate number. Interpreting it takes training. |
| From which week | Most parents first pick up sounds between week 20 and week 26. | Ask your midwife. Used by professionals from early pregnancy; home use is a question for them. |
| Cost | Subscription. See the App Store or Google Play for current prices. | A separate purchase. Prices vary by model and country. |
| Accessories | None. Headphones help. | The device itself, batteries and usually ultrasound gel. |
| Safety notes | Only listens through the microphone. No ultrasound, no sound waves, no signals. | A regulated medical device. Ask your midwife before buying one for home use. |
| Medical use | None. Keepsake and bonding only. | A medical device, used by midwives and doctors as part of care. |
How a phone heartbeat app works
Badum opens your phone's built-in microphone, amplifies what it picks up and lets you reduce room noise with a slider. You rest the microphone end of the phone low on your bump, press record, and the clip is saved to a heartbeat journal. What you hear can include blood flow and body sounds as well as the heartbeat, and the app cannot tell you which is which. It is a keepsake.
How a fetal doppler works
A fetal doppler is a handheld device that sends ultrasound into the body and listens for the echo from the baby's moving heart. It is a regulated medical device. Midwives and doctors use one as part of prenatal care and know how to interpret what they hear. If you are thinking of buying one for home use, ask your midwife before you do.
When to call your midwife or doctor instead
If your baby's movements reduce or change, if you have pain or bleeding, or if anything about your pregnancy worries you, contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Do not rely on an app or a home doppler for reassurance. A reassuring sound from either one can delay the call that matters, and neither replaces a professional check.
Which should you choose?
Choose a phone app like Badum if you want a keepsake: a way to listen, record and share the sounds from your bump with your partner and family, with no device to buy. Ask your midwife about a fetal doppler if you have a medical question; it is their tool, and they can tell you whether home use makes sense for you. Many parents use neither at home and simply enjoy the heartbeat at their appointments.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a phone app and a fetal doppler together?
You can own both, but they do different jobs. The app is a keepsake; the doppler is a medical device. Neither one replaces prenatal care.
Does a phone app replace a fetal doppler?
No. A phone app amplifies a microphone and is not a medical device. A fetal doppler uses ultrasound and is regulated as a medical device.
Is a phone heartbeat app safe?
Badum only listens through the phone's microphone and emits nothing: no ultrasound, no sound waves, no signals of its own.
Get Badum on iPhone and Android
Badum is not a medical device and does not provide a medical diagnosis or replace prenatal care. Always talk to your doctor or midwife about your pregnancy and your baby's health.