Badum
Can I hear the heartbeat with an anterior placenta?
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Often yes, but usually later and more faintly. An anterior placenta sits between the baby and the belly wall, so it muffles sound on its way to the phone microphone. Many parents with an anterior placenta report first hearing something at week 26 or later.
Why an anterior placenta makes it harder
The placenta is a thick, soft cushion. When it sits at the front of the uterus, every sound from the baby has to pass through it before it reaches your skin. It is the same reason kicks can feel softer or come later with an anterior placenta. A phone microphone only hears what reaches the surface, so there is simply less to amplify.
What to try
- Go lower on the bump and further to the sides, away from the middle where the placenta usually sits.
- Try the spots where you feel kicks. The baby is closer to the surface there.
- Lie on your left side and take the phone case off.
- Raise the amplify slider and use the noise-reduction slider to push back your own body sounds.
- Use headphones and keep the room quiet.
When to try again
Do not worry if it takes longer. Try again every week or two from week 26 on. Sounds get easier to catch as the baby grows. Some parents with an anterior placenta hear the heartbeat late in pregnancy, and some hear mostly blood flow. Both are normal.
Not hearing anything with a phone app says nothing about your baby's health. If you have concerns about movement, contact your midwife or doctor.
Related questions
How do I know if I have an anterior placenta?
Your scan report or your midwife or doctor will tell you. Badum cannot: it amplifies a microphone and does not see anything.
Is an anterior placenta a problem for the baby?
That is a question for your midwife or doctor. Badum is a keepsake app and cannot answer it.
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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.