Badum
Is Badum safe for my baby?
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Yes. Badum only listens through your phone's built-in microphone. It emits nothing: no ultrasound, no sound waves, no signals of its own. It is your phone's microphone, amplified.
What Badum does when you press record
Badum opens the phone's microphone, amplifies the sound it picks up, applies noise reduction and saves the clip to your heartbeat journal. Nothing is sent into your body at any point. Listening with Badum is the same, physically, as resting your phone on your bump.
How this differs from a fetal doppler
A fetal doppler sends ultrasound waves into the body and listens for the echo from the baby's heart. It is a regulated medical device, and it is worth asking your midwife before buying one for home use. Badum sends nothing. It only listens.
Sensible habits while you listen
- Keep sessions short and comfortable. Lie on your side or propped up if lying flat on your back is uncomfortable.
- Keep headphone volume at a level that is comfortable for you, as with any audio.
- Treat every recording as a keepsake. Do not use Badum to reassure yourself about your baby's health. If you are worried, contact your midwife or doctor.
Related questions
Is it safe to use Badum every day?
Badum sends nothing into your body, so listening often adds no risk from the app itself. Keep sessions comfortable and remember it is a keepsake, not a check.
Is the amplified sound played into my bump?
No. The sound goes to your headphones or the phone speaker, not into your body. Badum only amplifies what the microphone hears.
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.