Badum
Is that the baby's heartbeat or blood flow?
Last updated:
A fast, regular, galloping rhythm is what parents describe as the baby's heartbeat. A whooshing or swishing sound is usually blood flow through the placenta or your own vessels. Both are normal, and Badum cannot tell you which is which: it amplifies, it does not diagnose.
What the heartbeat usually sounds like
Parents most often describe it as a galloping horse or a fast little train. It is quick, even and light, and much faster than your own pulse. Typical figures parents hear at scans are 110 to 160 beats per minute for the baby and 60 to 100 for you. Badum does not measure either.
What blood flow sounds like
Blood flow is a softer whoosh or swish rather than a beat. It comes from the placenta or from the vessels in your own belly. It can keep time with your pulse or run at a faster pace. Hearing it is normal, and many parents hear it before they hear the heartbeat itself.
Other sounds you may hear
- Stomach and bowel gurgles, which are loud and irregular.
- Thumps and bumps when the baby moves.
- Your own breathing, and the rustle of clothing against the microphone.
- Room noise, which the noise-reduction slider helps with.
Why Badum cannot tell you which is which
Badum amplifies the phone's microphone and saves what it hears. It does not analyse the sound, count beats or judge whether a sound is the baby. It is a keepsake and bonding app, not a medical device. If anything about your pregnancy worries you, contact your midwife or doctor.
Related questions
Does a whooshing sound mean something is wrong?
No. Whooshing is a normal blood-flow sound. If anything about your pregnancy worries you, ask your midwife or doctor rather than an app.
Can I count the beats myself?
You can count against a clock for fun, but Badum does not measure heart rate, and the number you get is not a health check.
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.