Badum
I can only hear my own heartbeat. What now?
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That is normal, especially at first. Your own heartbeat is slower, around 60 to 100 beats per minute, while a baby's heartbeat is faster, typically 110 to 160 beats per minute as parents are told at scans. Move the phone lower and to the side, try lying on your left side, and try again after week 24.
How to tell the two apart
Your heartbeat is a slow, steady thud. Put two fingers on your wrist while you listen: if the sound in your headphones keeps time with your pulse, it is yours. A baby's heartbeat is faster and lighter, and parents often describe it as a galloping horse or a small train.
Those beat ranges are general figures parents are given at scans. Badum does not measure heart rate. It amplifies the microphone and lets you listen.
What to try
- Move the phone lower on the bump and to one side, then the other.
- Lie on your left side. Many parents find the sound clearer that way.
- Take the phone case off.
- Raise the amplify slider and adjust the noise-reduction slider until your own body sounds fade.
- Breathe slowly and stay still for a minute in each spot.
When to try again
If your own heartbeat is all you get, wait a week or two and try again. Most parents first pick up sounds between week 20 and week 26, and it gets easier after week 24 as the baby grows and moves closer to the belly wall.
Related questions
Why is my own heartbeat so loud in Badum?
The microphone is resting on your body, so your blood vessels, breathing and stomach are the closest sounds it can hear. The noise-reduction slider helps push them back.
Should I worry if I never hear the baby with a phone app?
No. Not hearing anything with a phone app says nothing about your baby's health. Badum amplifies a microphone; it is not a check. Concerns about movement or anything else go to your midwife or doctor.
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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.