"Teen Mom 2" reality TV star Chelsea Houska can't contain her excitement over her second pregnancy with partner Cole DeBoer. Last July 13, the mom revealed that she's in the early weeks of her term and that she has already taken home tests to confirm this.
Chelsea Houska said that all three pregnancy tests she has done at home were positive. However, concerns have been raised about Chelsea Houska's pregnancy habit. The star has a home Doppler device, which she used to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. This habit might be sending out the wrong message to other moms.
I was able to find baby's heartbeat with the Doppler for the first time today I cannot handle it! I want to listen all day!
— Chelsea Houska (@ChelseaHouska) July 15, 2016
Originally intended for use by medical professionals, at-home Dopplers or fetal monitors have become popular among moms for their personal use. It can be purchased over-the-counter and, depending on features, at-home Dopplers price range vary from $100 to $500. There are even devices for rent for mothers who might want to avail of its use on a budget.
Dopplers monitor the baby's heartbeat and make use ultrasound technology, which has an "excellent safety record," per the FDA. However, the concern with its use for the home is not in the ultrasound exposure -- as there aren't enough studies to prove it can be bad for the baby's health -- but rather in the mother's reliance on the device without seeking a professional opinion.
According to She Knows, mothers who are the type to consult Google for the slightest health conditions, shouldn't ideally be using at-home Dopplers. The device might offer false assurance for a mom who believes hearing the baby's heartbeat means the fetus is OK, when it's not. It can also go the other way, such as in this case with a mom in the Netmums community. "My midwife didn't want me to have one, but her reasoning was that if I couldn't find the heartbeat because baby might be hiding, then I would panic," she shared.
The FDA's official stand on heartbeat monitors for home use is clear. "When the product is purchased over the counter and used without consultation with a health care professional taking care of the pregnant woman, there is no oversight of how the device is used," said FDA biomedical engineer Shahram Vaezy, Ph.D. in its report.
Chelsea Houska could have a team of pregnancy doctors checking up on her. Perhaps the emphasis on home tests on her social media sites should also be compounded with actual doctor visits to set the record straight. Watch the video below for more information on at-home Doppler use.
