Frequently Asked Questions
/On this page…
After how many weeks can I expect to hear my baby?
30-40 weeks, but it may be as early as 16 weeks. The app amplifies the sound in your uterus and as the baby gets bigger and stronger the more we are able to hear.
Does the app work the same as ultrasound?
No, we simply use the microphone in your phone, which is we have designed to be very sensitive to sound frequencies baby’s create.
Can the app harm my baby?
No, but in order to eliminate any risk, we DO NOT recommend using the app when not in airplane mode which disconnects the phone from the wifi and cellular network. Once done the app is as safe as a fetal doppler machine.
What is the facebook group?
Hear My Baby’s Facebook group is a support group for the community so that you can help other mothers and share your results from using the app. You can join the group here.
How do I switch my phone to airplane mode?
Simply go to your phone’s settings and select ‘airplane mode’.
Even my boyfriend's tummy or leg has a heartbeat?
Be mindful that the human body has major arteries which pump blood all over the body and it is possible to pick up a sound like a heartbeat from these arteries. It will be rhythmic but significantly slower than a baby’s. A baby, in general, will have a heartbeat between 170 beats per minute and 130 beat per minute depending on the number of weeks you are. Please do check our facebook page or the examples within the app so you can hear how a good baby recording sounds.
Even my sofa makes a sound!
We get this a lot! :)
All that has happened is that the app works by enhancing given ranges of sounds. Sometimes this means it picks up reverberations from televisions, music, jack-hammers, trucks outside, washing machines, dishwashers and if those reverberations have a regular timing they may sound like a heartbeat. However, it is very easy to distinguish.
A heartbeat is a very clear sound and should be like the examples we provide in the app.
We've had to go to great lengths to prove the app works to Apple, we have years of specialist knowledge in sound engineering and app development and have involved medical practitioners in the development of the app. Medical Doctors are among our customers.
So if you're getting a heartbeat sound on a sofa this isn't what a heartbeat sounds like.
The app isn't designed to be against fabric or other materials but is designed to be fully surrounded by skin.
Here's why:
Your sofa is an inanimate object. It clearly doesn't have a heartbeat.
The heartbeat examples on our facebook page highlight what a real heartbeat should sound like. It isn't totally rhythmic or consistent. We're not faking anything, simply that the object on which the iPhone is placed is picking up a sound in the heartbeat range.
Sometimes moving the bottom mic of the iPhone over a fabric may sound like this for a few seconds, but it won't be consistent and is often just lots of noise. If you find the the heartbeat you'll be able to hear it for a while if the baby stays still.
SOFA BUG UPDATE!
We've found a bug that affects some users who may report their arm or sofa has a heartbeat. This is due to feedback caused by the volume being high on the device and causing a feedback loop which sounds similar to a heartbeat.
SOLUTION:
Turn the volume off and see if the problem is still occurring. It shouldn't be, and you can judge this by the wave form identified on the device. If it is still occurring email us!
Then, when the volume is off, turn up the volume slightly to so you can hear the app, and so that it is audible. Then try again. At low volume settings you should be able to hear but not suffer from feedback loops that may sound like a heartbeat.
How fast should my baby’s heartbeat be?
Around twice the speed of yours, between 130 to 170 beats per minute. If you hear what sounds like a heartbeat, but is slower, it could well be yours pumping blood around your own body through a major artery.
Is Hear My Baby a medical device?
No. It is in no way a replacement for professional medical advice and is simply for bonding with your baby. Please be sure to seek medical advice from your doctor if you have any concerns.
What should my heartbeat sound like?
Here is a real example of a mother’s heartbeat, recorded with HMB:
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CONTACT OUR SUPPORT TEAM
Please do contact us if you still have problems. We want to help you get an amazing result and have a wonderful experience using our app. We promise it does work as you can see by examples on our instagram and facebook pages.
