A fetal doppler is a handheld ultrasound device that uses the Doppler effect to detect and listen to a baby's heartbeat in the womb, offering reassurance and a bonding experience for expectant parents, though it's primarily a professional tool for monitoring fetal viability and not a diagnostic instrument
. These non-invasive devices, sometimes called "sonicaids," can often detect heartbeats from around 12-16 weeks of pregnancy, using a gel-coated probe on the mother's skin to translate blood flow sounds into audible heartbeats