Family Planning Q&As

 

Welcome! On this page you will find FAQs that are related to products in our Family Planning category excluding Ovulation and Pregnancy Tests. We have provided links below that are the names of products. If you have any questions relating to those products, just click the link and it will scroll you down the page to where FAQs are located regarding that product. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please don't hesitate to contact us! 

Wireless Video Baby Monitor 

Fetal Doppler

Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer

 

 

Wireless Video Baby Monitor  (Easy@Home):

 

How does the Easy@Home digital baby monitor work?

Digital baby monitors use a secure pairing security channel that is encodes the signal.  It will only pair the LCD Display (parent) unit to the Camera (baby) unit

 

How do you turn the unit on?

You can turn the baby monitor on by switch on the volume dial on the parent unit.  This controls volume and on/off in one.  The power ON will indicate a red light and play music for 3 seconds.

 

How do I know the baby unit camera is paired to the LCD display parent unit?

If the LCD display signal is received an image will show in the display, otherwise a white screen will appear.  There are 32 channels and it will automatically search for a signal.

 

What are the ways I can set-up the camera?

There are 3 different ways to set-up the camera.  You can place it on a surface such as a table or dresser, the bottom has a foot mat to securely sit in on a surface.  You can clip it using the clip that clicks into the bottom of the camera.  Lastly, there is a hole on the bottom of the camera that allows you to mount it to a wall.  The camera comes with an A/C adapter. Plug it in and pair for use.

You can make Pan/Tilt adjustment on the camera manually to get the desired vision of the baby on the parent unit display. The camera lens is focusable for optimized clear vision.

 

How do you activate night vision?

The infrared LED will auto switch to night vision when the baby monitor is used in the dark.  The image will show in black & white instead of color.

 

How does the baby monitor stay charged? Are batteries included?

There are two units included:

The parent unit, which is the led display, comes with 3 rechargeable AAA’s. The batteries are pre-installed. A fully charged parent unit will last 8 hours off the charger. It is best to recharge the batteries at least once every three months to extend the life of the batteries.

The baby unit is the camera portion.  There are no batteries needed.  An A/C adapter is used to plug in and the camera can be paired with parent LCD Display.

 

How far can the baby monitor units reach?

The baby monitor can reach up to 200 m long range.  If the parent unit is too far away from the baby unit, an Out of Range Alert will activate.

 

When the unit is on standby, how does it turn on?

The baby monitor has motion and voice sensor activation.  If noises are sensed or motion in range of the camera, it will activate to live feed to the LCD Display.  The units also have 2-way communication, so you can talk and hear your baby and vice-versa.

 

What is the VOX function?

VOX stands for Voice Operated exchange, it is a soft switch that operates when sound over a certain threshold is detected, for the purpose of battery energy saving. The VOX switch button is located on the side of the LCD display unit. Once turned on, the display will turn off automatically to enter stand-by state if no voice or sound is sensed by the camera unit in a about 10 seconds, and it will be activated from its stand-by state if voice or sound is sensed.

 

 Will this digital baby monitor interfere with WiFi?

This is a controversial query. The digital baby monitor operates on a 2.4GHz frequency.  Most WiFi compatible devices operate at 5.8 GHz or more. There are only 3 major channels that have the ability to overlap.  Some suggest using a double router to avoid such possibilities of interference.

The popularity of the 2.4 GHz can be found in many wireless devices as well, such as cordless phones.  This frequency range was relatively unused a few years ago, it offered a high level of interference-free operation for the wireless devices that used it.  Therefore, there is potential for interference such as causing static with the baby monitor when a cordless phone rings.  The WiFi itself may cause the baby monitor to temporarily disable, but the WiFi should not be affected.

 

Why is there sharp feedback when the parent unit is placed close to the camera unit? How to avoid this feedback?

When the parent unit is too close to the camera, it will cause self-sustained oscillation, this is the feedback we often name it. Take the parent unit a little bit farther away from the camera, the feedback will end.

 

Fetal Doppler

What is fetal doppler?  Is it safe to use at home?

The Sweetie Song Fetal Doppler is a hand-held ultrasound transducer used to detect the fetal heartbeat for prenatal care. The fetal probe uses the Doppler Effect (high frequency sound waves) to provide an audible simulation of the heartbeat. This product is CE certified and FDA approved and safe to use at home. Hand-held dopplers are thought to be perfectly safe, if used according to the guidelines.  Some doctors and midwifes shy away from promoting at home use, because they believe only certified technicians and professionals should operate such equipment. We provide a manual with equipment details and use a reputable Manufacturing company to produce our product.  In addition, we have a dedicated customer service and technical support team to answer any inquiries you may have or provide supplemental resources.

 

Is it safe to use the fetal doppler regularly or should it be limited?

Mayo Clinic states: "Ultrasound has been routinely used in obstetrics for more than 30 years. There's no scientific evidence of any harmful effects to the fetus from the use of ultrasound during pregnancy. It's considered a very safe procedure for both the mother and the fetus." They also say that "Because it doesn't involve potentially harmful radiation, ultrasound is safe for both mother and baby."

Numerous tests are continually conducted by manufacturers and the U.S. government relegation agencies. Past results have indicated no adverse side effects. It is commonly recommended that like everything in life moderation is the best policy.

When using your fetal doppler it is suggested that you use it in short intervals, infrequently, and following the first trimester. As a general rule an exam with a fetal doppler should never last longer than 10 minutes. If you don't find baby's heartbeat in this period of time, take a break. If you are concerned contact your health care provider. If not, try again in a few days. Finding a heartbeat can be difficult at first, practice patience while operating.  Reach out to our dedicated customer service team if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Why do you have to use ultrasound gel?

The ultrasound gel is needed in order to create a barrier between the fetal doppler probe and the expected mother’s stomach.  The doppler works by using high frequency sound waves into the body (doppler waves) to detect audio sound, i.e. fetal heartbeat.  We provide a starter 1.0 oz bottle of ultrasound gel included with purchase.

 

I ran out of ultrasound gel, can I substitute another product to use as a barrier?

Yes. Ultrasound gel is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online or your local pharmacy.  However, you can use Original KY Jelly Lubricant (or similar brand) or clear Aloe Vera gel.

 

When can I start using the fetal doppler? 

As a general rule, from week 12 of the pregnancy on.  Some can detect as early as 10 weeks. An important note is to remember that everyone is different, so not finding your baby's heartbeat early isn't a reason for concern. On average, most women are able to hear the fetal heartbeat from the 14th week on.

 

 My fetal doppler turned off, why?

The fetal doppler will turn off automatically after 1 minute if not used in order to save the battery.  The unit will not turn back on, please check the probe connection and make sure the battery is fully charged.

 

What is the average fetal heart beat?

A fetal heart rate is usually between 120 and 160 beats per minute, which is much faster than an adult’s. The baby's normal fetal heart rate will also vary normally, just as your heart rate does. Movement, sleeping and other activities can cause a normal variation also outside of the typical range momentarily.  In addition, extra noises, such as the mother's heartbeat or stomach rumbling or static caused by doppler probe movement, can mask the signals causing unreliable doppler measurement.

 

Can certain conditions affect the fetal doppler measurement?

Absolutely, these are a few conditions that can affect the reliability of the fetal doppler:

  • Smoking tobacco products
  • Drinking or eating large amounts of caffeine can falsely raise the baby's heart rate.
  • Extra noises, such as the mother's heartbeat or stomach rumbling, can mask the signals.
  • Baby is sleeping.
  • Problems associated with the placement of the doppler probe.
  • Baby is moving a lot during the measurement.
  • Pregnant with more than one baby, such as twins or triplets.

 

What are the benefits of using the fetal heart rate monitor?

Fetal dopplers can help reduce anxiety during pregnancy and offer reassurance especially during the early stages before it is even possible to feel the baby moving. Listening to the fetal heartbeat is also a great way for a parent-to-be to bond with their unborn baby.