best stethescope for L&D

OB4ME · Oct 4, 2002

Originally posted by elleRN
What kind of stethescope do you recommend for working in L&D, postpartum and newborn nursery??? Thanks for opinion!

Personally, I own a Littman stethoscope that costs about $70. But, working all areas of OB (L&D, post, and nursery)...I really don't think that I would necessarily recommend the best (read: expensive!). Unless you plan to eventually go into, say...cardiology...Just a reasonable stethoscope will get you through most everything. :-) And, you can use one size for both babies and adults, if you do all 3 areas...Just buy the adult size.

Besides, the expensive ones tend to *walk*...

OB4ME · Oct 4, 2002

BTW...I don't think that I even really need my $70 Littman working OB, Maternal-Child Health. I often leave it in my bag to collect dust, and end up using the cheap hospital stethoscopes half the time...LOL!

wsiab · Oct 8, 2002

I use a regular sprague stethoscope (prestige medical), it works just fine for me. A lot of my co workers use them too. I like that the have the pediatric and adult diaphrams, and you can switch back and forth quickly.

Littmans tend to walk away a lot on our unit, one of my friends is on her third this year.

MelissaCT · Oct 12, 2002

You never know when you will need a good stethoscope in maternity.

A coworker pickedup a heart murmur and irregular heartbeat on her patient the other day. She used to work in neurology so she had a good stethoscope.