Pregnancy is something that married couples look forward to. For women, especially if you are newly married, pregnancy is a thrilling new experience. By using pregnancy apps, pregnant women can get a lot of important information about pregnancy and go through pregnancy with peace of mind.
How Can Pregnancy Apps Support Your Pregnancy Journey?
For young moms going through their first pregnancy, it is common to have a number of questions about pregnancy. Sometimes consulting a doctor face-to-face is not enough to answer the mother's curiosity.
Along with the development of technology, pregnant women can utilize technology to help them through their pregnancy. Some pregnancy apps now have a variety of features that pregnant women can use to monitor the health conditions of the mother and fetus.
Features found on pregnancy apps include:
Doctor appointment reminders
Since the beginning of pregnancy, pregnant women are expected to undergo regular pregnancy checks. At the beginning of pregnancy, generally, the examination can be done once every month.
During pregnancy check-ups, pregnant women will undergo general health checks such as blood pressure checks, weight checks, belly size measurements, and checking the mother’s nutrition. Checking if a tetanus shot is needed can also be done, and the tetanus shot can be given if deemed necessary for pregnant women. As the fetus develops, the pregnancy check-up also includes the development of the baby’s heartbeat.
Given the importance of pregnancy check-ups, some pregnancy apps generally have a reminder feature for when you need to see a doctor. This feature is very helpful, especially for pregnant women who easily forget due to pregnancy.
Read more: The Science Behind Pregnancy Brain
Fetal development information
One of the features needed by pregnant women is information on fetal development from week to week. This information includes fetal length, fetal weight, and other fetal growth.
Relaxation exercises
Pregnant women, especially in their first pregnancy, are prone to stress due to hormonal changes or other concerns about labor and pregnancy. Some apps provide information on relaxation exercises that pregnant women may need, including breathing exercises leading up to labor.
Contraction tracker
Pregnancy apps generally also provide a contraction logging feature for pregnant women who have entered the final trimester of pregnancy.
You can customize the contraction logging with a pattern where contractions happen every 5 minutes, last 1 minute, and continue for 1 hour. When feeling this contraction pattern, it means that the mother can start preparing for labor in the hospital.
In addition to contraction loggers, pregnancy apps generally have a feature to record a baby's movements. Baby’s movements are generally calculated by measuring how long it takes to feel 10 kicks or other movements. Usually, a baby's movement is considered normal if you feel 10 movements in 2 hours or less.
Baby movement patterns generally vary, but if there is a significant change in movement, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Baby care information
Pregnancy apps generally also provide various baby care information that pregnant women need in preparing for childbirth. Some of the information available includes routine newborn care, complaints that are often experienced by babies and their treatments, and other necessary health information.
Using pregnancy apps can help make pregnancy easier. By using pregnancy apps, pregnant women can be more aware of the signs of pregnancy problems experienced.
However, while pregnancy apps provide useful information, they should not replace professional medical advice. If you require medical consultation, you can visit a healthcare provider or utilize the consultation features available in the Ai Care application. Download the Ai Care app from the App Store or Play Store for further assistance.
Looking for more tips and tricks for health, first aid, and other home remedies? Click here!
- dr. Monica Salim
Lindberg, S. (2021). Should You Try a Pregnancy App?. Available from: https://www.verywellfamily.com/pregnancy-apps-4685312#
Hui, K., Modglin, L. (2023). Best Pregnancy Apps. Available from: https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-pregnancy-apps-5097399#
Hughson, J. P., Daly, J. O., Woodward-Kron, R., Hajek, J., & Story, D. (2018). The Rise of Pregnancy Apps and the Implications for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women: Narrative Review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 6(11), e189. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9119/