Congratulations! Now, after finding out that you’re pregnant, and after the celebrations and congratulatory messages have subsided, what’s next?
Pregnancy is a wonderful thing, and you will experience so many firsts. There will be many changes in your body, and you may find yourself feeling overwhelming emotions (probably for the first time). Pregnancy is beautiful, but we have to admit that it can be a handful. In other words, you are going to need all the support and encouragement you can get!
You can get this support and encouragement from your partner, your family, and your friends. But let’s admit it: you are going to need someone — or something — that can be available 24 hours a day, everyday.
Enter your modern day 24/7 consultant: pregnancy apps!
Just because you’re on your phone does not mean you’re not being productive. In fact, there are so many things you can learn about your pregnancy by exploring pregnancy apps! To give you an idea of what these apps are, here’s a list of the 10 of the best pregnancy apps out there.
Understanding Pregnancy
1. Pregnancy+ (iOS, Android)
One of the most well-known pregnancy apps worldwide, with over 25 million users, Pregnancy+ is a comprehensive app that gives you everything you want to know about expecting a baby. With this app, you will see interactive images for every week of pregnancy as well as detailed stage-by-stage information. You can also log your weight, OB-GYN visits, and more.
2. What to Expect (iOS, Android)
If you are looking for expert pregnancy advice, then you must download the What to Expect pregnancy app. It guides you through pregnancy by giving you personalized updates information based on your baby’s due date. And at your fingertips is a database of more than 15,000 medically accurate articles that answer all of your pregnancy questions!
Pregnancy Health and Wellness
3. Mind the Bump (iOS, Android)
Mind the Bump is a meditation app especially made for expecting mothers and couples to help prepare them for becoming new parents both mentally and emotionally. The program is available for all kinds of parents who want to learn how to deal with the challenges of parenting more skillfully through mindfulness.
4. Baby2Body: Pregnancy Wellness (iOS, Android - Coming Soon)
Apart from mental and emotional preparation, there is also an immense need for you to prepare for this journey physically by staying healthy and fit. Baby2Body is an app that helps you stay on top of your maternal health by allowing you to track your activities, giving you nutritional advice and tailored fitness programs, and helping you monitor your progress.
5. Prenatal Workout (iOS, Android)
Because it is vital to prepare for labor and delivery, you need to stay as physically active as you can throughout your pregnancy (with your doctor’s permission). With Prenatal Workout, you can be guided with safe and gentle routines especially designed for expecting moms. These routines can be done at home without any equipment, too!
Pregnancy Milestones
6. The Bump Pregnancy Countdown (iOS, Android)
You are definitely going to look forward to each week and each pregnancy milestone with a pregnancy tracker! One of the best pregnancy apps out there, The Bump includes a pregnancy planner, which helps you prepare for your visits to the OB-GYN. It has an interactive 3D visualization of baby’s growth, baby product reviews, editorial articles, and so much more.
7. Baby Story (iOS)
A must-download app for every pregnant mom, Baby Story is a cute way to capture your pregnancy moments and pictures and turn them into beautiful stories. Record your milestones beginning from pregnancy all the way to baby’s firsts! With this app, you have access to 15 filters, over 450 artworks, and over 100 artistic fonts to help you make a lovely masterpiece.
8. Bellabeat Shell (iOS)
Who else wishes they had their own Doppler monitor at home? While your phone is certainly no replacement for said medical device, the Bellabeat Shell app allows you to listen to and record the sounds of your baby in-utero. All you need to do is use the app and put your phone on your belly. Don’t forget to put your phone in airplane mode and to sit in a quiet room!
Preparing for Labor and Delivery
9. Baby Names (iOS)
We have yet to meet anyone not excited to come up with names for the new baby! With Baby Names, you can have access to over 60,000 potential baby names. Each name comes with details like its origin, meaning, pronunciation, and popularity. The app also features idea lists to help you decide on the perfect name for your baby.
10. My Contractions (iOS)
Finally, no list of the best pregnancy apps should be complete without a contraction timer! My Contractions is an app that does this. Simply tap the big button once when the contractions begin and tap it again when they end. The app will then log the duration, frequency, and intensity of your contractions. These will help you know when it’s time to go to the hospital.
Pregnancy is a fun and exciting time filled with so many milestones and memorable firsts! But it can also feel overwhelming, so you will need all the support and guidance you can get. The 10 pregnancy apps we mentioned in this list have different purposes, but they have a similar goal: to guide you through this new journey and make it as easy (and happy!) as possible.