The American Pregnancy Association, which is based in North Texas, has endorsed a new digital tool that aims to assist women who are pregnant during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Founded in 1995, the APA serves more than five million women and families a month via its website, online chat, and educational helpline. Through advocacy and community awareness, the organization intends to promote reproductive and pregnancy wellness.
The experts at the APA recognize that stress and anxiety can often accompany a pregnancy, especially if it’s a woman’s first time giving birth. In light of the healthcare crisis, the national health organization knows this can heighten—causing more risk for expectant mothers.
APA President Lynn Handley and her team have released recommendations for patients during this time. Pregnant women should take precautions such as social distancing and cleaning surfaces, and consider how they’re accessing care. The APA suggests limiting clinic visits to those who require in-person services, such as ultrasounds and lab tests. Everyone else should take advantage of virtual visits.
“In these days of self-quarantine and social distancing, most OB/GYN offices are spacing outpatient appointments and trying to provide as much care as possible by telemedicine,” Handley said. “Remote nurse monitoring is a great addition to a pregnant mom’s care protocol, especially during COVID-19. The registered nurses can answer specific questions regarding an individual’s case and help monitor their baby’s wellness. It’s quality care plus peace of mind.”
The APA also recommended pregnant women use myFetalLife, a Remote Nurse Monitoring application that uses AI to guide and monitor a pregnant mom’s health. Using weight monitoring, blood pressure, and fetal heart rate, the app curates information regarding nutrition, complications, and fetal development.
Other features include: Kick Counter, Gestational Diabetes Management, Meal Recommender, Due Date Challenge, Baby Growth, Weight Tracker, and more. Newly introduced is a self-quarantine care plan for mothers concerned about their health amidst the coronavirus.
“Our goal is to help expectant mothers make better informed decisions about their pregnancy to ensure that their baby is healthy and receiving proper prenatal care for safer deliveries,” Riya Shah, founder and president of Fetal Life, said in a statement. “These mothers will have the support of remote registered nurses, who will monitor their health and pregnancy vitals to guide them through a personalized prenatal course.”
Fetal Life is a Louisville, Kentucky-based provider of prenatal care to for healthy pregnancy outcomes. According to the company, so far, myFetalLife has been trusted by more than 22,000 pregnant women across 125 countries, recording more than 175,000 kicks.
In an effort to aid pregnant women during the pandemic, Fetal Life dropped its monthly monitoring fee to $2.99/month. The app can be downloaded here.
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