Although pregnancy can be one of the most exciting journeys, when you think of all the uncomfortable physical changes the body goes through, it’s not an easy one. That is why future mums deserve all the support they can get. With technology making almost every aspect of our daily life easier, pregnancy was something that simply could not be bypassed. Nowadays, women can use technology to make their pregnancy journey a bit easier and avoid pregnancy-related issues.
Pocket Doppler
With miscarriages becoming a much more common scenario especially in the first trimester, it sure is comforting for pregnant women to know that everything is OK. Although regular check-ups at your doctor’s clinic will follow your baby’s development, sometimes you simply cannot wait between visits. A pocket fetal monitor is a small device that lets you hear your baby’s heartbeat anytime and anywhere, for your peace of mind. You don’t need any previous knowledge about pocket fetal dopplers to use one. All you have to do is turn it on, put some gel on the detector and find the fetal heartbeat rate. Some pocket fetal monitor have a built-in live streaming feature so that you can live stream your baby’s heartbeat, kicks and hiccups to your smartphone and listen to them through the headphones. Or you can place the recording cable that also comes with the package and record the heartbeat to share it with close friends and family.
If the device can’t detect your baby’s heartbeat at first, there is no need to panic right away. Sometimes you might not be able to find and hear a clear sound even if your baby’s heart is working fine. That may be because he/she might move in a position that is difficult to detect. Also, most of these devices are not meant to be used in the first weeks of pregnancy but usually after week 12 (before that the sound can be very faint). Although it’s very reliable, still, this detector is not a diagnostic device and you should always consult your doctor.
Virtual Home Assistant Device
Lack of energy is something that many women experience during pregnancy and this is often due to hormonal changes. That is why every pregnant mum deserves to have a digital assistant device that can do things instead of her at home. Sometimes you will feel too tired or too lazy to get up from your comfy sofa and go to the upper floor to turn the AC off when there is no one in that room, turn off the lights when you’re already in bed or adjust the curtains when the sun is getting into your eyes. Well modern technology has made it easier for you to control different aspect of your home with a single touch of a button or a voice command. Google Home, Amazon Echo and ivee Voice are the most popular devices that do things instead of you. Apart from helping you while pregnant, these are handy for busy parents – can help your kids with their homework, remind of where you put their things and order pizza for dinner.
Going a step further, you can even fully automate your home so that your house can react on its own in certain instances. Although it sounds like something from a science fiction movie, (like in the tech cartoon ”The Jetsons” where they have robots to do everything for them and the lights go on and off with a snap of the fingers) it actually exists now. Again, it’s all about giving you peace of mind, making you feel comfortable and safer in your own home.
Pregnancy Apps
Pregnancy apps are a fun and informative way of tracking your baby’s development through your pregnancy. There are many of these apps like Himommy pregnancy tracker, Baby Bump, PregLife, TheBump and What to Expect, which are free to download on your smartphone and compatible with both Android and iOS. What to Expect, for instance, is a popular application, compatible with iPhone. Just as the name suggests, this app tells you what happens in your baby’s development day-by-day and week-by-week and it measures your baby’s growth in fruit sizes. Like in week 16 your baby has the same size as an avocado, while in week 27 it’s the size of a cauliflower. According to your due date, this app sends you personalised content, the latest parenting news, health information, reasons to smile every day and access to a community of other mums-to-be like you. Even after you deliver, the application will keep sending you parenting advice and guide you through this stage.
Although very informative, these apps are definitely not a substitute for professional medical advice.
