My Favorite Pregnancy Apps of 2020
We all know there’s an app for everything, but that doesn’t mean each one is a winner. As I have been navigating through the journey of pregnancy, I feel like I’ve downloaded every pregnancy app out there and given it a swing. There’s something funny about pregnancy that makes you want to soak up every bit of information that ever existed about it. For me, I am always looking to learn what to expect each week of pregnancy, what are the risks, what can I look forward to, should I be worried about this or that, and the list goes on. I became obsessed, quite naturally, with learning what pregnancy apps could do for me and my knowledge base throughout this ride. Instead of searching for the perfect ONE app that could track my progress, tell me what to expect, etc. I just started collecting pregnancy apps and scouring each one day after day as if one could shed more light on my pregnancy than the other. It did become overwhelming after a while (go figure), so I finally narrowed it down to my favorite few pregnancy apps to permanently have a home on my phone during this time. Here were (and still are) my favorites:
What to Expect
A classic book (an essential pregnancy read) taken to your phone in bite-sized pieces of info for your week-to-week updates as well as helpful articles related to where you are in your pregnancy. I love the three different updates on the home page that show me how big my baby is, what developments are happening in my body, and what is going on with baby growth. John and I also obsessively watch each week’s video on the progress of the baby and try really hard not to skip ahead to the coming weeks (though we’ve done it a few times, haha). I like the symptoms at-a-glance each week that reassure me that what I’m feeling is normal. The videos are quick and helpful for many different pregnancy topics. There is also an area where you can connect with other expecting mamas due during your same month or region, which is neat. Additionally, there is a built-in journal and documenting area where you can upload your photos of the progress. I didn’t take advantage of this feature but thought it was a great addition.
Ovia
I stumbled upon this app a little later in my pregnancy, but boy am I glad I did. I always get excited to open up this app and see right on the home screen the true-to-life outline of how big my baby’s feet and hands are each week. I also enjoy my daily facts about the baby’s growth progress right on the main page. The videos and articles are beneficial, and I love scrolling through their content library for various pregnancy topics. This app also has an area to document pregnancy milestones.
The Bump
The articles and content are crucial for me on this app. The information is not only relevant but up-to-date with the latest trends in nursery decoration, comparing stroller models, or what to expect in the delivery room. I also love reading the real Q&As answered by the community. There’s a 3D projection section in the app depicting what your baby looks like in the womb as well as what an average female belly looks like with 3-4 weekly facts on changes. I LOVE looking at this. I’m always amazed at what is going on in my body and with the baby.
UNC Rex Pregnancy App
I am planning on delivering at the UNC Rex hospital in Raleigh, and I was surprised when a friend recommended their very own pregnancy app. She said she loved the simplicity of having all the information in one place, and it was the only pregnancy tracker she used. I love it, too, along with my others as well. Right from the home screen, it shows your week and baby’s height, pounds, and days left. It has a milestones tracker at the top, which shows a range of things you could/should be doing (registering at your hospital, packing your bag, car seat check, etc.). It also has a wealth of knowledge articles on every type of pregnancy, delivery, and infant topic you’d want to know.
Babylist
I used Babylist as my baby registry platform and LOVED it. First of all, it’s fabulous that you can add items from any store or site with a simple “add to Babylist registry” extension button. Secondly, the curated lists for various preferences of registries was super helpful (minimalist, technical, etc.). They also have a great product review team with thorough videos that we watched several times when looking at buying a car seat, carrier, and crib. They, too, have fun baby-tracking features with in-depth descriptions of what’s going on in your pregnancy week by week.
Tinybeans
I wish I would’ve found this sooner! This app is for tracking photos of your baby’s journey. Everything from the first ultrasound in the womb to the first tooth outside the womb. It’s like a little private social media network because you can invite your family to join and get notified when you post a photo. They can see it in a “feed” type posting or on a calendar view to like or comment. This functionality will be especially great for John & I because both sets of parents do not live in town, so it’s a way to continually keep them updated on her growth and little moments from a distance. I love looking at the calendar view and seeing my bump progress over the months. A feature that especially drew me to this app is that you can create a real printed keepsake book at the end of a year or another milestone with all the photos uploaded. If I don’t have to put a book together manually and still have all the memories, I am sold. I can’t wait to try it that out for documenting and sharing baby growing photos with my family!
