Maternal Health
How can telemedicine support maternal and perinatal health?
- Pregnancy and motherhood can be a busy and overwhelming experience for parents, which is why it is crucial for health care providers to have an approach to care that is holistic and comprehensive while still fitting easily into families’ lives. Additionally, Remote Patient Monitoring devices, devices that patients can have at home to send data to providers, will greatly increase the types of services physicians can offer through video. And especially when expectant mothers may experience something needing immediate care, using telehealth instead of driving even 15 minutes may make a huge difference in health outcomes.
Overall, physicians and patients will not only find increased efficiency and satisfaction through telemedicine-supported care—they will also find that this approach will ensure a more holistic care model.
Virtual care models for expectant and postpartum mothers:
- Secure emails and/or texting: Physician and patient can communicate without needing to wait for an in-person appointment.
- Smartphone apps: Apps can help expecting or new parents track data, check in with their mental health, and gain research-based advice.
- Remote Patient Monitoring: Tech devices that will measure patients biomarkers at home and transmit the data to the physician for review. Read about the future of remote monitoring for pregnancy. Click here and scroll to page 30 for HRSA’s information about RPM in their Maternal Health Sustainability Planning Guide and Toolkit.
- Video Appointments: Some check-ins can be done through video conference so the patient does not need to leave home or work. Patients with high-risk pregnancies may be able to consult via video with out-of-town specialists. Additionally, patients may choose to see behavioral health providers through this service.
A Note About Rural Maternal Health:
Rural communities experience higher rates of pregnancy complications, limited access to obstetric services, and more general structural barriers to care compared to non-rural communities. Thus, these patients have the greatest opportunity to benefit from telemedicine. When these patients may have to drive 30+ minutes to reach a doctor, telemedicine will
- Reduce the time it takes to receive care
- Improve follow-up
- Expand access to support services such as lactation consultation, doulas, nutritional counseling, and behavioral counseling
- Empower families with patient-centered options they can use from home
View the National Rural Health Center’s Maternal Health Toolkit.
Technology Options
Disclaimer: Technology options are listed here as options for healthcare providers and patients. PulseTRC nor HRSA endorses or recommends a specific product. Providers should determine which product best meets their needs.
Organizations and providers should consider employing technology such as digital platforms, apps, and devices to support holistic maternal health.
What is the difference between a platform and an app?
In telehealth, a platform is the broader technology environment that supports many tools, integrations, and workflows, while an app is one specific software application that patients or clinicians use to perform particular tasks within or alongside that environment.
See PulseTRC’s Technology page for telehealth technology options not specific to maternal care.
Maternal Health Apps
Digital applications available for smart devices. Patients can use these at home to find advice, connect with other parents, or track data with or without assistance of a provider.
Baby2Home
Baby2Home delivers coordinated, evidence-based support for new families using the perinatal collaborative care model. Through continuous screening, tailored guidance, and care team collaboration, it supports parental mental health while promoting healthy infant development. All features are designed to fit seamlessly into parents’ daily lives and clinical workflows.
Features include mental health screening and support, care manager support, infant wellness resources, and parental education.
Curio
Curio is an FDA-approved, award-winning digital therapeutic app for maternal mental health. It is the only company in women’s health with Prescription Digital Therapeutic (PDT) authorized by the FDA for the treatment of Postpartum Depression (PPD) symptoms.
Maternal Telehealth Platforms
FlourishCare
“Flourish Care is a doula-centered maternal health model reimbursed by insurance and supported by a HIPAA-compliant platform that integrates into OB workflows. Through hybrid in-person and telehealth doula support, it ensures continuous engagement across pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. By enabling coordinated, culturally responsive care, Flourish Care improves engagement, continuity, and follow-through—especially for women facing barriers to consistent maternal care.”
Finalist for the 5th Annual ATA Innovators Challenge
BabyScripts
“Better maternal health outcomes start with collaborative care”. Babyscripts enables early risk detection and care plan adherence, supporting your care team with a scalable model designed to streamline and enhance clinical workflows.
Features of the platform include the myJourney app for patients to have a curated gateway to their maternity care, and for clinicians to empower their patients, mitigate risk, and enhance prenatal and postpartum care delivery. The platform also includes remote blood pressure monitoring and digital mental health assessments.
Maven Clinic
Maven Clinic’s focus areas include Fertility Care & Family-Building, Maternity & Newborn Care, Parenting & Pediatric Care, and Menopause & Midlife Health. Members have 24/7 access and can book same-day appointments with Care Advocates and providers across 30+ specialties. Maven Clinic also implements flexible financial solutions that enable employers to extend financial support for fertility treatment, adoption, surrogacy, or doula care.
Ouma Health
Ouma Health is a physician-led telehealth group focused on maternity care and perinatology. Their providers include maternal-fetal medicine specialists, certified nurse midwives, psychiatric nurse practitioners, diabetic management specialists, addiction medicine specialists, and lactation consultants.
“Unlike app-based competitors that rely on unlicensed coaches and advocates, Ouma is a tech-enabled clinical practice delivering real medical care. Every patient is matched with qualified clinicians who provide continuity of care throughout the entire pregnancy journey.
Licensed to practice in all 50 states and Medicaid-enrolled in 20 states and growing, we serve health plans, healthcare systems, fertility providers, and employers nationwide.” -Ouma Health
For more, see:
9 Digital Platforms That Are Changing Maternal Mental Health Care- from Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
Fact Sheet: Digital Maternal Mental Health Platforms for Providers- from Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Sibel Health
Sibel’s Anne Maternal is an FDA-approved fully wireless remote monitoring device. “Experience the future of maternal care with our innovative maternal monitoring product, featuring wireless sensors for real-time insights, ensuring the well-being of mother and baby.”
Invu Remote Monitoring by Nuvo
Nuvo is redefining pregnancy care with INVU™, the first FDA-cleared, self-administered remote monitoring system. INVU™ empowers expectant mothers to track fetal and maternal health from anywhere, while clinicians receive real-time, clinically accurate data. This reduces clinic visits, streamlines workflows, and ensures better access to quality care—especially for mothers in remote or underserved areas.
The Invu device consists of a belt with sensors that wrap around the abdomen to track maternal and fetal heart rates.
Sojro Plus Maternal Telemedicine Kit
The Sojro Maternal Telemedicine Kit includes devices to provide specialized maternal-fetal healthcare in remote and rural locations. It connects to specialists through live video consultation with screen sharing, then captures, stores, and transmits patient data and images in diagnostic quality. Lightweight and portable, this kit is ideal for providing basic maternal care in disaster situations, military zones, or mobile health centers and may be used in areas with limited infrastructure and connectivity.
- Includes an ultrasound probe, fetal doppler machine, and a wireless dermascope
- Features a vital signs monitor with ECG, plus an eSteth Lite digital stethoscope
- Comes with a Windows tablet pre-installed with MDConsults Telemedicine software
- Wireless keyboard and mouse, plus a power bank
- All accessories packed in a hard briefcase
Read more about the future of remote monitoring for pregnancy.
Research
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US: 2024 Report
- by March of Dimes
- https://www.marchofdimes.org/maternity-care-deserts-report
The Future of Remote Monitoring for Pregnancy
- Authored by Walter, J.R. et al. Published 2022 in Bridge (Wash D.C.).
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10727511/
The effectiveness of telemedicine interventions to address maternal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authored by Nair, Tarah et. al. Published 2018 in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328431254_The_effectiveness_of_telemedicine_interventions_to_address_maternal_depression_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis
Perinatal Telehealth: Meeting Patients Where They Are.
- Authored by Kissler, Katherine et. al. Published 2024 in J Midwifery Womens Health.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10873126/
Promotion of Maternal–Infant Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Authored by Choi, Kristen et. al. Published in 2020 in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing.
- https://www.jognn.org/article/S0884-2175(20)30115-5/fulltext#%20
More Resources
