How Femtech Can Put Moms Back at the Centre of Care
When we think of pregnancy apps, we often picture the fruit-and-veg comparisons or weekly “your baby is now the size of a…” updates. While these features can be fun, they reveal a bigger issue in women’s health technology: mums are often left out of the picture.
With the majority of pregnancy and postpartum apps, the focus tends to be on the baby - milestones, growth charts, and development - while the mother’s mental and emotional wellbeing is sidelined. Yet research shows that around 1 in 10 women experience mental health struggles during pregnancy or postpartum. That’s millions of mothers worldwide who need more than cheerful updates - they need tools that make them feel seen, supported, and safe.
What Femtech Gets Right and Where It Falls Short
The rise of femtech (female health focused technology) has been revolutionary. From period trackers to fertility monitors, it has given women new insights into their bodies and more control over their health. But when it comes to pregnancy and postpartum, the technology often still misses the mark.
Instead of supporting mums through anxiety, grief, or recovery, many apps deliver generic milestones that can feel retraumatising for women navigating miscarriage, IVF, or pregnancy anxiety. And postpartum support is often limited to “bouncing back” physically, rather than offering mental health resources.
A Mother’s Story at the Heart of Change
I know this because I lived it. After miscarriage and IVF, I eventually conceived again but pregnancy after loss was far from straightforward. Anxiety followed me into every scan and every sleepless night, and once my baby was born, that anxiety didn’t vanish.
Traditional apps made me feel invisible. They didn’t speak to the fear, grief, or ongoing recovery I was living with. That’s why I eventually built Carea - an app that prioritises maternal mental health and adapts to every stage of the journey: pregnancy, postpartum, loss, and IVF.
Carea offers features like journaling, meditations, affirmations, IVF medication tracker, baby AND mum tracker, expert articles, pelvic floor trainer and birth plan generator - all designed to help mums manage anxiety and feel supported rather than triggered. You can hear more of my story in this Instagram reel below where I share why I built Carea.
Why Femtech Must Put Mums First
If femtech is going to fulfil its promise, it has to put mothers at the centre. That means:
Recognising mental health as essential to maternal care, not an afterthought.
Providing customisable support for miscarriage, IVF, pregnancy anxiety, and postpartum - not just “one-size-fits-all” updates.
Creating safe spaces for community, storytelling, and connection.
Focusing beyond birth, because maternal anxiety and mental health needs don’t end once the baby arrives.
Femtech has the power to transform maternal care but only if it truly sees and supports mothers. By putting mums back at the centre, we can create technology that validates, uplifts, and protects mental health during one of life’s most challenging and transformative times.
What changes would you like to see in pregnancy and postpartum apps? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
FAQ: Femtech and Maternal Mental Health
Q: What is femtech and how does it relate to maternal health?
Femtech is technology designed to support women’s health. In pregnancy and postpartum, it can help mothers manage anxiety, track recovery, and feel connected - if it centres on mums’ needs.
Q: Can femtech apps really support mums’ mental health?
Yes. Apps like Carea which offer tools like journaling, meditations, affirmations, and community support can make a real difference, especially for mothers navigating pregnancy after loss or postpartum anxiety.
Q: What should mothers look for in a femtech pregnancy app?
Look for features that acknowledge mental health, provide customisable support, and avoid triggering generic milestones.