Newly released Mum & Baby app with personalisation and additional content

The highly commended Mum & Baby app, developed and built by Imagineear, now includes advice for all stages of pregnancy as well as considerably extended content on labour and birth plus the first eight weeks after a baby is born.

While the new version, commissioned by the NHS North West London Local Maternity System, gives specific information on a choice of the six maternity units in the North West London and contacts details for women giving birth in that region of London, the contents are relevant to all new mothers and their partners. All the information provided has been approved by the team of midwives and doctors from all six hospitals as best and consistent clinical advice, and in consultation with women who have given birth, to address all the worries that new mums might have.

Another new feature of Mum & Baby is the provision of personalised plans for the antenatal, labour and birth and postnatal phases and an opportunity to reflect on the birth experience. The plans can be printed at any stage for discussion with the woman’s maternity and postnatal teams. Different types of appointments can be scheduled and personal notes made for discussion at those appointments.

The app, which is free to download in iOS and Android compatible formats, was originally realised through the initiative of Dr. Sunita Sharma, Lead Consultant of Postnatal Services at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It was originally co-funded by CW+, the hospital’s charity, and Imagineear.

Dr. Sunita Sharma said: 

“The North West London mum and baby app represents the innovative way in which these local maternity services have come together to provide women and their families with consistent NHS information on how to look after themselves and their babies in an easily accessible format. The app also provides women the option to make personalised plans for their care together with the team looking after them. I think this is great step forward for our maternity services."

The launch of the new version follows on from the first two versions which have had nearly 12,000 downloads to date and a 97% satisfaction rating from new mums.

Midwife project manager, Helen Maric said:

“Co-produced by a team of service users and clinicians (or maternity specialists) in North West London, this app provides women and families with fingertip access to clinically recommended sources of information and support, empowering the user to make choices about, and to personalise their journey through NHS maternity services.”

Mum & Baby, highly commended in this year’s Building Better Healthcare Awards, is available to other healthcare providers under licence from Imagineear Ltd.