28 of the best pregnancy apps for mums-to-be in the UK
Emily Cater
WriterNeed help managing your pregnancy? There's an app for that! Whether you want to check your symptoms, get active or just relax, these are the best pregnancy apps for parents-to-be in the UK including great FREE ones
There's an app for everything these days and pregnancy is no exception. If you want to know what's going on inside you right now, need some baby name inspiration or just want some help staying calm and relaxed, then help is at hand. PLUS a lot of the pregnancy apps are completely free!
The NHS has developed several regional pregnancy apps, so if you're based around Bristol, East Anglia, or Lancashire and South Cumbria, for example, you can access clinically-approved pregnancy advice.
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We've listed some more of our favourites below. From free gestation calendars to contraction timers, there's a best pregnancy app to suit you and your partner.
One thing to remember: many pregnancy apps gather your personal information and depending on the user agreement or privacy settings may sell that information on to other companies. Be sure to to set your privacy level to the best setting for you.
Why use a pregnancy app?
There's a lot to take into account when you're pregnant! What can you eat and what should you avoid? What exercise should you do? What can you do to relax? Not to mention the million different 'is this normal?' kind of questions.
You're also bound to want to know week-by-week how your baby might be growing and developing, as well as any changes each trimester might bring. Tracking your pregnancy can be a great way to monitor it.
You'd certainly be forgiven for being ultra cautious and unsure at certain periods of your pregnancy, and the desire to connect with other mums experiencing the same things as you is probably something you're really familiar with.
Luckily, this is where pregnancy apps can really help, as you navigate these initial steps into parenting. Our list rounds up the best, all of which offer various services and support.
These include apps for chatting with and meeting other expectant mothers, apps with community forums, health and medical advice, plus apps with lifestyle tips, diet and exercise advice.
Types of pregnancy apps
We've also found pregnancy apps for encouraging good sleep and mindfulness, apps which time your contractions when you are going into labour, and apps which show you how to kegel exercises.
Some of our favourite apps include Ovia Pregnancy Tracker, What To Expect, The Bump and Baby2Body. But there are plenty more to choose from.
Different apps will support you at different stages of your pregnancy, and all of them boast slightly different features, such as:
- Record different aspects of your pregnancy daily, weekly, or monthly
- Help you count kicks/movement
- Track your little one's development
- Updates as to how your baby is progressing as you go along.
- Free to download
- Work on Android, iOS and iPhone
Here are the pros and cons of some different types of pregnancy app:
General pregnancy apps
These can be really fun and quite informative. They each have their own bundle of features to see you through the 9 months. It's worth trying different ones, to see which one's right for you. But bear in mind that you might not find all the features you want on one app, so you may prefer to use a few throughout your pregnancy.
Baby kicks apps
These let you record when you feel your baby moving. It's really important to get a general sense of your baby's movement patterns while you're pregnant. If your baby's movements slow down, this can be a sign that they're struggling, so mention it to your midwife immediately (even if it's the middle of the night).
Apps that let you track your baby's movements are great for helping you tune into your baby's patterns. However, the NHS says there's no need to count your baby's kicks, and feeling like you have to count every movement may make you feel stressed or anxious. So only use this type of app if you find it helpful and reassuring.
Sleep apps
Sleep apps are very popular in general, but they can be particularly helpful if you're pregnant, as getting enough shut-eye can be tricky! Apps with relaxing sounds may help you drift off.
Pregnancy apps for dads
Get your partner involved too, or invite friends and family to some of the more fun apps like predictors for baby names and gender. You can even sync your app with your partner to share certain information (read our list to find out more!).
Chat apps
These are great for connecting with other parents-to-be who are due at the same time as you. You can also visit our Forum in your browser for all the latest pregnancy chat.
Diet and exercise apps
Keep your pregnancy weight gain on track with these apps, which offer tips on what's safe during pregnancy, as well as guides to keep you on track.
Photo apps
You can even an app to take photos of your pregnancy, right up until birth, which serves as a wonderful memory of the whole experience before bringing your little one into the world.
They make it super easy to line up the same shot each week, and some will even create a time-lapse video of your pregnancy for you.
Contraction timer
If you've just found out you're pregnant, this may not be much use to you now. But it's worth downloading, as you'll be glad of it when the time comes!
The NHS says you should call your midwife when you're having contractions that last at least 60 seconds and come every five minutes. A contraction timer will make it easy to tell when this happens and help distinguish Braxton Hicks contractions from the real thing.
1. Pregnancy +
Pregnancy + is one of the world's most downloaded pregnancy apps and can be personalised for dads and other family members as well as used by mums to be.
It includes beautiful images of how your baby is developing, expert advice, daily articles, healthcare tips, personal diaries, a kick counter, contraction timer, interactive 3D models about baby's development and more.
3. What to Expect
4. Expecting
This app prides itself on being 'no-nonsense', non-commercial and having zero interest in selling you stuff. It was developed with 'independent midwives, psychologists, doulas, parenting experts, babywearing and car seat experts', financed through the European Commission.
On it, you can track your symptoms, get weekly updates on your baby's development, add and upload photos of your bump, browse baby names – just some of the handy features this free app offers.
From the 9th week, Expecting has advice for Dads-to-be, from other dads. You can even sync your apps to share things like favourite baby names and shopping lists.
5. Kicks Count
This award-winning free kick counting app provides straightforward information about why movement matters. You tap the little foot on your screen every time you feel your baby move and it puts the information into a graph. It emphasises tracking movement over time so you get to know your baby's patterns and doesn't stop counting at 10, like some other kicking counting apps might.
Importantly, it also provides urgent advice if you don't feel your baby moving and provides signposting to advice around loss.
6. iPregnant Lite
A useful and detailed app to track your pregnancy on your iPhone. It offers tips on how to take care of yourself and enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
You can add photos of your bump as it grows, and organise all your appointments.
It also has an integrated community forum so you can chat to other mums-to-be.
Free for iPhone only.
7. The Bump
This hugely popular US app covers all symptoms and developments of your pregnancy with handy reminders and checklists for the different stages.
It's best known for its fruit comparisons to the size of your growing baby. Sweet!
It also enables you to document your pregnancy by creating a weekly album of your expanding bump.
8. Quick Tips For New Dads
The ultimate survival guide for new dads, made by dads.
Includes tips from real dads showing you what you should and should never do with a new baby.
Also teaches essential ‘dad skills’ like changing a nappy, bathing a baby and sterilising a bottle. Perfect for your partner to get involved even before your little one arrives.
9. Ovia Pregnancy Tracker
With the Ovia Pregnancy Tracker app, you can watch your baby grow with adorable illustrations. It has loads of baby names that you can swipe through to 'like' and 'love'.
It also gives you daily and weekly updates on your pregnancy progress as well as advice on how to stay healthy during pregnancy. For Apple users, it integrates with Apple Health to share blood pressure and weight.
10. Sprout Pregnancy
Trusted and recommended by expecting families all over the world, Sprout Pregnancy guides you through every day of your pregnancy, keeping you informed and organised.
Users love the 3D images of the developing baby. It also includes tools (contraction timer and weight tracker), checklists and a personalised pregnancy timeline.
13. Babyname
This app is like Tinder for baby names. Both you and your partner have to download it and connect with each other.
You'll both be shown cards with baby names on, which you have to swipe through and click either yes or no.
It will then reveal the names you and your partner have both said yes to.
But don't forget, we've got loads of baby name inspiration right here.
15. Clue
Another well-known period tracking app that you can use to monitor your pregnancy symptoms.
In settings, switch your life stage to "pregnant" to start logging your pregnancy symptoms and learning about your baby's development.
Clue also includes information about how your body is recovering for the first six weeks after giving birth, so you can use it to keep an eye on your postpartum health.
17. Pregnancy Tips Diet Nutrition
Designed to help mums-to-be eat healthily throughout their pregnancy with diet tips for each trimester as well as foods to avoid.
Also puts you in touch with a dietician, with the option of ordering a personal diet chart.
For up to date advice on what to eat during pregnancy click here.
Free on Android.
18. Sleepo: Relaxing Sounds
Struggling to sleep at night? Try an app that plays white noise and relaxing sounds so you can get in some Zzzs before the baby comes along.
It will come in handy once little one arrives, too.
Free on Android.
19. BetterSleep
Users swear by this app to help them sleep.
It offers different soundscapes, meditation guides, stories and more, putting you into a restful state at night.
If you're lying awake at night, give it a go to help you drift off and relax before you become a mummy.
Free on iPhone.
21. Pregnancy Exercise and Workout at Home
A good app for tracking your overall wellness and fitness during your pregnancy.
It not only features exercises for every stage of pregnancy, but also tells you when to avoid exercise, and how to make sure you exercise safely.
It also has exercise routines that can help you prepare for and cope with the pain of labour.
Free on Android.
22. Baby Hunch
Get your friends, family and co-workers involved in this fun baby guessing app.
You can set up pools to guess things like gender, baby's sex, baby's weight, hair colour, and so much more.
You can upload photos, too, and share it via social media.
Free to register on iPhone and Android.
23. Positive Pregnancy with Andrew Johnson
24. Expectful
If you're finding pregnancy stressful or are particularly anxious and struggling to relax, this app could come in handy.
Developed by a team of meditation experts and hypnotherapists, it includes guided meditations specifically for pregnant women.
Try a free trial via its website or subscribe for £8.99 for iPhone or Android.
25. Baby2Body
This holistic, all-round feel good app for expectant mothers focuses on five key pillars: 'keep fit, stay calm, enjoy food, feel sexy, and be informed'.
Just some of the features include pregnancy-friendly workouts, guided meditations, nutritious recipes, beauty, skincare and fashion tips, and of course, all the latest info about your developing baby.
Free on iPhone.
27. Prenatal Yoga
28. Contraction Timer
When the big day arrives there are loads of handy apps to help you time your contractions.
Try this one, which does exactly what it says on the tin – keeps track of your contractions, how long they are and how far apart.
Make sure you and your partner both know how to use it in time for your due date.
Remember ...
... as helpful as they can be, never rely solely on an app during your pregnancy.
Always consult your doctor or midwife first for advice about your pregnancy.
Are you pregnant or trying to get pregnant and looking to connect with other mums-to-be? Check out our Forum and get answers to your questions on the site.
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