Object
My Pregnancy App is an information guide that can be used by expectant mothers on the go. It allows users to track their pregnancy day by day, learn how their body is changing and connect them to a community of expecting mothers. It’s features include:
- Fetal development images and videos that document what the baby looks like each week.
- Reminders about medical appointments and shared health tips that are relevant to each stage of the pregnancy.
- An opportunity to connect with other pregnant women that are due around the same time through the community forum
- A nutrition guide that supports pregnant women and provides weight gain tips and recipes for controlling weight.
- A calendar that tracks the progress of the pregnancy on a daily basis.
- A check-list that allows users to track their own pregnancy and mark recommended activities and tips on the calendar.
- Access to a huge database of baby names.
- Access to expert information and advice on health, labor and birth issues.
- A due date calculator and notifications (optional) at the start of each new week with tips and information.
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Environment
My Pregnancy App is designed to be used on a mobile device. The same features can also be modified to fit a large screen, but the mobility function provides an opportunity to interact with it on the go (explained in the interaction analysis section). It can be accessed anywhere, but some extra features need a wireless access to be activated. This means that it can be viewed while at work, school, home, during leisure time and during your commute.
Users
Based on the personal product reviews, the primary users are pregnant women in all stages of pregnancy. There are also women in their second or third (and even fifth) pregnancy who are using this application. Secondary users are family members (mostly spouses) who download this application and support their pregnant partner. Another target audience can also be women trying to conceive and interested to learn more about the various stages of pregnancy. I haven’t encountered this group of users from the reviews but it is a possibility that they find this app relevant as well. 
Synthesis
Despite the attention surrounding pregnant women during pregnancy, it seems to be a very individual experience, especially during the first trimester. The body and mood changes can be seen and explained, but can only be felt by the pregnant woman herself. The movement of the baby begins with feeling flutters, which are internal and not easy to feel on the surface of the belly. The interesting thing about My Pregnancy App is that it allows women to share their pregnancy with others. The weekly notifications about the stage of the pregnancy, as well as images and videos surrounding it, can be easily shared with family. It creates a sense of closeness and also allows them to be a part of this process before the baby is born.
In addition, this app functions like a resourceful ‘pregnancy buddy’ and transforms what can be a very lonely feeling to a collective one. It allows pregnant women to connect to each other and empowers them with the knowledge and motivation to deal with their physical and emotional changes. Living in a fast pace environment can destruct us from being connected to our bodies. A friendly reminder to users of how far you are in your pregnancy journey, teaches users to be attentive, to learn to accept it and to remember to treat it well, especially during this important time.
It’s interesting to see that users who have been through the process of pregnancy find this application helpful and use it for their 2nd, 3rd… and more. It proves that this information is valuable and will always stay relevant in our culture, not matter which environment we live in. My Pregnancy App manages to use technology to share information, create a community and therefore enhance user experience. It connects the virtual world to a physical journey.
