6 best pregnancy apps

Getting ready to welcome a new baby into the world is an exhilarating time – and potentially a daunting and stressful one too. You might have a lot of questions about what’s happening to your body with the growth of your baby, how to prepare for the birth, and what to expect when the baby arrives.

Luckily, you're far from alone. As parents-to-be all over the world begin their individual experience of preparing for parenthood, there is no shortage of resources to help guide you through the process. While your doctor or midwife are still the best options for individual advice and care, especially about your health--the digital space can help you with the answers to a lot of other questions.

There are apps that can help you with everything from fertility calendars, weekly updates to show what size your baby is and contraction timers. There are even apps that will welcome you into the community of other mums and dads, so you can chat and share information.

Here are some of the best apps for those embarking on the confusing, challenging and wonderful journey of parenthood.

1. Fertility Friend
FREE – iOS, Android

Keep track of your menstrual cycle with this useful app that you can also use to chart your ovulation, body temperature and other symptoms to assist with analysing your fertility. Simple to use, it includes handy features like an alarm to remind you to add information, and it syncs with fertilityfriend.com, where additional features are available.

2. Pregnancy +
FREE – iOS, Android, Windows

This popular app is packed with information, from baby size guides to weight gain trackers, kick counters and beautiful, interactive images for every stage of your baby’s growth. Browse popular baby names, keep track of doctor’s appointments and upload belly pics as you move through your pregnancy.

3. Sprout
FREE – iOS, Android

An excellent all-in-one app, Sprout gives you a touching visual of how your little one is growing, with incredible images and 3D models showing each stage of a baby's development. Tools including a weight tracker, kick counter, contraction timer and doctor visit planner help take the stress out of pregnancy, and plenty of advice from doctors will prepare you mentally for the challenges ahead.

4. My Pregnancy & Baby Today
FREE – iOS, Android

Along with a daily pregnancy tracker and guide to show how your baby is growing, this app connects you with mums who share the same birth month as you, so you can share stories and advice. Watch videos to help you understand what’s happening throughout the pregnancy and what’s to come during labour, log key appointments and manage nutrition with tips and recipes.

5. Baby Names (Sevenlogics)
FREE – iOS, Android

Choosing a name for your baby is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as part of your pregnancy journey. Luckily, this app can help you with a little inspiration. It has over 30,000 names to browse, including the origin of each name and a chart showing its popularity since 1880. You can save and rate your choices for decision time, and even ask the app to recommend names that complement your own.

6. What to Expect
FREE – iOS, Android

What to Expect provides you with personalised content based on your due date, guiding you through your pregnancy day by day. Along with some useful information on your baby's development and the changes in your body, the focus is on emotional support, with tips and stories from real parents, and the opportunity to connect with a community of mums-to-be and share your own experiences.