Technology has been instrumental in the healthcare sector and has particularly impacted childbirth. With the use of technology, it is now relatively easier for pregnant women to monitor the progress of their pregnancy, be familiar with its different stages, and keep tabs on complications without necessarily having to visit the hospital as often as unnecessary.
Technology has made non-invasive testing commonplace in pregnancy and childbirth. Non-invasive tests are important because they help medical practitioners detect any chromosomal imbalance or anomalies in the fetus. For instance, the doctor can detect the likelihood of conditions like Down Syndrome without adopting amniocentesis or other invasive procedures.
Amniocentesis is considered invasive because a thin ultrasound-guided needle is usually inserted into the abdominal wall to collect amniotic fluids from the sac. The process also involves testing cell samples in the amniotic fluid for analysis. Unlike non-invasive prenatal testing, the patient might find amniocentesis painful.
Further, technology has impacted medical health record keeping for pregnant women as most hospitals now use electronic health records (EHR). This technology has been instrumental in capturing patient data and pregnancy-related information to improve care coordination and reduce the risk of medical errors.
Technology has also been helpful with the proliferation of fetal monitoring devices. Fetal monitoring devices are helpful to the fetus during childbirth. They help the midwives and doctors ensure the baby’s heart rate and uterine contractions are regular. The monitoring device helps the health workers determine whether to make necessary interventions.
Commuting to the hospital might be a little tedious for the mother during pregnancy. However, with the use of telemedicine, pregnant mothers do not need to commute to the hospital as they can receive the care or medical advice that they need in the comfort of their homes. Telemedicine is also instrumental in instances of emergency and has been increasingly utilized by women in rural areas with little or no access to healthcare.
Applications for pregnancy have grown in popularity, and everyone wants to use them. Many expectant mothers utilize these applications, available in free and paid versions, to stay updated, find answers to their questions, and receive one-on-one help with pregnancy-related issues. Using pregnancy apps has become a typical aspect of being pregnant. Pregnancy applications are becoming more and more popular for several reasons. The knowledge on pregnancy is gathered from various sources, including social, cultural, and medical contexts. These pregnancy apps are designed to appeal to moms-to-be by offering a variety of functions.
It is important to note that while technology has been instrumental in reducing infant mortality and improving the mother's life, some drawbacks must be pointed out. First, because some of these devices are connected to the internet, they have several privacy issues. Similarly, some mothers tend to rely excessively on these technologies and do not seek medical help where necessary.
