Addressing Pregnant Women's First Trimester Worries and Information Needs With mHealth Solutions

For many, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy can be a time of great excitement, but also a lot of worry. You might have questions about morning sickness, spotting, or simply whether everything is going okay. It's common not to see a midwife or doctor until you're around 10 weeks pregnant, which can leave a gap where you might feel unsure or alone. Many people turn to the internet or apps for answers, but the information found there isn't always reliable or safe. This study understands that people who can get pregnant may not identify as women, and aims to include all people who become pregnant.

This research project wants to find out what kind of support and information pregnant people truly need during these early weeks. We're asking if a special mobile phone app, designed carefully, could help. To do this, we'll be speaking to people who are currently pregnant or have recently had a baby. We also want to hear from healthcare professionals, like midwives and doctors, and experts who design digital health tools. They can tell us what features an app like this should have to make it useful, safe, and easy for everyone to use, regardless of their health knowledge or tech skills.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a trusted and inclusive app that can be used across the NHS. This app would use smart technology (AI) to give you personalised, easy-to-understand information. It would help reduce worries, improve your understanding of early pregnancy, and make sure you get the right support earlier on. If successful, this could make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of pregnant people and their families throughout the UK.