Sprout pregnancy app

The Sprout pregnancy app allows you to keep track of where you are at in your pregnancy. Users enter their due date and the app automatically tracks the pregnancy week by week. Each time the app is accessed, the screen shows a 3D image of a developing baby (foetus) at the appropriate gestational age along with a pregnancy timeline. 

The app also provides information on the pregnancy investigations and tests that are done at various times during pregnancy, and antenatal care. It provides advice on diet and the symptoms people may be experiencing at different stages of pregnancy. There are also sections on a birth plan, hospital bag planning, a kick counter, a contraction timer and medication tracker. There is a space for a personal journal and you can customise it to send you reminders.

For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Judy Ormandy, Obstetrician and gynaecologist, Capital & Coast District Health Board and Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Otago, Wellington
Date of review: September 2021
Platform: Apple
Version: 11.0
Comments: This app is for pregnant people, particularly first time mums. The app allows you to keep track of where you are at in your pregnancy and provides a ‘3D’ timeline of baby’s progress. It provides information on pregnancy investigations and tests that are done at various gestations and antenatal care. There is advice on diet and symptoms people may be experiencing at different stages of pregnancy. There are also sections on a birth plan, hospital bag planning, a kick counter, a contraction timer and medication tracker. There is a space for a personal journal and you can customise it to send you reminders.
Overall the app provides easy to follow information about what to expect as you progress through your pregnancy.
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: While most of the information is relevant for Aotearoa, it clearly wasn’t initially designed around the maternity system in Aotearoa. Some aspects of the app are less relevant to obstetric care in Aotearoa. Check ups are referred to as ‘doctor’s visits’ when many pregnant people in Aotearoa may have all of their pregnancy care provided by a midwife. Advice is listed as ‘the Doc Says’ when in reality much of this advice is given by midwives.
There are some unusual aspects to the ‘tick box’ birth plan including “avoid c-section unless necessary” – it would be very unusual for ‘unnecessary’ C-sections to be done.