Carea app launches tracker to prioritise postpartum mothers’ needs

Femtech company Carea has introduced a Postpartum Mum Tracker within its pregnancy and postpartum app, addressing the often-neglected needs of women following childbirth. The new feature focuses on supporting new mothers through physical recovery and monitoring mental wellbeing during the postnatal period.

Mother-first approach

Most pregnancy apps place the infant at the centre of their tracking and resources. Carea claims its solution differs by prioritising the mother's recovery and emotional status. The tracker covers physical concerns such as wound healing and breast health alongside indicators of mental health, like anxiety and the sense of identity loss.

Users are prompted to log daily changes, which enables the tracker to identify patterns and signal when extra support may be needed. The intention is to offer a more comprehensive picture of maternal recovery, moving beyond the singular check-up appointment offered to most UK mothers at six weeks postpartum.

Postnatal care gap

One in five mothers experience mental health challenges in the year following birth. In comparison to countries like the Netherlands and South Korea, where mothers are given weeks of at-home care, UK services remain limited. This lack of support, combined with societal expectations that mothers recover quickly and bond immediately with their babies, can leave women feeling isolated and overlooked.

The NHS and the World Health Organisation have acknowledged substantial gaps in postnatal and perinatal mental health services. However, many mothers continue to go under-supported in the period immediately following childbirth.

Pattern recognition

The Postpartum Mum Tracker uses a data-led approach, asking mothers to note both physical and mental health symptoms on a daily basis. The feature incorporates expert-backed prompts regarding signs to watch as well as suggestions for when to seek additional help.

Carea's founder, Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein, has drawn on personal experience to inform the development of the tool. Shubareva-Epshtein said,

"We obsess over every ounce our babies gain, every minute they sleep and every milestone they hit, but the woman who's bleeding, exhausted and losing herself? Nobody's tracking her. After experiencing postpartum anxiety myself, I realised how invisible mothers can feel once the baby arrives. The Postpartum Mum Tracker is about finally including mothers in the equation, because you can't care for a baby if you're not caring for yourself."

Expert involvement

Mothers using Carea have access to specialist advice, including support from Dr Gergana Peeva, an obstetrician consultant in fetal and maternal medicine. Dr Peeva said: "The best thing you can do for your baby is to be a happy mother, and a happy mother begins with a happy woman. This is why I believe passionately in supporting Carea's mission of helping new mothers reclaim their wellbeing. Asking for time for yourself can feel impossible when you have a new little baby depending on you, but you can do it."

Development roadmap

The Postpartum Mum Tracker builds on Carea's existing app functions, which span pre- and postnatal wellbeing. The company is planning further expansions, including features tailored for IVF, miscarriage and pregnancy after loss in the coming year. The app's growing user base reflects continued demand for maternal self-care tools as women navigate pregnancy and recovery.