Mommymoon, a digital holistic health company for pregnant people, launched its online platform today.

Founded this summer in the midst of the pandemic, Mommymoon works to connect expecting mothers with an array of pregnancy services that are conducted all online.

Users can choose to participate in a number of classes, including pre- and postnatal livestream yoga classes, pregnancy support groups, partner childbirth classes, lactation consulting, virtual doula support and more.

Mommymoon has a team of pregnancy experts teaching and consulting its members. The growing team is made up of certified yoga instructors, nutritionists, and doulas.

The platform takes an individual-centered approach and conducts all of its sessions live so that the instructors can tailor the class to the needs of the participants, Mommymoon said in a statement.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It recommends that pregnant people and the people they live with take preventative measures like limiting exposure to other people, social distancing and avoiding social activities where safety measures are hard to maintain.

However, taking classes before giving birth is recommended by experts. Classes can help expecting parents learn more about the labor process, overcome their fears and connect with each other before welcoming their baby into the world, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Mommymoon was founded to make sure pregnant people have access to these supportive services, even when they can’t physically attend them.

THE LARGER TREND

Others working to give pregnant people access to pre- and postnatal services in the pandemic include the recently announced company Oula. It launched with $3.2 million in seed funding and has a hybrid model that includes a brick-and-mortar clinic in Brooklyn Heights, New York, as well as a virtual care service.

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and BehaVR are also working on a virtual reality system called NurtureVR that supplies prenatal education, pain management, mindfulness strategies and support after giving birth. It’s currently being used in a pilot program at Hoag Memorial Hospital.

Additionally, HIMSS will be hosting a global maternal health tech challenge next year. The challenge will work with stakeholders in select regions to discover what maternal health issues need to be addressed in that area, and then host a virtual competition for innovations that target those issues. The final winner will be selected at HIMSS 2021.

ON THE RECORD

“With all the complexity in life and in pregnancy, women crave simplicity,” said Andrea Althauser, the founder and CEO of Mommymoon, in a statement. “Mommymoon simplifies pregnancy wellness for all women, offering individualized support that fits into her life.”