UnitedHealthcare's New Healthy Pregnancy Mobile App Designed to Help Expectant Moms Take Steps toward Healthier Deliveries

• Mobile, interactive program is designed to help pregnant women take steps toward a healthier pregnancy and delivery, including the ability to track appointments, set vitamin reminders and connect with a nurse

• New resource may help improve pregnancy-related health outcomes and reduce costs through better consumer engagement and 24/7 nurse support during and after pregnancy
• New survey shows that nearly three-quarters of women underestimate the length of a full-term pregnancy, while many discount the health risks associated with early, elective cesarean deliveries

The UnitedHealthcare Healthy PregnancySM mobile app, an interactive program providing expectant women with personalized content and 24/7 nurse support during pregnancy and after delivery, is now available to people enrolled in most UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plans*. Employers can offer the UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy mobile app to their employees at no additional cost as part of their benefit plan.

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The new UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy mobile app provides important resources for expectant women and parents, including the ability to connect with a registered nurse 24/7 for support and information (Photo: UnitedHealthcare).

People eligible for the UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy program can download the app onto their iPhone® and Android® devices. The app offers personalized features and pregnancy-related information, and integrates with UnitedHealthcare’s maternity care platform as another way to connect with maternity nurse support throughout the prenatal and postnatal phases.

“The UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy mobile app is an innovative resource for expectant parents to help manage their pregnancy,” said Sam Ho, M.D., chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare. “Mobile devices are changing how consumers access the health system, which may make it easier and more convenient for people to help improve their health and the health of their family members.”

The app provides important resources for expectant parents, including the ability to:

• connect with a registered nurse 24/7 for support and information, and access health care cost estimates and plan benefit information;
• monitor and track weight, set reminders to take vitamins, track appointments and events;
• take a health assessment and discuss the results with a nurse; and
• receive customized weekly updates based on the baby’s gestational age, search for information about pregnancy symptoms and concerns, and use a “kick counter” to track the baby’s movements.

About 8 percent of babies born nationwide are considered to have a low birth weight, and premature births (fewer than 37 weeks of pregnancy) account for 36 percent of infant-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A new UnitedHealthcare study found that 73 percent of women underestimate the duration of a full-term delivery, defined as 39 weeks of pregnancy by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Nearly 60 percent of the women surveyed thought a pregnancy was full-term at 36 weeks (exactly nine months), and 15 percent thought full-term meant 37 weeks to 38 weeks. Twenty percent correctly recognized that a full-term pregnancy occurs at 39 weeks (nearly 10 months).

More than 80 percent of women who have or would become pregnant said they are prepared to have a full-term, healthy pregnancy and delivery; however, there were some misperceptions around the potential health risks associated with early, elective cesarean-section deliveries before 39 weeks of gestation. Studies have shown that early, non-medically indicated C-sections are linked to a higher risk of complication and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, but 31 percent of respondents said such procedures would have no impact on a baby’s health.

“These survey results affirm the need for convenient, personalized resources that provide new parents with important prenatal and postnatal support and information,” said Dr. Ho. “As more people turn to technology when accessing and evaluating health care information, the UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy mobile app can serve as an important tool for expectant mothers.”

For survey methodology and complete results, click here.

About UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

*The UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy application is only available to eligible members of certain employer-sponsored plans. Application registration is required.

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UnitedHealthcareWill Shanley, [e-mail]