Pregnancy, a time of profound physical and emotional changes, brings both joy and uncertainty. Expectant mothers and their families often seek the best possible care to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. In recent years, a remarkable advancement has emerged in the form of AI-enhanced wearables for safe pregnancy. These wearables offer continuous monitoring, personalized health recommendations, and real-time communication with healthcare providers. These innovative devices are revolutionizing maternal health as they significantly improve maternal and fetal health monitoring.
However, before we delve into why these devices are fast catching up in developed nations and must also have the same pace in developing nations, take a look at some startling facts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global MMR in 2020 was estimated at 223 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. India accounts for approximately 18-20% of global maternal deaths, despite having only 17% of the global population.
Why AI-Enhanced Wearables for Maternal Care?
1. Remote Monitoring
The need for remote monitoring is evident, especially in countries like India with a vast rural population with little or no access to good healthcare. AI-enhanced wearables can bridge the gap by providing continuous monitoring and early detection of complications, even in remote locations.
2. Personalized Care
Every pregnancy is unique. So, AI can tailor recommendations based on an individual’s health data. This personalized approach can help address specific health needs and reduce complications.
3. Reducing Health Disparities
Maternal health disparities exist within India and across the world. AI-enhanced wearables can help reduce these disparities by making quality maternal care accessible to a broader population.
4. Early Detection
Monitoring helps to identify complications on a timely basis. This is crucial to improving maternal health outcomes as well. AI can analyze data in real-time and alert healthcare providers to intervene promptly, reducing the risk of maternal mortality.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making for health providers
Data collected by wearables can be used for data-driven decision-making for those working on the frontlines. Healthcare providers can access data to provide reliable treatments. So, it benefits the caregivers as well as the patients. Additionally, this information possibly can eventually be used to inform public health policies and strategies.
Professor Maria Mithcell, AI-in-Healthcare Researcher asserts, “Artificial intelligence in maternal health wearables is not just about monitoring; it’s about predicting and preventing complications. AI can analyze complex data patterns, enabling us to intervene early and reduce the burden of maternal mortality and morbidity.”
Now let’s take a look at some of the prominent AI-Wearables that are in use already or in development stage for monitoring maternal health during pregnancy. Here are some examples with brand names:
- India’s own JioVio Healthcare has introduced the Allotricoder. This is a compact, non-invasive device capable of digitally recording six essential health metrics: blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, ECG, oxygen saturation, and glucose levels. This portable device seamlessly transmits the data to an AI engine for comprehensive analysis, all in a design that conveniently fits into a health worker’s pouch or small bag.
- Bloomlife offers a wearable device that monitors uterine activity and contractions in pregnant individuals. It helps in tracking the progress of contractions and is particularly useful in late pregnancy.
- Ava Bracelet is known for its fertility tracking capabilities but has also expanded into pregnancy monitoring. It tracks various metrics, including sleep, stress, and physiological changes.
- Elvie Pump was primarily designed for breast pumping, but Elvie has recently expanded its product line to include wearable breast pumps that can be of interest to nursing mothers. It aids in breastfeeding and milk supply management.
- Tempdrop is a wearable basal body temperature (BBT) monitor that helps in tracking ovulation and can be useful for fertility and pregnancy planning.
- Owlet Baby Monitor offers a range of products designed for infant monitoring, including devices that monitor the baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels, providing reassurance to parents during pregnancy and the early postpartum period.
- Bellabeat has a wellness tracker called the Bellabeat Leaf that can be worn as a piece of jewelry and tracks various aspects of health, including menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Challenges on the Horizon
Despite the immense potential of AI-enhanced maternal health wearables, several challenges must be addressed to fully realize their benefits.
- One of the primary concerns is the accuracy of wearable sensors and AI algorithms. Reliability is paramount, as erroneous readings or recommendations could lead to unnecessary stress or missed complications.
Rachna Dayal, Managing Partner of Sugati Ventures, healthcare global VC fund, writes from California, “Some sensors in wearables work better for caucasian skin and provide less accurate data for brown or black skin tones. Applicability of such wearable devices would be limited in India and many other emerging markets.” Rachna is a global leader with vast experience across technology and healthcare.
- Ensuring data privacy and security is equally vital. Pregnancy-related health data is highly sensitive, and robust measures must be in place to safeguard this information from breaches.
- Moreover, equitable access to these technologies remains a significant hurdle. Affordability and awareness may limit their adoption, particularly in low-income communities.
Since Rachna Dayal manages the healthcare-tech VC fund venture, her experienced voice showcases, “One way to overcome the cost hurdle for countries like India is to invest in manufacturing of wearable devices. India has many resources including raw materials, skilled labor force, AI and engineering focused industry as well as the buying power for accurate consumer grade wearable devices.
- Interoperability with existing healthcare systems and electronic health records also poses challenges, as seamless integration is essential for effective care coordination.
- Finally, regulatory and ethical considerations must evolve to keep pace with these innovations, striking a balance between innovation and patient safety.
Challenges in Maternal Health Wearables Tech
The future of AI-enhanced maternal health wearables is promising, but it requires a collaborative effort to overcome the challenges and unlock their full potential. Here are some key areas to focus on in the journey ahead:
Improved Sensor Technology: Advancements in sensor technology are critical for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of wearable devices. Research and development should aim to make these sensors more user-friendly and capable of collecting a broader range of health data.
Data Privacy and Security: A robust framework for data privacy and security is non-negotiable. Stricter regulations and guidelines must be established to ensure that pregnant individuals’ health data is protected and only shared with consent. Educating the patient/customer of their rights and the meaning of consent has to be built into the ecosystem with the help of NGOs and Regulatory bodies.
Accessibility and Affordability: Efforts should be directed towards making AI-enhanced maternal health wearables affordable and accessible to all. Public health initiatives and partnerships can help bridge the affordability gap.
Interoperability and Standards: Developing standards for interoperability and integration with existing healthcare systems is essential. This will enable seamless communication between wearables and healthcare providers.
Education and Awareness: Pregnant individuals and healthcare providers should be educated about the benefits and limitations of AI-enhanced wearables. This will facilitate informed decision-making and effective utilization of the technology.
Ethical Considerations: Ongoing discussions and research are needed to address the ethical implications of AI in maternal health. Guidelines for responsible AI use, transparency, and accountability are essential.
Summarizing it all….
The AI-enhanced maternal health wearables represent a breakthrough in the journey towards safe and healthy pregnancies. Dr. Ava Carter, a futurist in healthcare technology sums it up well, “The future of maternal health is an exciting blend of technology and compassion. We envision a world where challenges like data privacy and access disparities are addressed through innovative solutions, ensuring that every mother-to-be receives the care she deserves. Nevertheless, the path to widespread adoption is not without challenges but the promise of revolutionizing maternal health with AI-enhanced wearables remains a beacon of hope for would be Moms!”
Image Courtesy Freepik: Main Image, Second Image
