What is telehealth for maternity care?
Telehealth is a way for pregnant people and new parents to keep track of their health and their baby’s health without going to the provider’s office.
What are the benefits of using telehealth during and after my pregnancy?
There are many ways telehealth can support maternity care, including:
- Connect in a safe way with your health care provider.
- Share information about your health and your baby’s health.
- Keep an eye on your health to catch issues.
Get help for anxiety or depression.
How can I use telehealth when I’m pregnant?
Telehealth helps you and your provider communicate and share information about your pregnancy, such as:
1. Secure emails or texting. You can send and get secure emails or text messages.
2. Video appointments. Some of your visits can be done using a computer or phone so you don’t have to leave home or work.
3.Remote patient monitoring. These are tools that help you keep track of your health at home. You can share information from these tools with your provider. These can include devices that check the baby’s heartbeat or test your blood sugar levels and tools that measure your blood pressure to make sure it isn’t too high.
Make sure to contact your provider if:
- The baby is not moving.
- You feel dizzy.
- Breathing becomes difficult.
- Your blood pressure is high.
- You think you might be in labor.
What do I need to use telehealth?
For most telehealth visits you will need:
🛜 Internet or cellphone connection
🖥️ A device like a computer, smartphone, or tablet that has a microphone, speaker, and camera
🩺Devices for monitoring your blood pressure, blood sugar, or baby’s heart rate
