Fitness tracking company WHOOP has discovered a health tracker that can calculate the onset of your labor.
When trying to prepare for this important occasion, it is very helpful to have a clearer idea of when labor might occur.
Read more: How to choose the right fitness tracker?
As you’d expect from a modern health tracker, WHOOP measures your sleep quality, physical exertion, and recovery. In an interview on the podcast “Working Hard, Hardly Working,” WHOOP founder Will Ahmed talked about the company, which may be of particular interest to pregnant women. Ahmed explained that in a small study, the company observed a steady decline in pregnant women’s heart rate variability (HRV) throughout their pregnancy. Then, at some point (often around week 33 of pregnancy), there was “a spike” where their HRV increased again.
So researchers at WHOOP recruited 1,200 pregnant women for a study, according to a press release on their website. The goal was to determine whether this sudden increase in HRV was typical of the 33rd week of pregnancy or whether it was a predictor that occurred seven weeks before delivery. About 10 percent of the participants had preterm labor, Ahmed says, and it became clear that this change in HRV was occurring seven weeks before delivery. In short, this could help predict exactly when your baby will arrive.
See also: Evie Smart Ring Takes Care of Women's Health
Comments on Ahmed’s interview excerpt are varied. From women wishing they had this data to those who dread the idea of knowing exactly when they’ll give birth. “As someone who’s given birth once at 40+1 weeks and another at 34+3, I would love to have a warning!” says one commenter. “Can you imagine suddenly having a 7-week countdown on your health app? My heart rate would definitely be more erratic,” says another. Still, most of the conversation is positive, with women acknowledging the potential for this information to positively impact outcomes for premature babies.
WHOOP’s discovery marks a significant moment in health technology, with brands investing in features specifically for women’s health. Oura recently announced a partnership with period and pregnancy tracking app Clue, as well as UC Berkeley, to conduct research on how perimenopause affects women’s health. It also offers some of the most detailed menstrual cycle information on the market. The Apple Watch also tracks cycles and ovulation.
See also: Apple Watch and health: Why is Apple's smartwatch useful?
Of course, always consult your doctor about any information reported on your health tracker. Whatever device you use, it's good to know that there may be a clue, hidden among all the other biometric data, about when your baby will be born.
Source: rompe
