Better late than never: Apple remembers that women could get pregnant

We got a preview of what users can expect from Apple’s pregnancy tracking at WWDC in June. Though there is a beta version of watchOS available, we recommend waiting for a stable version before updating to the new features yourself. Once watchOS 11 is officially up and running, pregnancy tracking will be housed within the Health app. Users can add a pregnancy, view their gestational age, and track symptoms in the same format as basic cycle tracking.

Not to sound ungrateful, but it is truly baffling that it took a wellness device this long to accommodate pregnancy and its impact on women’s health. Pregnancy quickly influences nearly every facet of data the Apple Watch tracks and even more health metrics the device doesn’t. Activity levels? Shot. Sleep? Disrupted. Heart rate? Faster. Literal amount of blood? Significantly increased (cue nodding vampires). That’s not to mention intangibles like nausea, heartburn, back pain, cravings, food aversions, aversions to your spouse’s incessant tapping, chewing, and general existence, dizziness, dull headaches, and so much more. A good time if I’ve ever imagined one.

As happy as I am to see Apple take this first step, companies should go much further. Most pregnant people know their gestational age without looking at a watch, but could ascertain a lot of other helpful information from the sensors and tools found on wearables. For example, automatic activity goal adjustments and trimester-based recommendations could help women navigate their energy levels in relation to what their bodies need. Modified hydration alerts and targeted reminders could help women remember that fetuses are basically houseplants (and not the desert variety). Insights and guidance related to sleep during pregnancy could provide support and understanding when many moms are left staring at the ceiling fan all night, counting the sheep on imaginary crib sheets.

In truth, even basic pregnancy tracking emphasizes Apple’s improved outlook on personalized wellness tracking. Considering the tools it has at its disposal, this is a positive for the brand and its users. Customizable activity rings (also arriving via watchOS 11) are another example of a software experience that works for you instead of the other way around. With the sometimes frightening amount of data and access Apple has, the company should be able to offer a markedly personalized experience across all my devices.

Pregnancy is a ridiculous experience for women and Apple should be more helpful during this stressful time. Family and friends may or may not clamor to help an expectant mother or new set of parents, but the devices on our wrists should be the first in line to offer support.