Smartphone Applications to Support Perinatal Mental Health

Abstract

This narrative review examined the current landscape and evidence base of smartphone applications (apps) designed to support perinatal mental health. Using systematic search methods, we identified apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store between April 29 and May 11, 2025, using terms such as “maternal mental health,” “perinatal mental health,” “postpartum health,” and “pregnant mental health.” We included apps if they were marketed to perinatal individuals in the United States and aimed to improve mental health outcomes. For each app, we extracted key features (eg, mood tracking, psychoeducation, mindfulness exercises) and cross-referenced PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify any published or ongoing studies evaluating efficacy, classifying evidence using the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grading system. Of 587 apps identified, 38 met inclusion criteria, but only three (8%) had peer-reviewed evidence: one with moderate-quality data (Grade B) and two with insufficient evidence (Grade I). Six apps (16%) had ongoing randomized controlled trials to determine efficacy. Collectively, these findings reveal that despite the rapid expansion of perinatal mental health apps, very few have undergone rigorous evaluation. This lack of evidence raises concerns about efficacy, safety, accountability, and value-based care. To ensure safe and effective mental health care delivery, efforts must prioritize the development of evidence-based digital perinatal mental health interventions and apply greater caution in marketing unproven tools directly to patients.

Perinatal depression affects up to one in seven people experiencing childbirth^1-5 and can have significant adverse effects on the quality of life of birthing people and their families. Perinatal mental health conditions, including perinatal depression, are a leading contributor to maternal mortality in the United States and have profound adverse effects on quality of life and functioning.^6,7 In addition, perinatal depression wields a significant influence on child health outcomes. Maternal depressive symptoms have been shown to impede parent–infant attachment and to negatively affect a child’s social, cognitive, and language development.^8-12 Seeking treatment for perinatal mental health conditions is paramount for the health of the entire family, but new parents often deprioritize self-care, and structural barriers such as difficulty finding childcare or transportation and physical recovery present additional challenges to regular visits with behavioral health professionals.¹³

Digital health interventions offer a reliable way to expand access to mental health support by leveraging technology to overcome barriers such as geographic limitations, long waiting times, and the stigma often associated with seeking behavioral health care.¹⁴ Smartphones, which have become ubiquitous in the modern digital age, serve as effective tools for delivering flexible mental health care, putting therapeutic resources directly into users’ hands, regardless of their location. Smartphone-based interventions have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety in the general population,^15-17 and they show great promise for perinatal individuals. However, there is still limited knowledge about perinatal mental health and the effectiveness of current digital tools targeting these conditions. Although smartphone applications (apps) have demonstrated potential in delivering perinatal mental health interventions,^18,19 many apps marketed directly to patients lack evidence of clinical effectiveness. Therefore, greater attention is needed to rigorously evaluate the quality and efficacy of these interventions to ensure that they meet the specific needs of perinatal populations.

This narrative review aimed to identify which publicly available apps have been evaluated in clinical trials or observational studies to demonstrate efficacy in improving perinatal mental health outcomes. We additionally aimed to evaluate the features described as supporting or improving perinatal mental health and to determine whether these features were founded on evidence-based strategies. Finally, we aimed to synthesize key intervention characteristics shared by evidence-based apps, with the goal of guiding the development and dissemination of future digital mental health interventions for perinatal people.

SOURCES

We conducted a comprehensive search for smartphone apps designed to address perinatal mental health through a digital intervention. The search was performed on two major smartphone application market platforms, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring coverage of both iOS and Android operating systems. The search was performed from April 29, 2025, to May 11, 2025. We used five search terms to maximize breadth of results: “maternal mental health,” “perinatal mental health,” “postpartum health,” “pregnant mental health,” and “parent mental health.”

STUDY SELECTION

Eligible apps included an intervention component aimed at directly improving mental health outcomes during the perinatal period or supporting self-management behaviors known to influence perinatal mental well-being such as a mood tracker or psychoeducation. The target population included individuals who were currently pregnant or had given birth within the past year. To maintain consistency and feasibility in access, this review is limited to apps available for download in the United States through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Detailed inclusion criteria and justifications are outlined in Table 1.

Table 1.

Inclusion Criteria for Search

Category	Inclusion Criteria	Justification
Intervention	App must offer an intervention aiming to affect perinatal mental health.	Interventions should be tailored to directly improve perinatal mental health outcomes or support self-management behaviors that affect perinatal mental health.
Population	Perinatal people, defined as people experiencing pregnancy or birth within the past year	People experiencing pregnancy or delivering within the past year are at risk of various perinatal mental health conditions.
Setting	Digital health intervention available for download in the United States on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store	Our search parameters are limited to applications accessible within the United States.

App, application.

EVIDENCE RETRIEVAL

Once all apps meeting the inclusion criteria were identified, we conducted additional searches using the name of each app on PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify any associated studies. For each app with a published study, we evaluated the quality of evidence supporting its use with on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force definitions of strength of evidence and levels of certainty (Table 2).²⁰ Two independent reviewers screened all included apps and associated studies (when available) to ensure eligibility, and discrepancies were resolved through discussion.

Table 2.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines on Strength of Evidence and Levels of Certainty

Grade of Recommendation	Definition	Suggestions for Practice
A	The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.	Offer or provide this service
B	The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate, or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial.	Offer or provide this service
C	The USPSTF recommends selectively offering or providing this service to individual patients based on professional judgment and patient preferences. There is at least moderate certainty that the net benefit is small.	Offer or provide this service for selected patients, depending on individual circumstances
D	The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits.	Discourage the use of this service
I statement	The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the service. Evidence is lacking, poor quality, or conflicting, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined.	Read the Clinical Considerations section of USPSTF recommendation statement. If the service is offered, patients should understand the uncertainty about the balance of benefits and harms.

USPSTF, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

For each included app, we extracted detailed information on the types of interventions offered, including features such as perinatal depression screening, symptom monitoring, and options for interfacing with mental health care professionals. Additional intervention types included educational modules and articles, meditation or mindfulness exercises, community forums, physical fitness or nutrition modules, and pregnancy and baby trackers. The apps were categorized according to these intervention types. The primary outcome assessed was the presence of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy or effectiveness of the app in improving perinatal mental health outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the specific types of intervention strategies implemented and the use of any evidence-based techniques tailored to perinatal populations. Data were synthesized with a narrative synthesis approach, incorporating thematic analysis to identify common features and strategies among evidence-supported apps.

RESULTS

After duplications resulting from simultaneous availability on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store were removed, 587 smartphone applications were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 38 met inclusion criteria, with the primary reasons for exclusion being that the apps were for mental health in the general population (n=113) or for general health or nutrition (n=117) (Fig. 1). Among the 38 included apps, only three apps (8%) had associated scientific publications that included patient-reported outcomes. Six apps (16%) currently have randomized controlled trials underway to evaluate their efficacy. The included apps, their features, and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grade of evidence are summarized in Table 3.

Fig. 1.

Application (app) selection process using pre-determined inclusion criteria. AI, artificial intelligence.

Chang. Smartphone Apps for Perinatal Mental Health. Obstet Gynecol 2026.

Table 3.

Characteristics and Evidence Supporting Efficacy of Perinatal Mental Health Applications Available on the Digital Marketplace

App Name	App Intervention
	Parent Mood Tracker	Perinatal Depression Screening Test	Interfacing With Mental Health Care Professionals	Educational Modules and Articles	Meditation or Mindfulness Exercises
Baby2Home	X	X	X	X	X
BabyLiveAdvice			X
Babymomsi: Mom Care Tracker	X
Birth By Us	X			X
Candlelit Care		X	X	X
Canopie for Parents	X			X	X
Compass by March of Dimes				X
Connect by PSI				X
Expectful: Wellness for Moms				X	X
Forpartum: Wellness for Moms	X			X
Hive App, postpartum				X
Hoag Nona			X	X
In Bloom Postpartum Wellness				X
LEIA Health: For New Mothers	X	X		X
Mahmee: maternal health app			X	X
MamaLift Plus	X		X	X
Mammha for Parents	X		X	X
Mavida Health			X	X
MGHPDS		X
Mindful Mamas: Support & Calm				X	X
Mindfully You: Your Village			X	X	X
Moment for Parents				X
Motherocity Postpartum Tracker	X			X
Nara Baby & Pregnancy Tracker	X
Ovia Cycle & Pregnancy Tracker				X
Poppy Seed Health			X	X
Postpartum App	X	X		X
Powerly					X
Prospera for Moms			X	X
ReByrth			X	X
Seven Starling	X		X	X
Soula: Female X Mental Wellbeing	X				X
Soulside			X
Stage Care	X		X	X	X
The Compassionate Parent App	X			X	X
The Matrescence	X			X	X
WHASN Cares by Wildflower	X		X	X	X
Woebot for maternal health					X
Total [n (%)]	17 (45)	5 (13)	16 (42)	30 (79)	12 (32)
App Name	App Intervention
	Community Forums		Physical Fitness or Nutrition Modules	Pregnancy and Baby Trackers	Level of Evidence
Baby2Home				X	Active study
BabyLiveAdvice					None
Babymomsi: Mom Care Tracker	X			X	None
Birth By Us	X				None
Candlelit Care					Active study
Canopie for Parents	X				None
Compass by March of Dimes	X			X	None
Connect by PSI	X				None
Expectful: Wellness for Moms			X		B (Massa et al21), active study
Forpartum: Wellness for Moms					None
Hive App, postpartum			X	X	None
Hoag Nona					None
In Bloom Postpartum Wellness					None
LEIA Health: For New Mothers			X	X	None
Mahmee: maternal health app			X		None
MamaLift Plus					Active study
Mammha for Parents	X				None
Mavida Health	X				None
MGHPDS					I (Vanderkruik et al23)
Mindful Mamas: Support & Calm					None
Mindfully You: Your Village	X				None
Moment for Parents					Active study
Motherocity Postpartum Tracker	X			X	None
Nara Baby & Pregnancy Tracker				X	None
Ovia Cycle & Pregnancy Tracker				X	None
Poppy Seed Health					None
Postpartum App			X		None
Powerly					Active study
Prospera for Moms					None
ReByrth			X		None
Seven Starling					None
Soula: Female Mental Wellbeing				X	None
Soulside	X				None
Stage Care					None
The Compassionate Parent App					None
The Matrescence					None
WHASN Cares by Wildflower				X	None
Woebot for maternal health					I (Suharwardy et al22)
Total [n (%)]	10 (26)		6 (16)	10 (26)

App, application; MGHPDS, Massachusetts General Hospital Perinatal Depression Scale.

Of the three apps with publications on their use, one received a B grade (low-level certainty) and two received an I grade. Expectful is a meditation-based app with content tailored for populations experiencing infertility, pregnancy, or parenthood. This app has one completed study²¹ and one ongoing study (NCT05840900) registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. Massa et al²¹ conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of meditation for increasing breast-milk supply through the Expectful app among breastfeeding women with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding confidence, stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Although no significant difference in breast-milk volume was observed between groups in intention-to-treat analysis comparing mothers randomized to the meditation intervention with those randomized to standard lactation support, the subgroup of mothers who engaged regularly with the app (seven or more meditation sessions) demonstrated significantly increased milk production, more frequent pumping, greater skin-to-skin contact, and lower odds of postpartum depression symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score higher than 9; adjusted odds ratio 0.057, 95% CI, 0.0014–0.711). These findings suggested that consistent use of the Expectful app may be an effective adjunctive tool for improving perinatal mental health outcomes in populations at high risk such as mothers of infants in the NICU (Recommendation B, low-level certainty).

Woebot is an artificial intelligence (AI)–driven mental health chatbot designed to deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy through conversational interactions. This app includes content specifically addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders through Woebot for Maternal Health. In a randomized controlled trial by Suharwardy et al,²² the feasibility and effects of this mental health chatbot on postpartum mental health outcomes were evaluated. The study found that the use of a chatbot was acceptable to individuals in the early postpartum period, with 91% of users reporting satisfaction. Despite being a randomized controlled trial, the lack of baseline symptom data and absence of outcome measures for mental health improvement precluded an evaluation of net benefit. The study supported feasibility and acceptability but did not establish effectiveness (Recommendation I).

The Massachusetts General Hospital Perinatal Depression Scale was developed by the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health to support global screening for perinatal depression. The app incorporates validated instruments to assess mood, anxiety, sleep quality, and stress at critical time points during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Its goal was to identify individuals at risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and to provide a scalable method for early detection and monitoring. In a cross-sectional study by Vanderkruik et al,²³ the Massachusetts General Hospital Perinatal Depression Scale app was used to collect mental health data from more than 700 perinatal individuals across more than 30 countries, primarily through passive recruitment. The study found that 51% of pregnant users and more than 70% of postpartum users had an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 12 or higher. Although the app incorporates validated tools and collected valuable epidemiologic data, the available evidence is limited to the early stages of the mental health care cascade, specifically screening and diagnosis. There is no evidence that its use improves outcomes, changes clinical practice, or leads to better mental health (Recommendation I).

At the time of completion of this review, the following five apps had ongoing clinical studies registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: Baby2Home (NCT05595486), Candlelit Care (NCT05552053), Expectful (NCT05840900), MamaLift Plus (NCT05958095), and Powerly (NCT06610552). Moment for Parents indicated on its website that it has two ongoing studies registered with the Solutions IRB and University of Michigan IRB (HUM00228070), although these could not be identified on ClinicalTrials.gov.

FEATURES OF INCLUDED APPLICATIONS

In analyzing the features of the 38 included apps, the most common functionality was the provision of educational modules and articles, found in 79% of apps. These typically included content on perinatal mood disorders, self-care strategies, and maternal wellness. Parent mood tracking was the next most prevalent feature, appearing in 45% of apps. Interfacing with mental health care professionals such as through referrals, chat features, or virtual consultations was available in 42% of apps; meditation or mindfulness exercises were included in 32%.

Less commonly observed features included community forums (26%), perinatal depression screening tools (13%), pregnancy- and baby-tracking features (10%), and physical fitness or nutrition modules (6%).

CHARACTERISTICS OF EXCLUDED APPLICATIONS

A large number of smartphone apps were screened but ultimately excluded from our review because of not meeting inclusion criteria related to population specificity or relevance to perinatal mental health intervention (n=549). The most common categories of excluded apps were general wellness or mental health tools not designed specifically for the perinatal population. These included apps offering physical fitness and nutrition guidance (n=117), mental health support for the general population (n=113), and sleep or meditation content without perinatal-specific tailoring (n=26). Although these tools may indirectly support maternal well-being, they lacked content or features explicitly aimed at addressing perinatal mental health conditions.

Other excluded categories included general AI chatbots (n=25), parenting skills apps without mental health content (n=23), and journaling-focused tools (n=19) that did not provide structured psychological support. On-demand therapy apps targeting a broad user base (n=17) and games or mental fitness apps (n=13) were also excluded. In addition, non–mental health pregnancy apps (n=55), which focused solely on fetal development or physical changes in pregnancy, were not considered relevant to the scope of this review. A substantial number of apps (n=141) fell into an “other” category, often as a result of unclear functionality or limited relevance to mental health.

DISCUSSION

This narrative review highlights a significant gap in the marketplace for smartphone applications targeting perinatal mental health. Of the 587 apps identified, only 38 met inclusion criteria, and an even smaller subset—just eight apps—were supported by any existing or emerging evidence pertaining to their use. Notably, no available apps received a Grade A recommendation, and the level of existing evidence across all apps was low. These findings underscore the pressing need for more clinically validated and evidence-based digital tools to address the unique mental health challenges faced by perinatal individuals.

The paucity of apps with robust evidence supporting their efficacy is a salient finding. One app, Expectful, received a Grade B recommendation, indicating moderate-quality evidence from at least one randomized controlled trial for improving mindfulness and reducing stress in the perinatal period, although the level of certainty was low. Furthermore, the population studied was breastfeeding parents of infants in the NICU, and the mental health benefits analyzed were secondary outcomes. Both the Woebot and Massachusetts General Hospital Perinatal Depression Scale apps were rated as Grade I because existing data on utilization do not provide sufficient evidence of clinical efficacy.

These limitations reflect the broader evidence gap in digital tools for perinatal mental health. Although six additional apps have ongoing randomized controlled trials, most currently available public apps are not supported by high-quality data. This lack of rigorous evidence limits the ability of clinicians and patients to confidently rely on digital mental health interventions during the perinatal period, a time when evidence-based support is particularly critical.

In the context of value-based care, which prioritizes interventions that measurably improve outcomes while using resources efficiently, our finding that hundreds of commercially available apps target perinatal populations without demonstrated efficacy is deeply concerning. Without adequate evaluation, these tools risk displacing effective treatments, delaying necessary care, and undermining patient trust. Moreover, deploying unvalidated digital interventions can incur hidden costs, including wasted time, unmet health needs, potential loss of trust in mental health support, and greater long-term system burden. To meaningfully align with value-based care, digital perinatal mental health tools must undergo rigorous clinical trials and transparent evaluation to ensure that they offer real benefit to patients, clinicians, and the broader health care system.

The features of the included apps varied widely in their ability to address different stages of the perinatal mental health care cascade.²⁴ Although the majority (79%) provided psychoeducational content, often in the form of articles or modules aimed at increasing awareness of perinatal mood disorders, only a minority offered more targeted clinical features. Mood tracking was available in 45% of apps, and 42% offered some form of access to mental health professionals such as through virtual consultations or referral mechanisms. However, only 13% of apps included validated screening tools for perinatal depression or anxiety, limiting their ability to systematically identify individuals in need of further evaluation or care. Critically, none of the reviewed apps included robust mechanisms to monitor treatment response or to promote sustained user engagement such as dynamic symptom tracking linked to clinical feedback. This fragmented functionality suggests that although many apps serve a supportive or educational role, few are equipped to guide users through the entire mental health care continuum, from awareness to diagnosis, treatment initiation, and long-term management.

The majority of excluded apps focus primarily on general wellness, fitness, and nutrition rather than providing structured, evidence-based mental health support. Although these apps may offer health benefits, they do not include validated screening tools, treatment recommendations, or structured therapeutic interventions. This misalignment is particularly concerning because perinatal individuals seeking mental health support may turn to these apps, believing they are receiving adequate care when, in reality, these tools are not designed to address mental health. Greater scrutiny is required to differentiate wellness-focused tools from true mental health interventions, ensuring that perinatal individuals have access to resources that are clinically validated and effective.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND DEVELOPMENT

The findings of this review highlight a need for systematic evaluation of perinatal mental health apps and all digital health tools, with transparency in the level of evidence supporting interventions on the commercial marketplace. Not all aspects of digital mental health tools require full-scale evaluation, particularly when leveraging established, evidence-based components of care. For example, an app that integrates a validated perinatal mental health screening tool does not need to revalidate the tool itself, but it should still assess whether the app increases completed screenings, improves user knowledge, or facilitates timely access to care. Ensuring that digital tools contribute meaningfully to care delivery rather than simply existing as passive resources is essential for their role in value-based perinatal mental health care.

The enactment of restrictions on AI-delivered therapy in several states reflects the uncertainty that still surrounds digital tools in mental health. For clinicians, this reinforces the need to rely on evidencebased guidance when considering which apps may be appropriate to recommend to patients. Our narrative review provides a synthesis of the available evidence, clarifying which perinatal mental health apps demonstrate the greatest scientific rigor and potential clinical benefit and where gaps in evaluation remain. By highlighting apps with stronger evidence, clinicians can make safer, more informed recommendations that support patient well-being and maintain high standards of care.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

A key strength of this review is its comprehensive search strategy, which encompassed both the digital marketplace and the scientific literature. By systematically reviewing published studies through PubMed and identifying emerging trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, we ensured a thorough evaluation of the existing evidence and ongoing research surrounding perinatal mental health apps. This review provides a clear picture of the current digital health landscape for perinatal mental health by focusing on both the presence of evidence and the specific features of included apps. However, several limitations should be noted. First, this review included only apps available in English and accessible in the United States, potentially excluding relevant tools from other regions or languages. Second, the reliance on publicly available information to assess evidence of efficacy may have underestimated the true scope of clinical evaluation for some apps. Because our search strategy focused on studies referencing specific app names, we may have missed evidence evaluating similar technological features that were not associated with a commercially released app or were studied under a different name. Finally, rapidly evolving app marketplaces mean that some newly developed or updated apps may not have been identified in this review.

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrates that although digital health interventions hold promise for addressing perinatal mental health needs, significant gaps remain in the availability of evidence-supported apps. To improve outcomes for perinatal individuals and their families, stakeholders, including developers, clinicians, and researchers, must work collaboratively to develop, validate, and disseminate effective digital tools. Addressing these gaps will require a focus on evidence-based strategies, inclusivity, and the integration of innovative features to meet the diverse needs of perinatal populations.