I'm a mom of two now, but I still remember how daunting and overwhelming it felt to be pregnant for the first time. How big is my baby this week (I remember when I had to look up the size of Swiss chard)?, is it normal to be so swollen? Why does my body actually smell different these days (and what can I do about it!)? There was so much information out there, and it was hard to know where to start. I asked my other new-parent friends, but I got a ton of different answers so I just kept downloading. I felt like I needed an app for everything!

Luckily, there are a lot of great apps out there that can help make pregnancy and parenting a little bit easier. If you don’t know which to choose and prioritize, the app-world can be a bit daunting.  In this article, I'll share my favorites of what I consider the best pregnancy apps, the best parenting apps, along with some tips for using them effectively.

Pregnancy

1. The best app for tracking your cycle

Clue: This app tracks your menstrual cycle and ovulation, and it can help you predict when you're most fertile. Understanding pregnancy symptoms can be super confusing, and this made it super intuitive. It also has a community forum where you can connect with other women who are trying to conceive.

2. The best app for tracking your pregnancy

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Ovia: The Ovia Pregnancy Tracker and fertility app is a great all-around fertility and pregnancy app. It tracks your menstrual cycle, ovulation, and BBT, and it also has a pregnancy tracker. It also has a community forum where you can connect with other women who are trying to conceive. If I had to choose one, I would probably give this the best pregnancy app award. Sometimes, just hearing that another parent is dealing with the same thing (remember what I said about smelling different??) really can help. 

3. The best app for easy access to expert content and advice

The Bump: This app is a great holistic resource for your pregnancy journey. It has a pregnancy tracker, you can read and learn about pregnancy symptoms with tons of articles, videos, and it also includes a community forum. The articles and videos are especially helpful for providing accurate and up-to-date information about pregnancy. Here’s one favorite article about setting up a postpartum plan. This one is another candidate for one of the best pregnancy apps award. There are a few really great ones!

4. The best app to calm your anxious mind

Headspace: This meditation app can be helpful for reducing stress and anxiety during pregnancy. The meditations are specifically designed for pregnant women, and they can help you relax and focus on your baby. I used this a ton when I was in the hospital after giving birth when I just needed some time to relax and get a few hours of sleep while my daughter (and husband) slept. 

New Parenthood

1. The best app to track baby's schedule

Baby Tracker: There was actually a time when I didn’t realize my husband had just fed our son and I freaked out because he wouldn’t even drink an ounce. Duh! He wasn’t hungry. This app is a great way to track your baby's feedings, sleep, diapers, and growth and get the whole family on the same page. It can also help you keep track of your own appointments and medications.

2. The best app for tracking baby's development

Wonder Weeks: This app tracks your baby's developmental leaps. It can be helpful for understanding your baby's development and also why your baby is suddenly fussy or clingy. I felt like it was the most personal to me and my baby, since it used my baby’s birthday to consider what they may be going through developmentally or emotionally. It helped explain a lot!

3. The best app to help manage your household

Maple: Talk about mental load! Maple allows you to manage all of your family and household tasks in one place. From grocery lists, to planning birthday parties, doctors appointments, to shared calendars, Maple ensures that everyone is quite literally on the same page. This family calendar app made my new-parent brain so much calmer! You can try Maple today for 14 days free with code POPPYLIST14 — only an iPhone code!

Instructions for using the promo code:

• Download and launch the Maple App (iPhone only)
  
• Log in (or sign up)
  
• Tap "Upgrade" in the top right corner
  
• Enter the promo-code POPPYLIST14
  
• Follow the prompts
  
• Get your family organized!
  

4. The best app to connect you with likeminded parents

Peanut: This app connects you with other parents who are in the same stage of parenting as you. It can be a great way to get support and make new friends. I’m actually still close friends with a bunch of other parents I met through the Peanut app! There are in-app purchases if you are interested in investing in making Peanut one of your go-to resources.

Some other tips:

• Start using the apps early. This will give you time to get familiar with them and figure out which ones you like the best.
  
• Don't be afraid to try new apps or resources. There are so many great apps out there, so don't be afraid to experiment until you find the ones that work best for you.
  
• Don't rely on apps for everything. Apps can be a great resource, but they're not a substitute for human interaction. Make sure you're also talking to your doctor, your partner, and other parents for support.
  
• Use the apps to connect with other parents. One of the best things about apps is that they can help you connect with other parents who are going through the same thing. This can be really helpful for feeling supported and less alone.
  

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you find some great apps for pregnancy and new parenthood (for both iOS and android, by the way) . Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, so find the apps that work best for you and your family. And don't forget to connect with other parents online and in person. It's a great way to get support and build your confidence as a parent.