New device to enable pregnant women self-monitor growth of baby developed!

One of the main concerns during pregnancy is the baby's health, which the mothers-to-be take a huge load of stress for.

Zee Media Bureau/Udita Madan

Warsaw: Pregnancy and the onset of motherhood may be one of the most happiest phases in a woman's life, however, it comes with its own set of concerns.

One of the main concerns is the baby's health, which the mothers-to-be take a huge load of stress for.

However, taking stress during pregnancy is not what the doctors prescribe and can also affect the baby.

Therefore, scientists from Poland have come out with an innovative portable device that enables pregnant women to examine the state of their baby, including its heart rate, early detection of placenta abruption, baby's hypoxia or being tied with the umbilical cord.

Pregnabit, as the device is called, aims to prevent and detect possible threats for pregnancy, Xinhua reported.

"Early detection of threats contributes to quicker reaction and implementing suitable medical procedure. Thus the baby's life can be saved by, for example, performing caesarean section," Patrycja Wizinska-Socha, a researcher working on this device, was quoted as saying.

Using professional probes like a traditional cardiotocography technology (CTG) device, Pregnabit is comparatively smaller and portable, which pregnant women can use to perform self-examinations any time and at any place.

The device is attached to a pregnant woman's belly with a special belt. The examination takes about 30 minutes. After collecting data, the device sends it to a medical tele-monitoring centre where well-qualified personnel can analyze the results.

The device is expected to enter the markets in 2016 and will be aimed at doctors, midwives and schools of childbirth first.

(With IANS inputs)