This App Is Helping Expectant Moms Find Care During COVID-19

Many companies are stepping up to help expectant women navigate these strange and unprecedented times. Now Motherfigure, a new maternal wellness startup app, is adding its name to the list.

The company aims to empower new moms and moms-to-be by making it easier for them to get support through its community-driven and national provider directory, The Motherlode. The directory, which is described as “Yelp for moms” helps women to find the maternal care specialists in their area that meet their needs. It includes listings for over 1,400 hospitals and other providers, including lactation consultants, birth doulas, mental health professionals and physical therapists, that can be filtered according to the criteria most relevant to the user. For example, due to COVID-19, users can filter for providers that offer virtual visits and remote support.

Motherfigure’s founder and (mom to a 15-month-old boy) Chelsea Allison believes it can be a great resource for expectant mothers. "I was inspired to found Motherfigure after the birth of my son, which changed my life. I needed support throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but it was hard to find—and that was without a pandemic to worry about too. I believe that every mother deserves empowering support, and that it should be easier to access,” Allison tells The Bump. “In some ways, our mission feels more essential than ever. Even in ordinary times, pregnancy and postpartum is full of uncertainty and stress, but COVID-19 only exacerbates things. Our hope at Motherfigure is to offer insight, community, and access to care during this vulnerable period. We’re in this together.”

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many families are changing their birth plan to avoid hospitals. To help women make their decision, Motherfigure is partnering with the American Association of Birth Centers. Plus, The Motherlode now also includes information on over 130 birth centers across 32 states.

“We know that many childbearing families are worried and thinking about avoiding hospitals during this time,” Allison says. “Knowledge is empowering, and easily digestible and searchable information like this is key for women who are making decisions about who helps them give birth and how.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.