Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Could Help Detect Pregnancy Abnormalities

New Delhi- Everyday wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers could transform pregnancy care by helping detect abnormalities with ease, according to new research.

Scientists at Scripps Research have found early evidence that popular devices such as the Apple Watch, Garmin, and Fitbit can remotely monitor pregnancy-related health changes. By tracking physiological signals—such as heart rate—that align with hormonal fluctuations, these devices may offer a new way to safeguard maternal health.

“Wearable devices present a unique opportunity to develop innovative solutions addressing the high number of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the US,” said Giorgio Quer, co-senior author of the study and Director of Artificial Intelligence at Scripps Research.

“Our results show that signals collected via wearable sensors follow expected changes in hormone levels and reveal patterns specific to live birth pregnancies. This may allow continuous monitoring of maternal health throughout pregnancy and even after childbirth,” he added.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 108 participants who consented to share information spanning three months before conception to six months after delivery. Using advanced statistical techniques, the team identified population-level patterns while accounting for individual and device differences.

They discovered that wearable data reflected fluctuations in key pregnancy hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)—all vital to healthy outcomes.

Heart rate trends were especially significant: during early pregnancy, heart rate dropped between weeks five and nine, then steadily climbed until about eight or nine weeks before delivery, peaking at 9.4 beats per minute above pre-pregnancy levels. After childbirth, heart rates dipped below baseline before stabilizing around six months postpartum. Sleep and activity patterns were also tracked.

To strengthen their findings, scientists compared wearable data with published hormone studies, building models that predicted heart rate changes consistent with hormonal shifts during pregnancy. While still in early stages, the research suggests wearables could become a vital tool in prenatal care—especially for women in areas with limited access to maternal healthcare.

With inputs from IANS