Can AI doulas improve maternal health?

"For pregnant women, the future is here-just in time for an urgent healthcare crisis. In the U.S., maternity care deserts are growing, often leaving communities completely without options. And despite the numerous warnings, nationwide maternal mortality data still paints a dire picture for pregnant women (especially rural women and women of color) who face preventable risks. It's a hard reality, but one where technology can be up to the task, helping humans improve outcomes and increase access in innovative ways."

"That means more remote tools and apps that help women monitor their vital signs, get information, and advocate for themselves. Also data-rich systems that allow health data to be shared securely with doctors, allowing for easier monitoring in-between visits. And now, AI-powered "doulas" that offer 24/7 support at a time when doctors' visits are rushed and sometimes even nonexistent. If you're skeptical of AI, you're definitely not alone."

"But as someone who had her own pregnancy scare, which led me to develop a pregnancy app and AI doula with a human-centered approach, I've come to understand that maternal health is a challenge that AI may be uniquely suited to face. Not as a replacement for real doctors and doulas, but rather as a way to empower them and the people they serve-lowering costs, increasing their reach and effectiveness."

Maternity care deserts are expanding in the U.S., leaving many communities without obstetric options and contributing to high maternal mortality, particularly among rural women and women of color. Remote monitoring tools, mobile apps, and data-sharing systems can enable symptom tracking, vital-sign monitoring, secure physician communication, and in-between-visit oversight. AI-powered doulas can provide 24/7 guidance and advocacy, extending clinician reach and lowering costs, but cannot replace clinical judgment. Trust, human-centered design, data security, and validation are required for safe adoption. AI systems must earn trust through transparency, rigorous testing, and collaboration with clinicians and community stakeholders.

Read at Fast Company