Use of the VeedaMom Electronic App as a Pregnancy Treatment Companion

ABSTRACT

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of pregnant women using VeedaMom, a mobile app created to screen for and manage symptoms of perinatal depression. Participants were required to complete the in-app Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale weekly, watch psycho-educational videos featured in the app, and practice mindfulness exercises offered through the app as audio recordings. Individual interviews were conducted with six pregnant women attending a maternal-fetal clinic in South Texas. Three of these participants also took part in a focus group. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of pregnant women’s experiences while using the VeedaMom app. Some interesting findings refer to the role social media and social pressure play in their motherhood experience, and how an electronic intervention can help as treatment companion.

KEYWORDS:

• Edinburgh postpartum depression scale
• health technology
• mindfulness
• perinatal depression
• pregnancy
• social pressure
• women’s mental health