Feeling stressed or anxious during pregnancy? You're not alone - 40% of expecting mothers experience this. Meditation apps can help manage these emotions, improve sleep, and prepare you for childbirth. Here's a quick breakdown of the 8 best pregnancy meditation apps and what they offer:

• Expectful: Trimester-specific meditations, hypnobirthing prep, and community support. ($14.99/month)

• Calm: Sleep stories, anxiety management, and breathing exercises. ($69.99/year)

• Smiling Mind: Free mindfulness tools and mental health resources designed for parents. (Free)

• GentleBirth: Hypnobirthing, labor preparation, and personalized brain training. ($12.99/month)

• Baby2Body: Meditation, fitness plans, and an AI wellness coach. ($19.99/month)

• Headspace: Over 1,000 meditations, sleep support, and partner exercises. ($69.99/year)

• Freya: Hypnobirthing-friendly labor tracking and relaxation tools. ($7.99/month)

• Heartfulness: Simple, free guided meditations for emotional balance. (Free)

Quick Comparison

Looking for better sleep? Try Calm or Headspace.
Need birth prep? GentleBirth and Expectful are great choices.
On a budget? Smiling Mind and Heartfulness are free options.

Keep reading to find the perfect app for your pregnancy journey.

Best Hypnobirthing App Review for Pregnancy , Labor & Birth ...

1. Expectful

Expectful provides guided meditations tailored to every stage of fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood. With an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating from 4.4K App Store users [2], it offers week-by-week meditation sessions designed to meet the unique needs of each phase.

The app focuses on wellness with features like:

• Meditation sessions specific to each trimester (available in 5, 10, or 20-minute options)

• Hypnobirthing preparation courses

• Resources for fertility support

• Breastfeeding guidance

• Help with transitioning back to work

Expectful creates a supportive environment for mothers-to-be. It syncs with Apple Health Kit to track meditation minutes, encouraging a regular practice. In addition, it offers on-demand courses and downloadable guides covering topics like fertility, hypnobirthing, and breastfeeding.

A standout feature is its community element, including expert interviews and stories from real mothers, which provide an added layer of support.

"Meet Expectful: a haven of holistic care for fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood. For the healthiest, happiest moms and babies, women need more than prenatal vitamins and ultrasounds. They need care. Truly empowering, anxiety-reducing, community-building care."

• Expectful: Wellness for Moms on the App Store [2]

Users frequently praise the app for reducing pregnancy-related stress. Many report feeling calmer for up to two days after meditating, and some have noted its role in helping to prevent postpartum depression [2].

2. Calm

Calm offers a dedicated Nurturing Pregnancy series with meditations like "Calming Anxiety with the Breath" and "Reframing Anxious Thoughts" to help expectant mothers manage stress. With up to 20% of pregnant women experiencing anxiety, these resources address a real need[4].

The app's pregnancy-focused features include:

• Sleep Stories and ambient playlists, such as "Ambient Sleep for Pregnancy," designed to support restful sleep.

• Breathing exercises tailored for pregnancy and labor preparation.

• Stress management tools like the interactive Breathing Bubble exercise.

These tools are informed by user data and research. For example, a Calm Science study involving over 900 U.S. parents found measurable benefits for family wellness[3]:

Calm also includes anxiety management techniques, such as the popular 4-7-8 breathing method[4]. Expert-led programs, like the Overcome Stress and Anxiety collection created with clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith, provide additional support[3].

For sleep challenges during pregnancy, the Fall Asleep collection offers soothing soundscapes, calming music, and meditations. The Sleep Check-In feature helps track patterns and address common pregnancy sleep issues[3].

With monthly updates, Calm remains a reliable tool, available on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, and other smart devices[3].

3. Smiling Mind

Smiling Mind offers the Mind the Bump program, created with input from psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in mindfulness, mental health, and perinatal care. This program provides exercises tailored to support emotional and mental well-being from the start of pregnancy through the first two years postpartum[5]. It introduces a structured approach to mental health during this life stage.

The app includes a Mental Fitness Model featuring five core skills aimed at building resilience and managing stress. It offers resources for different family dynamics and parenting stages, along with tools for healthcare professionals to better support parents.

As a non-profit with more than 12 years of experience, Smiling Mind focuses on early intervention through mindfulness practices. The Mind the Bump program emphasizes three main areas: understanding brain development, practicing mindfulness, and preparing for a child's growth.

For expectant parents dealing with stress, the app provides psychologist-developed content to help manage anxiety and regulate emotions. Backed by research and regularly updated, Smiling Mind delivers more than just meditation - it offers a well-rounded approach to mental health. This is especially important considering that half of all mental health issues begin before the age of 14[6].

The best part? The app is completely free, making it an easy and accessible choice for parents looking to prioritize their mental health during pregnancy and beyond.

4. GentleBirth

GentleBirth combines positive psychology, mindfulness, CBT, and sports psychology to create a support system for pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. With a community of over 10,000 members and a 4.7/5 rating from 378 App Store reviews [7], the app focuses on reducing fear and anxiety while helping users feel more confident.

At its core is an AI-powered daily brain training program that delivers personalized content tailored to each user's pregnancy journey. These sessions include short meditations, hypnobirthing techniques, affirmations, and breathing exercises. This personalized approach works alongside other carefully selected tools within the app.

GentleBirth also offers playlists designed to address common pregnancy challenges, such as improving sleep, managing anxiety, building confidence, preparing for childbirth, and navigating the fourth trimester.

The app is designed to accommodate all types of birth plans. Whether you're planning a medicated or unmedicated delivery, a vaginal or cesarean birth, or even expecting multiples, GentleBirth provides support tailored to your preferences.

For those looking for more, premium features add extra value. Subscribers gain access to personalized tracking, AI-driven recommendations, and a 50% discount on the GentleBirth MasterClass. A 7-day free trial is available, with subscriptions priced between $4.99 and $14.99 per month.

The app's daily practice structure encourages regular use, helping users stay engaged, build confidence, and manage pregnancy-related stress effectively.

5. Baby2Body

Baby2Body focuses on pregnancy wellness by combining meditation with health support. The app holds a 4.7/5 rating from 5.4K users on the App Store [8]. Beyond meditation, it offers a range of wellness tools designed specifically for expectant mothers.

The app includes trimester-specific guided meditation sessions tailored to the unique needs of each pregnancy stage. These meditations complement other features like personalized prenatal fitness plans and nutrition guidance, helping you navigate each phase more comfortably.

Baby2Body also includes an AI Wellness Coach, available anytime to answer pregnancy-related questions. Its AI-powered symptom checker provides insights and advice based on specific symptoms, making it a handy tool for managing concerns.

Meditation content is divided into two main categories:

• Daily Mindfulness: Short sessions designed to fit into a busy day.

• Stress Management: Exercises aimed at easing pregnancy-related stress and anxiety.

6. Headspace

Headspace offers more than 1,000 guided meditations, including sessions designed specifically for expectant mothers [9]. Its AI companion, Ebb, tailors meditation recommendations based on your pregnancy stage and personal needs, making it easier to find the right content.

The app organizes its pregnancy-focused content into three main categories:

• Stress Management: Guided breathing exercises and mindfulness practices to help manage pregnancy-related anxieties.

• Sleep Support: Bedtime meditations and sleepcasts designed to address sleep challenges during pregnancy.

• Relationship Guidance: A dedicated Relationships pack to support communication with partners and family members.

This structure makes the app easy to navigate, offering expert-led guidance that works for busy schedules. Whether you need a quick stress-relief session or a deeper meditation experience, Headspace provides solutions tailored to pregnancy-related concerns.

Subscription options include monthly and annual plans, and the app is available for both Apple and Android devices.

7. Freya

Freya is a pregnancy meditation app that blends hypnobirthing techniques with labor tracking tools. Recognized as one of the 'Top Apps of the Year' in 2024 [10], it uses hypnobirthing-friendly language, referring to contractions as "surges" to encourage a more positive birthing experience [11]. The app is designed to support you throughout your pregnancy, during labor, and even into postpartum recovery.

Key Features of Freya

Birth Preparation & Tracking:

• Tracks surge frequency and duration

• Sends notifications when labor begins

• Provides daily and weekly positive affirmations

Personalized Relaxation Tools:

• Offers four different birth coach voice options

• Allows users to import custom voice notes from loved ones

• Includes self-recorded guided relaxations

• Features meditations in six languages [10]

Freya combines these tools to help with both the preparation for childbirth and the active labor phase. During pregnancy, it guides users through breathing techniques and relaxation exercises. During labor, it offers coached breathing exercises and soothing features to use between surges [10]. The app even includes relaxation exercises tailored for postpartum recovery.

Freya has a 4.6 out of 5 rating on the App Store, based on 159 reviews, and is available for $5.99 [11].

"Freya is the ONLY hypnobirthing-friendly contraction timer on the app store, designed specifically with hypnobirthing mums in mind, using appropriate terminology, but can be used by anyone." [11]

8. Heartfulness

Heartfulness focuses on meditation techniques aimed at fostering inner calm and happiness [12]. Created by a non-profit organization dedicated to mental and spiritual health, it offers easy-to-follow, guided sessions that fit comfortably into everyday schedules.

What Heartfulness Offers

• Guided meditations to promote emotional balance

• Flexible, self-paced practices to help reduce stress

The structured approach makes it easier for users to build a regular meditation routine. With its practical design, Heartfulness encourages habits that blend naturally into daily life, making meditation more approachable and consistent.

Feature Comparison

Here's a detailed comparison of pregnancy meditation apps, highlighting their features, trimester-specific guidance, sleep support, and pricing.

This table showcases the unique strengths of each app, helping you decide based on your priorities. For instance, research indicates that hypnobirthing techniques, like those in GentleBirth, are linked to better Apgar scores and lower prenatal stress [1].

• Looking for sleep support? Calm or Headspace might be ideal.

• Planning for birth preparation? GentleBirth or Expectful have you covered.

• On a tight budget? Smiling Mind and Heartfulness are excellent free options.

Recommendations

Each app brings something special to your pregnancy journey, catering to different needs and priorities.

Sleep Support
For better sleep during pregnancy, Calm is a standout. With over 500 Sleep Stories, soundscapes, and guided meditations, it’s a go-to for restful nights. Users rave about its effectiveness, with many saying they "start the app and fall asleep within 5 minutes" [3]. Additionally, 63% of parents reported improved sleep thanks to Calm [3]. If getting quality rest is your focus, this app is a strong choice.

Birth Preparation
GentleBirth specializes in hypnobirthing, a technique aimed at creating a positive childbirth experience. Studies show that hypnobirthing can lead to shorter labor and less reliance on medication during delivery [1]. With guided exercises and relaxation techniques, GentleBirth helps you approach labor with confidence.

Stress Management
High prenatal stress can pose risks for both you and your baby, but regular mindfulness practices can help. Expectful offers trimester-specific affirmations and meditations to support you at every stage of pregnancy. These tools are designed to reduce stress and promote a healthier pregnancy [1].

Budget-Friendly Option
If you’re looking for effective yet free mindfulness tools, Smiling Mind is a solid pick. While it doesn’t offer much trimester-specific content, it’s a dependable option for basic meditation and stress management without any cost.

All-in-One Solution
For a comprehensive approach, Headspace provides a wide range of mindfulness resources. Its pregnancy collection includes partner exercises, anxiety relief modules, and more, making it a great choice for both individuals and couples seeking well-rounded support throughout pregnancy.

Related posts

• How to Practice Meditation During Pregnancy: Beginner's Guide

• First-Time Mom's Guide to Online Prenatal Classes

• Third Trimester Checklist: Preparing for Labor