Withings Health Solutions and Babyscripts announced a partnership Thursday that aims to address hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which are among the leading causes of maternal mortality. This includes preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy or after.
Washington, D.C.-based Babyscripts offers a virtual maternity care program that includes perinatal education, remote patient monitoring and mental health assessments. It works with health plans, providers, private practices and directly with patients. Withings Health Solutions, meanwhile, offers health monitoring devices.
One of these devices is the Withings BPM Pro 2, an FDA-cleared cellular blood pressure monitor that patients can use at home. Through the partnership, Babyscripts members now have access to this device. The device includes a feature called Patient Insights, which asks patients to answer a questionnaire after taking a reading to get information on symptoms and risk factors. This helps providers identify early warning signs of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and intervene quickly.
“By providing context alongside each blood pressure reading, we are giving care teams the information they need to inform clinical decision making,” said Antoine Robillard, vice president at Withings Health Solutions, in an email. “Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) develop quickly and escalate rapidly. At-home monitoring is necessary for the critical interventions that HDP requires, especially for women in under-resourced communities where transportation and access to care could be limited.”
Babyscripts’ CEO and co-founder, Anish Sebastian, echoed Robillard’s comments.
“Withings has developed a device that is not only FDA-approved and easy to use but also designed with inclusivity in mind—an essential consideration for the diverse communities we serve,” Sebastian said in an email. “By integrating the Withings BPM Pro 2 into our platform, we’re advancing our ability to deliver high-quality, equitable care.”
The announcement comes shortly after the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new guidance that recommends the use of telehealth in supporting pregnancies and regular monitoring of blood pressure.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are becoming more common, and currently affect about 15% of women during their reproductive years. While many women experience symptoms like persistent headaches and swelling, some women don’t have any noticeable symptoms. That’s what this partnership aims to address.
“Our goal is to provide patients with the best possible tools for managing hypertension risk during and after pregnancy,” Sebastian said. “This partnership strengthens our ability to proactively address one of the leading contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality. Ultimately, we aim to reduce hypertension-related complications and close gaps in care for those most vulnerable to poor outcomes.”
Other companies that provide virtual maternal health support include Maven Clinic, Mae and Pomelo Care.
Photo: shironosov, Getty Images
