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BloomLife: Contraction Tracker

8/6/2019

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Hey mamas!
At 35 weeks, I am getting antsy for the big day. My body is changing and those pre-labor symptoms are starting to emerge. One of the most noteworthy pre-labor symptoms has been the Braxton Hicks contractions. While not constant, I notice that the Braxton Hicks are generally more prominent with movement or when I workout. While Braxton Hicks can be annoying and unpredictable, I remind myself that they are my body's way of preparing for labor. But, the truth is, I have a hard time identifying whether or not they are real contractions or not. This got me thinking about the idea of being able to track them. Was there a product out there that allowed for the tracking of contractions?
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Tracking contractions would be beneficial for several reasons...
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  • I'd be able to understand better if labor was close or not.
  • I wouldn't have to guess if what I felt was a real contraction or not a contraction at all.
  • I'd be able to accurately understand my contraction patterns and more specifically, if my contractions hit the 511 pattern.
  • We don't have family around to help watch our boys, so truly understanding if I am in labor is very important.
  • My husband works full-time, and I'd hate to give him a false alarm about whether or not I was actually in labor.
  • Lastly, I'd love to alert my parents, seeing that they live out of town to give them enough time to travel out for baby's big debut.

These are many reasons why a contraction monitor would allow for peace of mind as I approach the big day. And, to my luck, I came across a woman's health company called Bloomlife, which offers a technologically advanced contraction tracker. Woo hoo! Here is a little more about the company, the contraction tracker, and my personal experience.
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What is Bloomlife?

Bloomlife is a women’s health company focused on improving the health of moms and babies. 
  • Bloomlife believes that expecting moms should have better, more personalized information at their fingertips for a simpler, healthier and more empowered pregnancy. 
  • Through their clinically validated tracker, women can automatically track and count contractions.
  • With help from their Community of Moms, their long-term mission focuses on sourcing the largest data set on maternal and fetal medicine ever collected to help researchers solve unanswered questions like preterm birth and help clinicians make better data-driven decisions about care. You can read more here.
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Why is the contraction tracker helpful?

  • Expecting moms have an additional, intelligent tool to make confident decisions and more easily communicate with their partner and care team.
  • Expecting moms do not need to feel alone and can easily share Bloomlife information with partner, family/friends, and care team. By displaying what she feels, Bloomlife helps connect and engage partners to empower them to feel more included in what mom is experiencing.
  • Bloomlife simplifies contraction tracking. Women are often told to track contractions in their third trimester. With automated contraction tracking, Bloomlife provides a more accurate, convenient way to track so that moms (or their partner’s) don’t have to worry about fumbling with a stopwatch or timer app. 

How does the Bloomlife contraction tracker work?

There are three parts to the Bloomlife tracker:  app, sensor, reusable patch. ​
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BLOOMLIFE APP
The app is available in the app store but does not work without the sensor and patch. Bloomlife designed the information interface alongside members of the birth community to cleanly highlight the most valuable data. To me, the most noteworthy stats from the app include:

  • Real-time view, which quickly answers the, “Am I having a contraction?” question as it associates a sensation with a visual on the graph.
  • Contraction pattern bar, which answers the questions, “Are the contractions regular or irregular?” by providing a simple hour-long view of contraction patterns. It also displays rhythm to see if contractions get closer together or further apart.
  • Contractions stats (my personal favorite), which answer the questions, “How far apart? How long do they last?” After an hour of measurement, averages for duration and frequency is displayed.

SENSOR, PATCH + CHARGER
​In addition to the app, the sensor, patch and charger are included in the package. The sensor and patch can be taken on and off your body for up to one week. Clear directions are included in the package to help you understand how to easily attach the sensor to the patch, how to attached the patch to your body, and also how to remove and store the patch. As a side note, the sensor battery life outlives the patch life, but Bloomlife recommends charging fully each time the sensor is snapped out of the patch. 
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Is the Tracker Safe?

Like all moms, this question was the most important consideration before using the product. And the answer is, yes, the product is 100% safe! In the exact words from a Bloomlife professional, this was the response I got with respect to safety:

"Bloomlife is completely passive - it reads bioelectrical signals from the uterine muscle - meaning it doesn't send any waves of any kind into Mom's body. We've designed every aspect of Bloomlife for safety, including this little piece. The level of energy from Bloomlife's Bluetooth (Bluetooth LE, "Low Energy") is 100 times lower than cellphone level and 1,000 times lower than the safety levels defined by the regulatory bodies. We've also done extensive testing to show that the Specific Absorption Rate (how much energy gets through the tissue) is so low that any energy from Bloomlife's Bluetooth signal does not actually enter Mom's body whatsoever. Hope that helps answer some questions!!"
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My Personal Experience

After my second pregnancy (now on my third), I grew more interested in my ability to track contractions. At 37 weeks, my doctor had assured me that I would go into labor "any day now" because I was 3cm dilated and having pretty consistent Braxton Hicks. With the consistency of the BH's, I too, knew that labor must be close. However, I persisted on through 41 weeks and had to be induced with my second son. While my induction process went ever so smoothly, I did birth a big baby: he was 9 lbs. 3 oz. Looking back on this process, had I been able to identify or track my contractions more consistently, I feel like I could have more clearly dictated the terms of my labor experience. Hindsight is always 20/20, but maybe I would have opted to have my membranes swept at 40 weeks, rather than going seven days past my due date only to be induced. Again, who knows what I would have done in this situation, but I do feel a contraction tracker would have been helpful.
Fast forward to my third pregnancy, and I am most interested in the ability to track my contractions for the aforementioned reasons. Because I birth big babies, I like the idea of knowing whether or not labor is close and feel that having a contraction tracker, such as the Bloomlife, will empower me with that information. Sure. Labor will happen when it is going to happen, but for someone like me who has had vaginal deliveries in the past, I fear that if I go over 40 weeks, I may end up with a 10+ lbs baby with the possibility of a c-section in my future. If I can avoid this, I'd love to do so, and by understanding my contractions, I think I will be able to paint a more accurate picture of labor and delivery as opposed to what I went through with my last pregnancy.
So I did it! I have partnered with Bloomlife after researching innovative companies that allow mamas to track contractions. Bloomlife suggests starting the contraction tracking process ideally around 34 weeks, which was perfect for me at 35 weeks pregnant. Upon receiving the Bloomlife package, I opened the box, and was excited to start monitoring my contraction journey! After all, I was 35 weeks pregnant and labor could happen at any moment. Opening the package lid, I found a sensor, patch and charger, which were displayed in an organized fashion, along with a quick guide. I quickly opened the guide and got started!
Within the quick guide was five easy steps to follow. The first step was super easy: download the app. I found the Bloomlife app easily, downloaded it, and setup a profile with very basic information. I then proceeded to the following steps to get the patch attached to the sensor, and then to attach both to my belly. Within minutes, I was ready to go! Next, I started a session and waited about five minutes for the sensor to calibrate. Note: you must be resting during this process, as any movement can throw off the tracker.
After calibration, I sat peacefully for about an hour, checking in and out of the application as it tracked my contractions. I will add that the app is extremely user-friendly with straight forward features, allowing me to see any peaks in contractions, the duration of those contractions and the frequency.
After my hour spent of tracking contractions, the app simply summarized my information. I found that I had contracted twice during the hour with the average contraction lasting in a duration of 1 minute and 30 seconds. While I found that tracking the contractions during the day was exciting and helpful, I also knew that Bloomlife recommends tracking contractions through the night in order to get the most accurate reading. So, this is what I did! I tracked my contractions over night and this is what I found...
They were somewhat all over the place, but I did get the most accurate results when I did complete the full overnight reading. In fact, there was one night in which I apparently experienced an hour of contractions coming every 10 minutes. That is crazy! Almost as if if I were awake, I'd think to possibly call my doctor. Aside from that, I use the tracker for an hour before bed and haven't had huge traction. Stay tuned for more Bloomlife updates!

Use code "BROOKE10" for 10% off your Bloomlife purchase!

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​Bloomlife FAQ

Does Bloomlife use ultrasound?
No. Bloomlife is completely non-invasive and measures uterine activity with electrophysiology (the same technology used when doctors measure your heart rhythm with EKG).

When should I get Bloomlife during my pregnancy?
Most moms like to have Bloomlife for the last 6-8 weeks of their pregnancy to learn from and connect with their body as they prepare for labor. Women who need to keep a close eye on early contractions tend to get it for longer, often throughout the third trimester. You can start it whenever you want since the rental model allows you to match your rental period to your specific pregnancy needs.

Can Bloomlife detect Braxton Hicks contractions?
Yes, Bloomlife detects all uterine muscle activity including Braxton Hicks. It cannot, at the moment, classify Braxton Hicks vs. labor contractions but the contraction pattern bar allows women to quickly see regularity of contractions. 
Is Bloomlife safe?Yes. Bloomlife is 100% passive and does not send any energy into the body (unlike ultrasound or doppler). It has passed both FCC and CE certification well below standards and proven safe for continuous use. 

Is Bloomlife covered by insurance?
Bloomlife is not currently covered by insurance. However Bloomlife is FSA/HSA qualified. Customers can contact Bloomlife directly (support@bloomlife.com) for an itemized receipt to submit.

How often should I wear Bloomlife?
While you can wear Bloomlife as often as you like, most women get into a routine of wearing Bloomlife for an hour or two every evening when relaxing to see changes in their baseline. Many women will also put Bloomlife on during moments when they want to track contractions more closely.

Will Bloomlife work with twins?
Yes! Bloomlife works just as well with twins (and triplets and quads!) as it does for singletons. 

What comes in the box?
The box contains everything you will need to get started: Bloomlife sensor, patches, sensor charging cord, and a quick guide.

Will Bloomlife work with heavy moms?
Yes, Bloomlife has been tested with moms of various size and weight and shown to accurately detect contractions.

Do I need to pay for more patches?
No, if you run low on patches more will be shipped to you for the length of your rental at no additional cost.

How do I get Bloomlife?
Bloomlife is available through the Bloomlife website - bloomlife.com 
You can request immediate shipping or reserve for a specific shipment date later in your pregnancy. 
Use code "BROOKE10" for 10% off your Bloomlife order.



This blog post was sponsored by Bloomlife. 
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