The Best Gear and Apps to Help You Have—or Not Have—a Baby
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This story is part of a week-long series on reproduction, from prenatal testing to childfree Reddit.
The phrase "reproductive technology" on its own can have a sinister, dystopian ring. But even if you don't resort to extraordinary measures, getting pregnant the old-fashioned way can still be ... complicated. We're not talking about cloning or Crispr—just our favorite new fertility and pregnancy gadgets and apps to track your periods, massage your boobs, or test your sperm.
If you're about to embark on the mind-bending, energy-sapping journey called parenthood—or if you want to ensure that you don't—these might help you out. But so would a little bit of luck.
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- Clue
Best Period App
Clue ClueFor the biologically female, the first step to conception is pinpointing the fertile window—the two to three days during the menstrual cycle when sperm can access the mature egg. I've tried a lot of female health apps, and Clue is my favorite. It's available for both ioses and androids, and the clean user interface lets you log an endless array of factors—from discharge to cramping, to how your hair looks. You can also push the data to Apple Health or Fitbit.
- Tempdrop
Best Ovulation Predictor
Tempdrop TempdropUntil recently, ovulation prediction technology required tedious and messy processes, like peeing on sticks multiple times a day to monitor your hormone levels. A wearable like the Tempdrop reduces user error. It has two temperature sensors and an acceleration sensor to track the uptick in body temperature that occurs after you ovulate. It works even if you have irregular cycles or sleep schedules and lets you push the data to the tracking app of your choice. And it uses a watch battery, so you don't even have to charge it.
- Dadi
Best Male Fertility Test
Dadi Dadi KitAccording to the Department of Health and Human Services, one-third of all infertility problems are caused by male factors. But testing and storing sperm usually involves some awkward moments in an institutional room with a couple of old magazines. Instead, order a $99 Dadi Kit to use in the comfort of your home. A preservative in the cup and a temperature-controlled box keep the sample intact until it reaches Dadi's testing facility. You will receive a fertility report detailing your sperm count, motility, volume, and concentration within 24 hours of its arrival, and (weirdly) a video of your little guys swimming.
LiaBest Pregnancy Test
Lia LiaUsing an at-home pregnancy test usually involves peeing on a stick to check for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone that indicates the presence of a placenta and the beginning of pregnancy. But it's hard to dispose of those those telltale plastic sticks in a discreet and environmentally friendly manner. Enter Lia, a biodegradable pregnancy test that disintegrates in water into the equivalent of four squares of two-ply toilet paper—just flush it away. Lia received FDA clearance in late 2017 and is expected to hit the market later in 2019.
Amy LombardBest At-Home Pregnancy Monitor
Owlet Baby Care Owlet BandIn my opinion, a major problem with pregnancy is that it's just impossible to see in there. The Owlet Band removes some of that uncertainty. The soft cloth wraps around an expecting mother's abdomen after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Thin, passive ECG sensors are woven into the fabric and keep track of the baby's heart rate; count kicks; and determine if that weird abdominal pain was a contraction---or just the result of an unwise lunch burrito. The Owlet Band debuted at CES 2019 and is expected to go on sale later this year.
- Baby-Scan
Best At-Home Ultrasound
Baby-Scan Baby-ScannerMany expecting parents enjoy the ultrasounds, which offer real-time footage of the fetus in utero. Unfortunately, you usually only get two: One around the 8-to-12-week mark to confirm the due date, and around 20 weeks to check the baby's anatomy. The Baby-Scanner, which will ship later in 2019, is an at-home ultrasound machine that streams footage and pictures to an app on your phones or tablet. Send them to friends and family, or store them on the cloud. It is important to note, however, that only trained health care professionals can diagnose problems by viewing an ultrasound. And while the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists reaffirm that there's no evidence that ultrasounds harm a developing fetus, they still discourage their use for medically unnecessary purposes.
- Elvie
Best Kegel Trainer
Elvie Elvie TrainerYour pelvic floor is a web of tissues, ligaments, and muscles that stretch across your pelvis. The weight of a baby and the strain of giving birth can seriously weaken it, which results in incontinence, discomfort during sex, or even back pain. The Elvie trainer helps you exercise muscles you might have never known existed. Just insert the trainer and follow along with the exercises on the app. Real-time biofeedback ensures that you're doing the exercises properly. The trainer is so easy, safe, and effective that it's currently offered at no cost by the UK's National Health Service.
- LaVie
Best Boob Massager
LaVie Warming Lactation Massage PadsMany breastfeeding parents struggle with problems like engorgement, clogged milk ducts, mastitis, or low milk supply. LaVie's new warming lactation massage pads can help alleviate all these problems. They use rechargeable batteries, have two heat settings, and can be used with vibration on or off. There's also a waterproof version. If you're looking for a breast pump to go with them, we've rounded up our favorites here.
Lora DiCarloBest Sex Toy
Lora DiCarlo Osé VibratorWhat if you want to fulfill your biologically ordained urges but don't necessarily want to take care of a kid for 20 years? Lora DiCarlo's hugely innovative Osé uses advanced micro-robotics to mimic the movements of a human mouth, tongue, and fingers. It's the first product to help women achieve a hands-free blended orgasm, which combines both clitoral and vaginal stimulation. The Osé was even a CES 2019 Innovation Award honoree—or it was, until its award was revoked after being deemed "immoral" and "profane." Turns out CES can only allow sex robots if they're for dudes.
- Sustain
Best Condoms
Sustain Ultra Thin CondomCondoms are underrated. They don't require hormones or a doctor's visit. They're affordable, easy to use, and easy to find. But Seventh Generation founder Jeffrey Hollander and daughter Meika knew they could be even better. Sustain's condoms are vegan and made from Fair Trade, natural latex. The condoms are also made with a process that reduces nitrosamine formation, a normal byproduct of condom manufacture that happens to be a carcinogen. They're also paraben- and gluten-free. Go forth and not multiply.
READ MOREHow We Reproduce- It's Either the Best Time or the Worst Time to Have a Baby
- The Tricky Ethics of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing
- Male Birth Control Could Actually Happen. But Do Men Want It?
- How Big Data Could Help Prevent Premature Births
- You Know What Else Can Reproduce Now? Robots
- Childfree on Reddit—Because Apocalypse, That's Why
