Wearable Device Review: Bloomlife Patches

Whether you’re a new mom or an experienced one, every labor is different, and it’s not surprising that many pregnant women aren’t sure if they’re actually having contractions or not in the beginning stages of labor. Early on, contractions may feel like gas or something else. That’s where Bloomlife patches come into play. They are easy to apply and you can monitor your contractions while in a comfortable position anywhere you might be.

How It Works

The Bloomlife tracker is designed to work through your phone, so you’ll need to download the app. You’ll also need patches and the sensor, which come with the tracker. The patches can be removed and reapplied, so don’t worry if you need to take them off for a bit. They’re sticky and attach to the belly three finger widths below the belly button, which makes for easy placement.

You simply attach the sensor to a sticky patch, peel off the backing, measure with fingers on your belly and attach the sensor to the skin. It’s comfortable and lightweight, so you won’t feel like you’re carrying something extra around.

Once everything is set up and you’ve downloaded the app, you can easily check the app to see how your contractions are. Most women, when not in active labor, like to track overnight while they’re asleep. This gives you a good baseline of what your body is up to and what your baby is like. Early labor has mild contractions that are 30-45 seconds long, while active labor involves contractions that are anywhere from 50 to 70 seconds long and 2-3 minutes apart.

Since a woman’s pregnant body starts to prep for labor long before you actually give birth, you can expect there to be a lot of minor contractions before the real ones start. This will give you an idea of how your body handles the prep for your baby and will also give you a glance at what your natural rhythm is. Once you do go into labor, you can easily see how close your contractions are.

Renting the Bloomlife Tracker

Pregnancy and birth are not times when you’re going to be on top of stuff, especially rentals. Fortunately, Bloomlife understands this and is well designed for this type of use. You don’t have to invest too much; just $20 a week and you can use it throughout your third trimester. It’s possible to register and reserve the tracker ahead of time and you only pay when it shows up and you can actually use it.

Once your baby is born, you just send the tracker back and the rental ends. However, if you end up getting caught up in new motherhood, they do offer up to a week return time without charge. There’s also a good side offer for wet wipes, etc.

Pros and Cons of Bloomlife

There are plenty of reasons to use this contraction tracker and it can be a lot of fun to see what is going on with your ever-changing body. However, not everyone is completely happy with the device.

• Pros include
  The ability to track both contractions and infant movement, which are color coded. This can be a relief when you’re not sure what exactly is going on in there!It’s safe for both you and the baby. There’s no energy sent into your body, it simply reads the muscle contractions and kicks that it can detect from the outside of your belly.The charge lasts for up to 7 days and is very easy to recharge.It’s rented. You don’t have to buy the Bloomlife tracker, which makes sense, since it’s only in use for a short time. Instead, you can rent it for $20 a week for the length of time you need it.The information is stored for your contractions. This makes it extra simple to share with the doctor when you do go into the hospital. You can pinpoint how long you’ve been in labor, how far apart the contractions are, and let the doctor know.

• Cons include
  The app doesn’t work properly if you’re moving around and is not as accurate. To get the best results, you need to stay still, which isn’t always possible.It doesn’t distinguish between types of contractions. The Bloomlife app won’t actually tell you if you’re having false or real labor. It just shows the contractions, but not how effective they are.You can only connect one device. This may be disappointing to women who want to share the experience with their mother or husband.The pros and cons mean that this device isn’t ideal for every mother. It can be very helpful if you aren’t sure what a contraction feels like or if you’re nervous about when to go into the hospital.

What Moms Have to Say About Bloomlife

The best way to know if something is for you is to check what the reviews say. Bloomlife reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.5 start average (out of 5).

Rurinaa says, “I loved using Bloomlife because it helped me keep record of contractions! I was worried if I don’t know what contractions feel like and was worried if I could really measure it right and remember. This device is amazing! However, not everyone was so positive.

According to bbburr, “If you’re not sitting very still, it doesn’t get a read. Cool idea, but not for active or working moms.” Other moms had similar issues with moving around and not having the app accurately read their contractions. The tracker is obviously meant to be used when you are sitting or lying down and not moving around a lot.

If you’re not sure what a contraction truly feels like or if you should head to the hospital soon, a tracker like this one can be the best way to relax. You’ll feel more at ease knowing how your body works. It can be disheartening and scary not to know what to expect and all the books in the world can’t prepare you for the real thing. This app, however, can.