Blog
Maternal health, in your language.
How Materna works, prenatal and postpartum care, and bilingual care for the border corridor. Educational and truthful, never a substitute for your clinician.
Postpartum
Birth control after baby: your postpartum options, explained
Why providers discuss birth control before you leave the hospital, the main postpartum options from IUDs to condoms to permanent methods, what works with breastfeeding per ACOG and CDC guidance, and how Medicaid coverage fits in.
Jun 11, 2026 · 8 min read
Pregnancy
Prenatal visit schedule: how often you will see your provider and why visits speed up
The typical prenatal visit schedule for an uncomplicated pregnancy, what happens at each phase of checkups, why high-risk pregnancies are seen more often, when telehealth visits work, and what to do when you cannot make an appointment.
Jun 11, 2026 · 7 min read
Postpartum
Pumping at work: your rights under the PUMP Act and a practical plan
What the federal PUMP Act guarantees for pumping at work, how to set a plan with your employer before you return, the practical kit, milk storage basics per CDC guidance, and where to find breastfeeding help.
Jun 11, 2026 · 8 min read
Newborn
Safe sleep for newborns: the ABCs, explained gently
Safe sleep for newborns in plain language: the ABCs of Alone, on the Back, in a Crib, what stays out of the sleep space, room-sharing without bed-sharing, swaddling, pacifiers, sleep sacks, and what the AAP recommends.
Jun 11, 2026 · 8 min read
Postpartum
Baby blues vs postpartum depression: how to tell the difference
How to tell the baby blues apart from postpartum depression: timing, symptoms, EPDS screening, what partners can watch for, and where to get help, including the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
Jun 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Benefits and costs
How to get a breast pump through insurance or Medicaid
A plain-language guide to getting a breast pump through insurance or Medicaid: what the ACA requires, how prescriptions and DME suppliers work, what state Medicaid plans and WIC offer, and when to order.
Jun 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Newborn
Choosing a pediatrician before birth: when to start and what to ask
A practical guide to choosing a pediatrician before your baby arrives: why to decide in the third trimester, what to compare, what to ask at the prenatal meet and greet, and what happens at the first newborn checkups per AAP guidance.
Jun 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Newborn
Newborn car seat basics: the ride home and the first year
Newborn car seat basics in plain language: rear-facing from day one, what the hospital expects at discharge, correct installation, free checks by certified technicians, and what the AAP and NHTSA recommend.
Jun 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Postpartum
Postpartum recovery timeline: what to expect week by week
A realistic postpartum recovery timeline week by week: the first days, weeks 1 to 2, weeks 3 to 6, and beyond, plus what is normal and when to call your provider.
May 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Coverage and access
Doula care on Medicaid: what it covers and how to find a doula
How Medicaid doula coverage works, which of the four states Materna serves (Arizona, California, Texas, Pennsylvania) cover doula care, and how to keep your record together while a doula supports you.
May 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Resources and benefits
WIC benefits during pregnancy: what the program covers and how to apply
A plain-language guide to WIC benefits during pregnancy: what WIC is, who qualifies, what it provides, and how to apply for WIC in Arizona, California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Telehealth
Telehealth prenatal visits: a practical guide to virtual prenatal care
Which prenatal visits can reasonably happen by telehealth, which need to be in person, how to prepare for a virtual prenatal visit, and why home-logged vitals make virtual care more useful.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Prenatal care
Prenatal tests by trimester: what your provider may offer and when
A trimester-by-trimester guide to common prenatal tests and screenings, from first trimester labs and NIPT to the anatomy scan, glucose screen, and GBS test.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Feeding
Breastfeeding, formula, or both: a judgment-free guide to feeding your baby
What the AAP and ACOG say about breastfeeding vs formula, why a fed baby is the goal, how combination feeding works, where lactation support helps, and formula safety basics.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Choosing care
OBGYN or midwife? How to choose your pregnancy care provider
The real differences between an OBGYN and a midwife: training, scope of practice, where they deliver, how they collaborate on higher-risk pregnancies, and the questions to ask before you choose.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Third trimester
Braxton Hicks vs real contractions: how to tell the difference
Practice contractions or real labor? Learn how Braxton Hicks differ from true labor contractions in pattern and strength, the 5-1-1 rule in plain words, and when to call your provider before 37 weeks.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy health
Swollen feet in pregnancy: when to worry and when to rest
Swollen feet during pregnancy are usually normal, but some swelling is a warning sign. Learn the red flags, simple comfort measures, and why tracking swelling helps you and your provider.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Postpartum
How partners can support postpartum recovery, night by night
A practical guide for partners in the fourth trimester: night logistics, feeding support, warning signs to watch for, and why dad postpartum depression is real too.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy health
Pregnancy sleep positions and insomnia: how to rest when you cannot sleep
Which pregnancy sleep positions are safest, how to build a pillow setup that actually works, third trimester insomnia tactics, and when sleeplessness deserves a conversation with your provider.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Resources and benefits
Working while pregnant: your rights, your comfort, and your plan
A plain-language guide to pregnancy accommodations at work, break and lactation rights in general terms, comfort strategies for long shifts, and how to plan the leave conversation.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy health
Traveling while pregnant: how late you can fly and how to do it well
How late you can fly while pregnant, road trip tips that actually matter, what to pack, and why carrying your prenatal record changes everything when you cross a border.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Nutrition
How much water do you need during pregnancy? Hydration, explained
How much water pregnant women need each day, why fluid needs rise, the signs of dehydration in pregnancy, the Braxton-Hicks link, and practical ways to drink enough in border-region heat.
May 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy health
Skin changes in pregnancy: stretch marks, melasma, and what your skin is telling you
Stretch marks, melasma, linea nigra, and itching during pregnancy: which skin changes are normal, what realistic care looks like, and when itching deserves a call to your provider.
May 26, 2026 · 6 min read
Pregnancy basics
Kick counts in the third trimester: how to count baby movements
A simple guide to kick counts in the third trimester: when to start counting baby movements, how to count, what is normal, and when decreased fetal movement means call your provider.
May 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Maternal health
Prenatal care across the border: keeping your pregnancy on track
How to keep prenatal care continuous when pregnancy crosses the US-Mexico border, why a portable record matters, and how Materna helps your history follow you.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Maternal health
Why Spanish-first maternal care matters on the border
What Spanish-first maternal care means, why language access changes pregnancy outcomes, and how Materna builds care for Spanish speakers across AZ, CA, TX, and PA.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
How Materna works
Voice-first pregnancy tracking: log symptoms and vitals by talking
How voice-first tracking lets you log symptoms, blood pressure, and how you feel during pregnancy and postpartum just by talking, in English or Spanish, with concerning values flagged.
May 21, 2026 · 6 min read
Pregnancy conditions
Preeclampsia warning signs every pregnant person should know
The preeclampsia warning signs to watch for in pregnancy and after birth, when to call your provider, when to call 911, and how Materna helps you track blood pressure between visits.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Choosing care
Free bilingual pregnancy app: what to look for before you sign up
How to choose a free bilingual pregnancy app in English and Spanish: privacy, voice-first check-ins, a record that travels, and the red flags to avoid.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Prenatal care
Your first prenatal visit: what to expect and what to bring
What to expect at your first prenatal visit: when to schedule it, the history and labs, the dating of your pregnancy, what to bring, and how one record helps at every visit after.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Choosing care
Questions to ask your OBGYN at every prenatal visit
A practical list of questions to ask your OBGYN at the first prenatal visit, each trimester, birth planning, and postpartum, plus why asking in Spanish is your right.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Newborn
Newborn paperwork checklist: birth certificate, Social Security, insurance, and more
The after-birth paperwork checklist for new parents: registering the birth certificate, requesting a Social Security number, adding your baby to Medicaid or insurance on time, choosing a pediatrician, and enrolling in WIC.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Mental health
Pregnancy anxiety: when to get help and how to tell your provider
How to tell everyday pregnancy worry apart from anxiety that deserves care, exactly what to say to your doctor or midwife, what GAD-7 screening looks like, and where to turn in a crisis.
May 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Maternal health
Postpartum warning signs: when to call your provider and when to call 911
The postpartum warning signs every new parent should know, what they can mean, and exactly when to call your provider versus when to call 911.
May 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Coverage and access
Medicaid and maternal coverage in border states: AZ, CA, TX, and PA
How Medicaid covers pregnancy and postpartum care, how the four states Materna serves (Arizona, California, Texas, Pennsylvania) differ, and how to keep your record together while your coverage changes.
May 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Prenatal care
Vaccines during pregnancy: Tdap, flu, and RSV explained
A plain-language guide to vaccines during pregnancy: why Tdap is given every pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks, when to get the flu shot, what the maternal RSV vaccine is, and which vaccines are not given while pregnant.
May 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Pregnancy guides
Pregnancy after 35: what advanced maternal age really means
A clear, calm guide to pregnancy after 35 and advanced maternal age: the real risks, the extra screenings, and how Materna helps you track a higher-risk pregnancy in English or Spanish.
May 19, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy nutrition
Gestational diabetes meal ideas: simple, affordable plates
Easy gestational diabetes meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, with budget-friendly, bilingual options and tips to keep your blood sugar steady during pregnancy.
May 19, 2026 · 7 min read
How Materna works
The Mommy Passport: one pregnancy record that follows you
What the Mommy Passport is, why a record that travels with you matters, and how Materna keeps your prenatal and postpartum history in one place.
May 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Nutrition
Iron rich foods for pregnancy: a practical anemia in pregnancy diet
Why iron needs rise in pregnancy, the best iron rich foods (heme and non-heme), how vitamin C helps and coffee and calcium get in the way, and which anemia symptoms to mention to your provider.
May 4, 2026 · 7 min read
Insurance and coverage
The cost of having a baby on Medicaid: what is covered and what to ask
Does Medicaid cover delivery? What pregnancy Medicaid generally covers, the 12-month postpartum extension, the questions to ask your plan, and how organized records help with billing.
May 4, 2026 · 7 min read
Prenatal care
The glucose test in pregnancy: what to expect, step by step
What the 1 hour glucose test in pregnancy is really like: when it happens, what the drink tastes like, how the 3 hour test differs, and what your results actually mean.
Apr 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy milestones
When will I feel my baby move? Quickening, week by week
When you can expect to feel your baby move for the first time, what quickening feels like, how movement changes by trimester, and when to call your provider about decreased fetal movement.
Apr 27, 2026 · 7 min read
Pregnancy health
Dental care during pregnancy: why seeing the dentist while pregnant is safe and smart
Dental care during pregnancy is safe and recommended. What to know about cleanings, x-rays, anesthesia, pregnancy gingivitis, gum disease, and Medicaid dental benefits.
Apr 21, 2026 · 7 min read