One-stop health marketplace for expectant mothers and young parents

Bay Area startup, Lucy, helps expectant parents to find post-natal support services.

Being a new parent can be stressful, particularly for those that cannot call on the help and practical support of experienced family members. For many young parents, the first time they take care of a newborn baby is when they bring their own child home from hospital. Innovations that can help alleviate that stress are likely to succeed. Recently we covered a medical kit that allows parents to perform health checks for their family at home. Founded this January, Lucy is an app that aims to create a “supportive care ecosystem” around those new to parenthood.

Currently in beta, the platform makes it easier for young families to locate and book health professionals. Users can choose from a range of allied and pre-vetted services: doulas; lactation consultants; specialist nutritionists, family therapists – essentially, anything other than primary medical care. The aim is to support young parents after the baby is born, the point at which traditional medical services normally fade out. Expectant parents or those with young babies sign up and respond to a series of questions designed to figure out their specific needs. Lucy then generates a support plan with services that are bookable through the app. The app also features an ‘anytime messaging service’ for new parents allowing them to contact experts with any queries. Co-founder Chitra Akileswaran explains the need the app is designed to meet, “I’m an OB-GYN and I know that the medical system and how we approach birth just doesn’t provide nearly the amount of support that we need to for expecting families — especially women.”

The app also supports women to continue and thrive in careers after having children, working with employers to retain employees through family-friendly benefits and help them to be productive in the difficult months after having children. How else can technology be used to support young parents?