Hershey Medical Center unveils new app for expectant mothers

Expectant mothers can have the information they need right at their fingertips – literally.

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center released myYoMingo on April 17. The free educational app can be accessed via mobile or desktop and is available in 16 languages.

“We’re really excited about myYoMingo,” said Tracey Peterson, a labor and delivery nurse manager at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “It’s a single, convenient resource that parents can access 24/7, and it gives expectant moms the tools they need to track everything from their child’s immunizations to their feedings.”

Modules cover a variety of topics, including prenatal care, labor and birth, postpartum care and breastfeeding. There is also a milestone tile that tracks a baby’s development from Week 1 through Week 40.

“I love how interactive the app is,” Peterson said. “It provides content in the way millennials expect.”

The myYoMingo app includes engaging content such as videos, animations and links to related articles. Some of the other features include a kick counter, a contraction timer and a packing list.

“Expectant moms might make a list of items to take to the hospital and a list of items to take to a caregiver after the baby arrives,” Peterson said.

They can also create birth plans where they note important information, such as their preference of pain medication and how they intend to feed their baby – breast milk or bottle.

“They can print out the list and bring it to the hospital,” Peterson said. “So if they are far along in labor and can’t speak, we have the list.”

While the myYoMingo app is intended to be used through a child’s first year of life, it can also be used to track information for the child’s siblings, such as growth measurements and immunizations. Parents can enter contact information for their children’s health care providers and appointments on the interactive calendar.

Each user has a unique log-in that can be shared with their child’s other caregivers, allowing them to enter content.

“I can’t wait for more people to start using it,” Peterson said.

Users can register for the free myYoMingo app at tinyurl.com/PSHapp. myYoMingo is funded by Children’s Miracle Network and GIANT Food Stores.

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