South African obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Qinisile has launched PreggyCheck, a pregnancy-support app designed to help women monitor their health, access reliable information and keep important medical records in one place.
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Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in women’s healthcare, the doctor hopes the platform will help expectant mothers better understand their pregnancies and recognise when they should seek medical advice.
What inspired PreggyCheck?
The idea came from witnessing the devastating consequences that pregnancy complications can have when warning signs are not identified early enough.
Dr Qinisile recalls treating a 24-year-old woman who arrived at hospital at 32 weeks pregnant after experiencing seizures at home. The patient had developed high blood pressure during pregnancy, but earlier warning signs had not been identified in time.
An emergency Caesarean section was needed to save the mother and her baby.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr Qinisile considered how better access to information might have helped the woman understand her medical readings and know which questions to ask her healthcare team.
PreggyCheck was developed to encourage women to participate more actively in their care. However, the app is intended to complement medical consultations, not replace professional healthcare.
Features designed for pregnancy and beyond
PreggyCheck uses green, amber and red indicators to help users understand vital signs and identify readings that may need further discussion with a healthcare professional.
The app also allows women to store important medical information, including blood test results, prescriptions and ultrasound scans, on their phones.
This feature could be particularly useful in South Africa, where patients may rely on paper-based antenatal records when visiting different healthcare facilities.
The app’s Preggy Corner section provides accessible information about pregnancy-related topics, while Mom’s Corner offers journaling, reflection and daily spiritual encouragement.
The platform also includes a family connection feature to help partners and loved ones remain involved in the pregnancy journey, even when they cannot attend appointments in person.
Support continues after childbirth through the Golden 42 Days feature, which includes a daily one-minute survey designed to encourage mothers to monitor their physical and emotional wellbeing during the first six weeks after delivery.
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A personal mission shaped by motherhood
As a mother of four, Dr Qinisile understands the uncertainty that can accompany pregnancy complications, high-risk pregnancies and having a baby in neonatal intensive care.
She hopes PreggyCheck will help women feel better informed while reminding them that they do not have to navigate pregnancy alone.
The app also addresses sensitive issues, including intimate partner violence and mental health. Dr Qinisile emphasises that persistent sadness, severe anxiety and thoughts of harming oneself or a baby require urgent professional support.
More about Dr Qinisile
Dr Qinisile grew up in KwaMashu, Durban, and began selling biscuits and ice blocks at the age of 12 to help cover school expenses.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2006 and later completed further studies in business administration, obstetrics and gynaecology, and reproductive medicine.
She subsequently founded Family Matters Fertility Centre in South Africa before relocating to the United Arab Emirates with her four children in 2024.
Through PreggyCheck, she hopes to make pregnancy information more accessible and encourage women to ask questions, attend antenatal appointments and seek medical advice when something concerns them.
Although technology cannot prevent every complication, the app aims to help women feel more informed and supported throughout pregnancy and the weeks that follow.
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