Planning for or having a baby can be a daunting experience. New parents often feel overwhelmed trying to care for a newborn and care for themselves, juggling duties like feeding, diaper changing and the all-important nap time (for parent and child).

They say children don’t come with instruction manuals, but technology might be bringing the next best thing.

Capital Blue Cross recently began offering its members a trio of apps that guide families through everything from planning conception and pregnancy to balancing life as a working parent. The apps provide confidential, unlimited consultations with healthcare professionals, including nurses, certified nurse-midwives, registered dietitians, and mental health professionals.

As one user of the apps put it: “It’s like having a texting conversation with your friend, except that friend is a registered nurse, a lactation consultant or a fertility specialist.”

Each of the three apps is geared toward a different stage of a family’s growth to help with:

Planning a family

This app offers guidance, tips, and informative content covering issues like tracking of ovulation cycles, trying to conceive, or managing menopause.

Pregnancy

Users of this app can find answers to prenatal questions, including guidance on diet, exercise, relief from pregnancy symptoms, and more. They can even share pictures of their “baby bump” with other family members and explore ideas for baby names.

Parenting

This app can help keep the entire family in the loop on infant care, including feeding and nap schedules and even when a diaper change might be due. Users can record important developmental milestones and securely share family pictures. Extended family members and caretakers also can be given access.

The apps have an impressive record of success in helping families. Data shows users of the apps are less likely to face pregnancy issues like pre-eclampsia, have lower instances of Caesarean section, and have higher infant vaccination adherence rates.

Those outcomes aren’t just good for families, they can benefit employers too.

When working parents have more guidance and support in their home lives, it can lessen absenteeism and increase focus and productivity. Research shows many employers are looking for ways to be more family friendly to improve staff recruitment and retention, reduce absenteeism, and increase job satisfaction and company loyalty.

To help employers help their workers, Capital even offers an employer toolkit with information on how the apps can be promoted in the workplace.