Expectful Reviews

I have no real issues with the interface. I’m not sure what the purpose of being able to “save” or “like” courses / articles was, as there is seemingly no place those are stored separately. But it wasn’t too difficult to scroll back and find what I wanted through the Explore feature.

I rated this low because there is a very narrow view of what is “natural” and “correct” for pregnancy and birth, even in the hypnobirthing course, which I thought was just supposed to provide tools for managing pain and stress during birth. In the course, you are told that you will not be comfortable unless you are in a dark, silent room (at home), and that being in the hospital will cause stress. Additionally, in the part describing induction, you are told that it’s unnatural (the hormones you get are synthetic and therefore will make labor harder).

I didn’t download Expectful for someone to tell me what my doctor has already explained. I will be in a hospital and I will be induced - I have no choice. Rather than discussing at length how much harder my labor will be and why, I’d rather they focus on the tools to get through it. I’ll be looking for another app to assist me through labor.

I really love the content available on this app but I find Expectful really off putting, to the point I don’t access the content as often as I would like. Expectful is very glitchy, I can’t move away from the current recording without it stopping, when I return to an audio selection it does not resume where I left off, the download feature is basically useless as the recording still stops when my train goes underground. I think most bizarre is the inability to click and drag back to the time stamp where the recording last stopped. The full screen illustration of where you are in the recording means I have to jump around and hope I find the right time.

I hope these issues are resolved because the content is wonderful and the frustrating app really undermines the content.

I use the audio the most on Expectful. It has been a godsend to help me center myself in times of distress. And to help me build good habits. I like to listen to many daily meditation before bed. Sometimes my partner joins me and we hold my belly together while we listen 🥰 I love how limitless the audio options feel and how things are categorized in a way that makes it fun and easy to explore new topics. All of the content on here feels curated with care and written by true experts.

I’m giving this 4 instead of 5 stars bc I wish I could cast the audio to my Google home speaker. I also wish I could cast my workouts to my smart TV. If Expectful had that capability it’d be perfect!

I haven’t tried the office hours yet, but look forward to. Maybe if that part blows me away I’ll switch this review to 5 stars.

I downloaded this not knowing what to expect and honestly didn’t even give it enough energy in the beginning in which I wish I did. I thought it would be just another weekly where you’re at in your pregnancy app and this being my second baby I was kind of a know it all. I quickly realized all pregnancies are different and I am at a different season in life than I was with my first making me especially appreciate the meditations and of course the updates. Sure you can meditate on your own but I liked using this app as my accountability partner making sure I’m doing all I can not only physically but mentally too in growing my healthy baby. You can never know too much about your pregnancy and what your body is going through growing these beautiful blessings.

I wish I had found Expectful sooner, it’s done wonders for my mental health during my pregnancy and pregnancy worth every penny spent on the subscription (way cheaper than therapy!). I specifically love the niche & relevant content that might not otherwise be accessible to me eg “how to deal with anxiety during pregnancy after loss” - I feel seen! The daily mindfulness exercises have helped me stay calm & positive. The hypnobirthing course has also really changed my mindset around birth and I’m now feeling empowered, excited and positive about my upcoming birth (God-willing). Thank you to the makers of Expectful for giving me just what I needed when I didn’t even know it.

I use Expectful for meditations every morning, every night and at some point during the day I do another meditation and/or the workout. I love the daily meditations, weekly meditations, weekly affirmations and workouts. I did have some technical issues with meditations not being accessible on my dashboard, but I found them through another button and I as able to access them there. The developer takes a bit of time to get back to you with technical issues, but they are kind and responsive. The context is great. If you are TTC this will get you into a great mindset and believe in your body’s ability to do what it was meant to do.

During my pregnancy, my anxiety really kicked into gear. Combining that with a lack of sleep, I was not a very happy camper. I started trying to meditate and struggled through it.... until I found this app! The guided meditations are so calming and relaxing and it really takes the pressure off when you’re just learning! I feel less anxious and am sleeping better and there’s even a walking meditation for when I can’t quite sit still! Also, the people working behind the scenes are amazing. I had to email in and got a personal response within a few minutes. They went above and beyond to help me and really made me feel like they care about the people using Expectful and not just Expectful itself. I absolutely recommend this app!

I was skeptical about Expectful. I get the suggestions and ads and usually ignore them. This one seemed appealing because I needed some 3rd trimester exercises ideas. PLUS they were offering 30 days free trial.
I love Expectful so far..been using it about a week now. It has helped me get into a better sleep routine, more focused, I feel more energized - note this is not because Expectful is a cure-all but because I already wanted those things Expectful helped me to prioritize and get other things in order.
Highly recommend. When my 30 days trial is up I will be purchasing for the very least the rest of my pregnancy but most likely will keep it even after (especially postpartum timeframe).

this app is the pregnancy app that’s giving me everything I wanted and surprising me with things I didn’t even know I need! I’m a yoga teacher & women’s wellness educator and have found Expectful useful in expanding upon my knowledge and guiding me gently through my first pregnancy. The movement classes alone are worth the price of subscription, and the meditations are specific for where we are along the pregnancy journey (down to the week and day). The educational resources -articles, courses (including hynobirthing), and professional office hours - are helping me prepare for birth, breastfeeding, postpartum sleep, and even caring for my pelvic floor. I’ve recommended Expectful to all my pregnant friends and will continue to tell other mamas about it!

I started to develop anxiety when the pandemic hit close to home, mind you me and my family were taking all the steps necessary to stay safe. Anxiety hit so hard for me, more then I had ever imagined it to be. I didn't understand why I was going through it. I recovered well but then I found out I was pregnant, it was like a switch that got turned on again and my anxiety came back like it had never left but it was intensified. I didn't know how to control it, I was fighting everyday to not feel panic attacks. I was hospitalized once for it. I can say that with Expectful, it has greatly helped me sleep so much better the last couple of night and the meditation portion is so relaxing that I feel so much better ! I literally couldn't recommend this more.

Im 23 weeks into my third pregnancy and I only wish I knew about this sooner. I’ve only been using Expectful for two days, but even after my first meditative session, the calming effects lasted with me for two days before I (was able to) listen to the next session. I’ve never been able to commit to meditating consistently throughout my life, although I’ve attempted it many many times throughout the years. I love Expectful and already see the effects it’s having in my life. This is so exciting. I struggled with postpartum depression in my previous pregnancies and also at the beginning of this pregnancy. I believe Expectful will truly help me staffing off depression and am truly motivated to fully committing to Expectful on the daily based on the results I’m already experiencing. With two kids, I truly love and appreciate that I get options for 5,10, or 20 minute sessions depending on what I can do for the day. I love the educational classes and have already attended one. Can’t share enough good things about Expectful. I truly recommend it for all expecting mothers!

I have been using this app since I was pregnant with my son almost 3 years ago. It’s been so helpful and I love it! That being said, I miss having the daily suggestion on which meditation to do. This changed with a recent update I think where now I always have to look through the library to find one that might be good. Some days I’m just not in the headspace nor do I have the time to look through the library. I just need something really quickly. I can’t say I always loved the daily suggestions, but they at least got me to focus on meditation in the little time that I had. I find I’m not using Expectful as much because I have to spend more time deciding what I want to do.

All this to say, I give it 5 stars because I have loved it for so long and it’s been a tool and a comfort through my biggest life transitions. I’m also not going to stop using it because I don’t like this new update. I still think it will bring tremendous value to any new user.

I’ve been struggling to get pregnant for 15 months now. I had one miscarriage and am now on to fertility treatments. Expectful has helped me tremendously, especially during the more stressful times of TTC. They have a whole section of fertility meditations for women who are TTC (probably 20 or so). I can relate in some way to each one of them and I choose the one that best fits my needs/struggles that day, whether it be trusting my journey, connecting with gratitude, or just preparing for sleep. The woman’s voice is very soothing, and you can choose between 10 and 20 minute meditations. I try to listen to one every night before bed, which is when I find I feel most anxious. It always helps me calm my mind and prepare for a great nights sleep. I want to thank you so much for this unique service! I love it and highly recommend it!!

I love the this app app. The content is similar to Circle & Bloom’s offerings, but much more granular (week by week in pregnancy, and day by day in the 40 days postpartum) and the format allows users to choose by topic and need as well (reducing tension, getting to sleep). There’s even a module for postpartum depression, which feels important. However, there could be more diversity in terms of the images and voices used to deliver or support Expectful . At this point in time the images I see representing motherhood are all white and the two primary meditation teachers sound very similar to one another. The feeding related meditations also presume the user is breastfeeding. Adding more images, voices and topics to represent mothers of many different cultural backgrounds and parenting paths would make Expectful feel more inclusive and enjoyable.

I have been using this app to guide me through TTC, then using IVF, and now well into my third trimester and it has been an incredibly supportive resource during the entire journey. I will use it into motherhood too. I was already a regular meditator before hand but i don’t think you have to be to enjoy it. it’s just so nice to have guided meditations for each week of pregnancy or specifically tailored to the anxious beginnings of TTC. The work out videos and live content is refreshingly home grown feeling as the company employs other moms and pregnant people to provide the content which i really appreciate. There are a ton of resources around hypnobirthing, lactation and safe/gentle fitness content that does not feel like “mommy culture” or overly marketed in a way that other platforms do it. 10/10 recommend to any woman looking for support in a holistic environment.

I started with the seven day trial at the beginning of my pregnancy and two days in I realized it was worth every penny. I had already been developing a meditation practice for about a year but Expectful is perfect for everyone regardless of if you’re a beginner or someone who has been meditating for their whole lives. There is just so much content, including courses worth of hypnobirthing education and support. The meditations are so supportive and personal. They’re designed so thoughtfully and I felt like there was something for every mood and concern I had throughout the process. I’m now twenty weeks postpartum and have been doing the daily postpartum meditations. I can’t say enough good things about how impactful this has been for my mental health and feeling supported during a time when we’ve all been uniquely alone in our fertility journeys.

I heard Expectful being advertised on the Birthful podcast, and while dealing with some first trimester anxiety and insomnia I decided to try it out. Let me just say, as a rule, I NEVER pay for apps. When I saw how much Expectful cost, I thought “I’ll do the free 7 day trial and then cancel before the week is up.” It took me under an hour of fishing around on Expectful for me to realize, no way! I’m definitely keeping this! It’s such an investment in having a healthier happier pregnancy. I love the meditations and even my four year old now asks to play the sleep stories before bed. The real selling point for me though was that they have an entire hypnobirthing class recorded for FREE with your subscription. A regular class would literally cost hundreds of dollars, and I love that I can do this one at my own pace. It’s seriously one of the best things I’ve done in this pregnancy. I’m also a doula and tell everyone I come across what a worthwhile investment Expectful is.

I’m on my 3rd pregnancy. I’ve been through all the pregnancy apps. They are well intended, but they never fit my personality. The information on all the others is very medicalized information, and not really an actual preparation for birth. Randomly, last night I thought it would be so nice if there were an app that was holistic while tracking the pregnancy. I’ve only had it one day and I’m blown away with how much I’ve learned! I’ve listened to half the hypnobirthing class, done 2 meditations, and learned about supplements. I so wish I knew about this earlier. I’ve been meditating and doing all the things, but it’s nice to have it all in one app. The meditations are based on your exact day of pregnancy. If you are wanting real advice and to learn things that will calm and ease your mind about pregnancy and birth I highly suggest Expectful! I’m off to delete my “what to expect” app that I never look at.

This is my second pregnancy and I ran the gamut through pregnancy apps with my first: most were cutesy “watch your baby grow” some were tip based apps that actually provided some very unhelpful stereotypical advice found in books treating pregnancy like a pathology. (It is not a pathology). Other apps present you with risks and data, adding to stress and pointing out stuff I already knew.

Bottom line this app is the first pregnancy app to actual support you as a complete woman experiencing pregnancy: stress management, meditation, support, and counseling. This is wonderful. There are also sections for body health and well being, embracing us as mothers with strengths and fears instead of instruments of failings and pathologies, which is so so common in how mother and baby are treated in the US.

I don’t need more of that, this app has brought me tears of happiness (literally) with the support I have gotten. I WISH American healthcare was always like Expectful!!!

This is my first pregnancy and it’s been an emotional roller coaster. Working a stressful job, planning the future, and thinking about how everything will change can feel overwhelming. Even I still try to balance it out with connecting to the baby growing in my womb, it can be hard to find a truly quiet space and mindset to reflect. I was already a fan of meditation, but there’s something extra meaningful about meditation with a focus on the wonder and beauty of your pregnancy. I also appreciate there are meditation options of various lengths to accommodate my unpredictable schedule. The guided meditation is very well narrated and I’ve truly enjoyed Expectful.