A program spearheaded by University of Florida physicians expanded to improve care for new mothers throughout the state, using tools they have right at home.

Five years ago, a team of obstetricians and researchers at the UF College of Medicine launched MOMitor™, a smartphone app that allows new mothers to answer health screening questions and check vitals like blood pressure in the comfort of their own homes, using tools given to them by their health care providers. Depending on the data, the clinical team can then follow up with patients as needed for further medical intervention.

Read more about With the MOMitor™ App, Florida Mothers Have Better Maternal Care Right at Their Fingertips.

The placenta, or afterbirth, is considered sacred by some cultures, its pivotal role in pregnancy recognized as far back as the raising of Egypt’s pyramids. It provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus via the umbilical cord, acting like a gut, kidney, liver, and lungs.

If the placenta fails, only one hazardous option remains — premature delivery through induced labor or cesarean delivery.

Now, the first therapy to potentially reverse a condition that is a significant cause of stillbirth and premature delivery around the globe is being developed by a team led by a University of Florida Health researcher who has spent 20 years studying this remarkable organ. The therapy has proved highly successful in animal studies.