Supporting Pregnancy Through Breathing
We developed ElvieBreathe, a haptic breathing trainer to help expectant mothers prepare for labour. The handheld device uses pressure sensors and vibration feedback to guide diaphragmatic breathing. Together with a companion app, it helps users build confidence and reduce stress ahead of childbirth.
The Challenge
Tackling maternal anxiety
Over 20% of pregnant women experience clinically significant anxiety during pregnancy, affecting both maternal health and fetal development.
Making breathing support accessible
Despite the proven benefits of breathing techniques, most women lack access to personalised, affordable tools for practising them at home.
Encouraging long-term adherence
For breathing to be effective during labour, daily practice is essential. Yet, most women stop using traditional tools after just a few sessions.
Our Solution
ElvieBreathe is a palm-sized breathing trainer designed to support expectant mothers in managing stress and preparing for childbirth. It offers personalised guidance, haptic feedback, and real-time pressure sensing to promote effective diaphragmatic breathing through short daily sessions.
Guided Breathing Routines
The device uses pre-set rhythmic audio and haptic patterns to coach slow, deep breathing tailored to antenatal needs.
Real-Time Feedback
Built-in pressure sensors monitor inhalation effort, enabling users to adjust their breathing for optimal effectiveness.
Portable & Discreet Form
ElvieBreathe is compact, wireless, and easy to carry, allowing practice anywhere without stigma or setup.
Adaptive Difficulty
Breathing resistance can be adjusted manually or automatically to match the user's progress and comfort level.
Key Impact
- Reduced maternal stress
- Improved breathing technique
- Increased confidence before labour
- Boosted daily practice adherence
- Convenient and stigma-free experience
- Measurable anxiety reduction
Design Process
Research & Insights
We explored the habits and stress levels of pregnant women, identifying pain points in current antenatal care tools. Interviews with midwives and expectant mothers revealed a strong need for portable, non-invasive breathing support.
Ideation & Concept
We brainstormed and refined ideas using HMW questions and speculative prototyping. The focus was on biofeedback, haptics, and user agency during childbirth preparation.
Prototyping
We built several working prototypes integrating pressure sensors, servo-driven resistance, vibration motors, and BLE connectivity. These were tested for responsiveness, comfort, and durability in everyday use.
Validation
Feedback was collected via interviews, HADS scores, and the SUS method. The final design showed measurable reductions in anxiety and strong user engagement across sessions.
Project Demonstration
ElvieBreathe in Action
Watch how our innovative solution addresses the challenges through careful design thinking and iterative development processes.
Impact & Vision
This project was a unique opportunity to support expectant mothers through a user-centred design process that merged empathy, technology, and medical collaboration. ElvieBreathe aims to shape the future of maternal health by fostering confidence, emotional support, and breathing self-regulation during labour.
Collaborative Research
Co-designed with midwives, doulas, and pregnant women to ensure real-life relevance and usability across different labour scenarios.
Measurable Outcomes
67% reported reduced anxiety; 82% found the breathing guidance intuitive; 87% felt more confident about giving birth after using ElvieBreathe.
Future Expansion
Plans for customisable programs based on labour phases, and clinical trials to validate long-term benefits.
"I felt empowered. It gave me back a sense of control in a moment that usually feels chaotic." — User from second round of testing
