At 36 weeks pregnant, Mary Njunguna noticed that her feet, face and hands were swollen. Her heart rate was also unusually high. The symptoms had persisted for two weeks, but at first, Mary was not particularly worried. She had spoken to other mothers who shared similar experiences and reassured her that swelling during pregnancy could be normal. Based on what she heard, she had no plans to visit a health facility. However, when her heart rate rose sharply for a third time, she decided to ask PROMPTS about what she was experiencing.

PROMPTS, Jacaranda Health’s AI-enabled, two-way SMS platform, gives mothers access to health information and a place to ask questions during pregnancy and after childbirth. For Mary, that option became especially important when the advice she received from people around her was no longer enough. After reaching out through PROMPTS, Jacaranda Health’s clinical helpdesk agent reached out to sensitize Mary to seek care immediately. Mary sought care at her closest facility, then was immediately referred to Kiambu Hospital, where she was admitted for four days and closely monitored ahead of delivery. What she had initially understood to be a normal part of pregnancy required medical attention that saved her and her baby.

Mary had experienced pregnancy before, but her second pregnancy felt different. She was 25 when she had her first pregnancy in 2019. Looking back, she remembers being young and uncertain about what to expect. 

Then, I didn’t have the messages to help me navigate pregnancy. It was scary because I didn’t know what to expect every trimester.” Mary remembers.

During her second pregnancy in 2025, PROMPTS offered Mary a place to turn when she had questions about her health. The messages also reminded her about her clinic dates and helped her understand how to care for herself as a pregnant mother. She particularly valued being able to ask questions whenever she was unsure about what was happening to her body.

The platform has helped me navigate motherhood now. I wish I was enrolled on the program during my first pregnancy because the platform made my second pregnancy seem smoother. After all, I had a message to remind me of immunization dates, clinic dates, and also a place to ask questions when in doubt or not sure what is happening to my body,” Mary said.

Mary’s experience points to a simple but important challenge during pregnancy. Mothers often receive advice from people they know and trust. That shared experience can be reassuring, but it may not always help someone recognize when a symptom needs medical attention. In Mary’s case, the reassurance she initially received made her feel there was no reason to seek care. Having somewhere else to ask about her symptoms gave her another source of information when she was uncertain. 

For Mary, the health information she received from PROMPTS helped her recognize that what she was experiencing might not be normal and gave her a trusted place to ask for help. Mary’s experience shows why timely, trusted health information matters: sometimes, the decision to seek lifesaving care begins with a mother being able to ask one simple question: Is this normal?