__How are expectant parents affected by a world marked by uncertainty, instability and rapid societal change? This is the focus of this year’s edition of Gravidbarometern – Preglife’s annual report on what it is like to be pregnant in Sweden today.__

This year’s theme, “Being Pregnant in Uncertain Times,” explores how the current global climate influences the experience of pregnancy and expectations for the future. The report examines how factors such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, mental strain, and changing outlooks on the future affect pregnant women’s sense of security and their views on bringing children into the world today.

The purpose of the Pregnancy Barometer is to deepen understanding of the realities of pregnancy, identify where needs are greatest, and highlight areas where support and interventions can make a meaningful difference.

*“Research from Sweden and other European countries shows that people, on average, would like to have more children than they ultimately do. Similar to the findings of Gravidbarometern, other studies show that having two or three children is the most common ideal family size. At the same time, actual fertility rates are now well below two children per woman.*

*This gap between desired and actual family size suggests that the low birth rates of recent years are not simply the result of a reduced desire to have children. Rather, many people face practical obstacles that limit their ability to realize their family aspirations. This points to an opportunity for policymakers: if these barriers can be identified and addressed, birth rates may increase while more people are able to create the family life they want.”*

Erik Carlsson
Researcher in Demography, Stockholm University Demography Unit

__Highlights from the report__
- 51% of respondents aged 16–29 are fairly or very concerned about their finances in relation to pregnancy and parental leave. The corresponding figures are 43% among those aged 30–37 and 39% among those aged 38–46.
- 64% report experiencing loneliness to some degree during pregnancy.
- 8% feel unable to speak openly about their pregnancy, even with people close to them.
- 37% of respondents aged 16–29 say they use AI services. The corresponding figures are 31% among those aged 30–37 and 21% among those aged 38–46.
- 33% say their mental health has worsened during pregnancy, while 21% report that it has improved.
- 33% believe that today’s children will have a more difficult future than their own generation.
- 93% of first-time parents report fairly or very high levels of engagement from their partner, compared with 84% among those who already have children. Partner involvement is therefore highest during a first pregnancy. 53% of respondents in the first trimester describe their partner as highly engaged, compared with 50% in the second trimester and 45% in the third trimester.

*“A majority of these women feel that parenting has become more challenging than it used to be, which aligns with the high prevalence of so-called intensive parenting attitudes that I have identified in my research on Sweden.*

*The fact that 78% of women seek advice and information about their pregnancy online—more than from any other source—reflects how deeply digitalized everyday life has become and how experts today serve as close and constantly accessible sources of knowledge. This contributes to greater awareness, but also to a greater sense of responsibility that comes with knowing more.*

*We know that the growing volume of expert advice is one of the drivers behind the rise of intensive parenting, and here we see that this development begins already during pregnancy.”*

Sunnee Billingsley
Professor of Sociology, Stockholm University

__About Preglife__

Preglife is the app that makes pregnancy and early parenthood safer, easier and more enjoyable. The app offers a wide range of continuously updated content, including articles, videos, podcasts, exercises and relevant offers—always tailored to where users are in their pregnancy journey or life as a new parent.

Users can follow their pregnancy and their child’s development week by week while receiving practical guidance, inspiration and support for childbirth and the transition into parenthood.

Preglife is backed by an international network of midwives, physicians and medical experts who ensure that all content is evidence-based, medically reviewed and grounded in the latest research.

Preglife is used by 9 out of 10 pregnant women in Sweden and is built on the values of accessibility, inclusion and trust. Its mission is to empower every user to make informed decisions throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

__For more information, please contact__

Åsa Holstein
CEO and Chief Midwife, Preglife

Mobile: +46 76 050 54 70
Email: asa.holstein@preglife.com

[Download the English report here.](https://assets.ctfassets.net/6czy6b8c3a34/3NV8PQWyfWAadZXhebw4xB/3a9842904b72b411aa464f9c33cfe406/Gravidbarometern_2026__EN__sidnummer.pdf)

[Download the Swedish report here.](https://downloads.ctfassets.net/6czy6b8c3a34/nbHQWnGbJZUDvhvpQJhaW/a57f7d1083cb01252c0a180afca3ce95/Gravidbarometern_2026.pdf)

How are expectant parents affected by a world marked by uncertainty, instability and rapid societal ...

Preglife Launches Gravidbarometern 2026: Being Pregnant in Uncertain Times

Gravidbarometern 2026

*Stockholm, Sweden — May, 2026*

Announcing the winner of The Preglife Award 2026: Sara Kindberg Adelskov, a Danish midwife since 1999, with extensive clinical experience from several Scandinavian countries. Early in her career, Sara developed a strong interest in birth injuries, and in 2008 she defended her doctoral thesis, “Perineal lacerations after childbirth.” Her research contributed important knowledge on how birth injuries can be better detected, treated, and prevented, while also highlighting a clear need for improved practical training in the field.

This became the starting point for the development of the digital education platform GynZone. Today, GynZone is used by students, educators, midwives, and physicians at more than 200 hospitals and educational institutions worldwide, and is represented in dozens of countries. The platform has become a tool for spreading evidence-based knowledge and strengthening competence in women’s healthcare globally. In total, GynZone’s digital learning universe is estimated to have around 50,000 users by 2026.

Sara worked as a pelvic floor specialist at Aarhus University Hospital until 2022, where she also led a midwifery-driven clinic for early treatment of birth injuries. The clinic has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a best-practice example in clinical care.
In 2018, she also co-founded Vulva Enterprise, a company developing phantoms and educational materials for hands-on simulation training - a method that further strengthens healthcare professionals’ ability to provide safe and effective care.

Through her commitment, Sara has played a significant role in improving knowledge, care, and education related to birth injuries worldwide.

For Preglife, preparation for childbirth is a central part of creating safety and confidence for pregnant users. By sharing evidence-based information and increasing knowledge about what happens before, during, and after birth, Preglife aims to strengthen the rights, involvement, and experience of the birthing person. Birth injuries are a particularly important area, where increased knowledge, proper support, and improved care efforts make a major difference for women’s health - both in the short and long term.

Today, Sara works full-time as CEO of GynZone, which has 10 employees across Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Australia. The knowledge she has gained from building companies is also applied in her role as a Business Angel through her involvement in Angella Invest.

It is against this background that Preglife awards the Preglife Award 2026 to Sara Kindberg Adelskov, for her significant and inspiring contributions within an area that affects many women, birthing people, and families. Through her research, entrepreneurship, and dedication, Sara has helped improve conditions for both individuals and healthcare professionals - and thereby made a real difference.

Thank you.
Preglife Medical Board

Announcing the winner of The Preglife Award 2026: Sara Kindberg Adelskov, a Danish midwife since 199...

Announcing the winner of the Preglife Awards 2026

Preglife-Award-2026-2

__After a successful year with approximately 25 percent growth and solid profitability, Preglife is preparing for its next phase of development by appointing Åsa Holstein as its new CEO, effective immediately. Åsa Holstein has an extensive background as a midwife and has played a key role in Preglife’s development for several years. The Board of Directors sees her appointment as an important step in the company’s continued long-term growth.__

At the same time, it has been announced that Philip Söderholm will step down on his own request from his position as CEO. The Board would like to thank Philip for his contributions, whose commercial focus has been instrumental in taking the company to its current level, and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Åsa Holstein has been a central figure in Preglife’s growth, helping to shape the company’s direction, business, and offering. She brings a unique combination of medical expertise, operational understanding, and innovative drive.

"*We are very pleased that Åsa has accepted the role as CEO. It is a great strength for Preglife that she knows the company well, represents continuity, and has been instrumental in developing both our offering and our way of working. Her commitment and background as a midwife are valuable assets as we continue to build Preglife for the long term*”, says Jonas Nyman, Chairman of the Board at Preglife.

"*I am grateful for the trust placed in me to take on the role of CEO at Preglife. We are a company with a clear mission, a strong business, and deep competence across the organization. My focus will be to continue developing the company in a long-term and responsible way - with quality, stability, and user trust as the foundation. I look forward to continuing to evolve our services to provide knowledge, support, and reassurance during pregnancy and early parenthood*”, says Åsa Holstein, CEO of Preglife.

Preglife’s operations, strategy, and priorities remain unchanged.

### For more information, please contact:
Åsa Holstein, CEO
+46 76 050 54 70
asa.holstein@preglife.com

### Short facts – Åsa Holstein
Åsa Holstein is a registered nurse midwife and former CEO of Babygruppen AB. She has served as Deputy CEO, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Midwife at Preglife before now stepping into the role of CEO.

### About Preglife
Preglife is Scandinavia’s largest and most popular pregnancy app, offering users an engaging and easy way to follow their pregnancy and their child’s development week by week - up to two years after birth. Through articles, podcasts, videos, and more, Preglife provides reliable information and guidance. The company collaborates with an international network of midwives, doctors, and other experts, to ensure that all content is evidence-based and updated according to the latest research.

After a successful year with approximately 25 percent growth and solid profitability, Preglife is pr...

Åsa Holstein appointed new CEO of Preglife following a strong year of growth

Åsa 900x600

__Demands, worries, and doubts affect pregnant women and the decision to have children. More than one in three women report that their mental health is worse during pregnancy compared to before. Among those who already have children, the number is as high as 40 percent. This is revealed in Preglife’s new report Gravidbarometern 2025, the largest of its kind. First-time mothers express the greatest hesitation about starting a family, and for half of all women, personal finances have played a decisive role in the decision to have children. The survey was conducted in collaboration with Verian (formerly Sifo samhällsundersökningar).__

Preglife’s annual report Gravidbarometern, carried out in collaboration with Verian, provides a broad overview of what it is like to be pregnant in Sweden today. The survey behind the report is based on responses from more than 2,500 pregnant women. To better understand how pregnant women view the decision to have children in relation to the wider population, questions about the declining birth rate were also answered by more than 1,000 people from the general public.

__Social media can negatively affect the pregnancy experience__

The report shows that 34 percent of women feel worse mentally during pregnancy compared to before. Among women who already have children, the figure is 40 percent. Nearly half of those experiencing poorer mental health say that pregnancy does not match the idealized image they see on social media, which can negatively affect their own experience. Just over one in five feel mentally better during pregnancy than before.

Half of the women say they are fully satisfied with the support they receive during pregnancy. At the same time, two in five report that they only partially feel they get the support they need. The survey also shows that nearly all women believe that the expectations placed on new parents today are higher than when their own parents had children.

> “For many women, pregnancy is part of an already pressured life, with demands from multiple directions and little room for error. Even when support is perceived as adequate, factors such as expectations, comparisons, and uncertainty about what lies ahead can lead to feelings of inadequacy before the child is even born,” says Åsa Holstein, Head Midwife and Deputy CEO of Preglife.

Three out of four women worry about childbirth, and six percent experience intense fear of giving birth.

__Pregnant women also hesitate – lack of desire for children is the most common reason__

Almost all women feel that there is strong social pressure to have children. Thirty percent of first-time mothers say that the decision to have children was not self-evident. The most common reason for hesitation is that many did not have a clear desire to become parents. The survey also shows that confidence in the future plays a role, with 31 percent stating that they have a negative outlook. Other reasons include feeling inadequate in the parental role and that having children has not felt natural.

> “Today, the decision to have children is often seen as one choice among many, weighed against other aspects of life. To understand why more people are opting out of parenthood, we also need to understand what pregnancy actually entails—physically, mentally, practically, and socially. That knowledge is essential for support to be targeted correctly and to help more people manage, dare, and want to become parents,” says Åsa Holstein, Head Midwife and Deputy CEO of Preglife.

Proposals for measures that could encourage more people to have children include increased financial support for families with children, more flexible parental leave, and workplaces that are better adapted to parenthood.

__About Gravidbarometern__

Gravidbarometern is an annual report providing a broad overview of what it is like to be pregnant in Sweden. The report is produced by Preglife, Scandinavia’s leading app for pregnant women and new parents, in collaboration with Verian (formerly Sifo samhällsundersökningar).
The underlying survey covers factors such as mental health, perceived expectations, social media, economy, career, and access to information, advice, and support. It also includes questions about vaccination and preferred place of birth.

This year’s theme highlights the declining birth rate, exploring whether the decision to have children was self-evident or not—and the reasons behind it. The survey also examines whether there is a perceived social expectation to have children, and what could make more people want to become parents. One of the questions allowed participants to give open-ended suggestions to policymakers on what measures they believe could help reverse the trend.

More than 2,500 pregnant women randomly selected from Preglife’s user base participated in the survey, making it the largest of its kind in Sweden. Nine out of ten pregnant women in Sweden use Preglife’s app during pregnancy, ensuring a strong representativity.

Verian has quality-assured the results by comparing demographic data from participants with a random sample of pregnant women in the Sifo panel. The comparison showed no systematic bias in the sample, making it possible to draw general conclusions about pregnant women in Sweden – giving the results particular significance.

To compare pregnant women’s views on the decision to have children with the general population, the questions about the declining birth rate were also answered by a control group of over 1,000 people (aged 18–84) in the Sifo panel.

> “The survey is unique in that it highlights a group rarely represented in traditional quantitative research—women who are expecting a child. Even though this group is often discussed in public debate, it is unusual for them to be included in statistically reliable surveys. This is because pregnant women make up a very small share of the population (around 1 percent), which makes it methodologically challenging and resource-intensive to gather a sufficiently large sample,” says Matz Elzén, Client Director at Verian.

The hope is that the report will contribute to a deeper understanding of what influences both the pregnancy experience and the decision to have children—and, in the long run, the birth rate itself.

__Key figures from the report:__

- 34 percent say their mental health is worse during pregnancy compared to before. Among those who already have one or more children, the figure is 40 percent. 16 percent say they feel somewhat better, and 7 percent much better.

- 52 percent feel they receive sufficient support and advice during pregnancy. 41 percent feel they only partially receive sufficient support and advice.

- 83 percent say they believe the expectations on new parents today are higher than when their own parents had children. Women with lower education and income are more likely to feel the expectations are much higher compared to those with higher education and income.

- 35 percent report that their own experience of pregnancy sometimes or often does not “live up to” the image they see on social media. Among women who experience poorer mental health during pregnancy, nearly half (48 percent) say their own pregnancy does not match the picture they see on social media.

- 92 percent feel that there is a social expectation to have children. This perception is slightly more common among high-income earners.

- 30 percent of first-time mothers say the decision to have children was not self-evident. Among the general public, the figure is 14 percent.

- Reasons why the decision was not self-evident include: no desire for children (42 percent), negative outlook on the future (31 percent), doubting their ability to be the parent a child would need (20 percent), and that it did not feel natural (10 percent).

- One in two pregnant women say personal finances influenced their decision to have children. Among the general population, the figure is 29 percent.

- Three out of four pregnant women say they feel fear of childbirth—ranging from mild to severe. The main worries are that something might happen to the baby, as well as fear of pain.

[Read the full report in English here.](https://assets.ctfassets.net/6czy6b8c3a34/5ihdWtcpSkJ6xSVcnWUE3Q/1c0a558071bab1924149b78c504be363/Gravidbarometern_2025_-_ENG.pdf)


Demands, worries, and doubts affect pregnant women and the decision to have children. More than one ...

New Sifo Report: More than one in three pregnant women experience poorer mental health than before pregnancy – personal finances affect the decision to have children

Gravidbarometern2025

Preglife AB, the leading provider of pregnancy and infant development information and support, is proud to announce the acquisition of Babygruppen AB, Swedish leading provider of birth preparation and parenting courses.

Preglife, a trusted source of information for parents in Northern Europe, has been providing expectant and new parents with a comprehensive, all-in-one pregnancy and baby tracking app since 2010. The app is designed to empower families with fact-based, expert-created information throughout their pregnancy journey and early child development. It helps families track their pregnancy, establish early attachment and stronger bonds, and be equipped for every challenge from birth to birthdays.

The acquisition of Babygruppen will bring together the expertise and resources of both companies to provide families with even more comprehensive and accessible support throughout their pregnancy journey and early child development. Babygruppen, since 2006, has been providing expectant parents with valuable knowledge via interactive webinars and courses to make them feel secure, regardless of whether they are expecting a child or are a new parent. This will enable Preglife to provide an even better experience for its users, making it a one-stop-shop for expectant and new parents.

As part of the acquisition, Babygruppen’s owner and CEO Åsa Holstein will join Preglife as Chief Operating Officer. Holstein, a midwife with over 17 years of experience in childbirth, postpartum care, and neonatal care, will bring her expertise and passion for empowering families to Preglife's leadership team.

"I am thrilled to join the Preglife team and to be able to continue my mission of providing expectant and new parents with the knowledge and support they need to make informed choices and feel secure in their journey," said Holstein. "Together, we can empower even more families to give their children a brighter future."

Preglife CEO Tobias Meschke stated, "We are excited to welcome Babygruppen and Åsa to the Preglife family. With their expertise and passion for empowering families, we are confident that this acquisition will enable us to provide an even better experience for our users and to make an even greater impact on society. We are proud to be a trusted source of information for parents in Northern Europe and this acquisition will enable us to reach more parents and provide them with the support they need during this important time in their lives."

For more information, please contact Preglife AB at __press@preglife.com__.

Preglife AB, the leading provider of pregnancy and infant development information and support, is pr...

Preglife AB Expands Reach with Acquisition of Babygruppen AB

Mama Mia Förlossningskurs

*Stockholm, Sweden — April, 2024*

Announcing the winner of The Preglife Award 2024: Pernilla Hugosson, musical therapist at Sachsska Barnsjukhuset’s Neonatal Ward Stockholm, in recognition of her important work with implementing research findings in music therapy and her sincere dedication in providing support to premature infants and their parents.

“Being a parent to a child in the neonatal ward means diving into a whirlwind of worries, surrounded by beeps and alarms that sound like they belong in a sci-fi movie. It's a place where uncertainty mixes with the strangest-looking cords and tubes, all leading to your precious little one. But then Pernilla walks in, bringing with her not only music, but also these incredible pockets of peace and tranquility. Her melodies work like magic, drowning out the noise of the machines. Suddenly, there's space for families to come together, take a deep breath, and let their shoulders relax. It's these moments that give them the strength to keep going, to keep fighting, and most importantly, to bond with their newborn.” - Erik Borgström, Pediatrician/Senior Consultant in Neonatology

Preglife is committed to supporting projects that prioritise attachment, bonding, and seamless transitions into early parenthood. These pillars also serve as the foundation for our nomination.

“This year’s award celebrates the theme of attachment, shining the spotlight to the important role of music therapy in stimulating deepened connections between premature babies and their parents within a neonatal unit." - Preglife Medical Board

To achieve an optimal neonatal care environment for preterm-born infants, many early interventions have been developed. Musical interventions developed for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have shown beneficial effects on vital functions and weight gain of preterm infants and might also influence basic auditory processing and thereby enhance outcomes.


Announcing the winner of The Preglife Award 2024: Pernilla Hugosson, musical therapist at Sachsska B...

Announcing the winner of the Preglife Awards 2024

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*Stockholm, Sweden — November 2, 2023*

As part of advancing women’s health and promoting safer pregnancies, Preglife and Mama Mia are entering an exclusive partnership. The collaboration brings together the accessibility of technology with the invaluable reassurance of personal meetings with a midwife. In the Preglife app, users can now find a dedicated section with information about midwife visits across different stages of pregnancy, along with helpful insights to know before and after each appointment.

"Knowledge empowers expectant parents to make informed choices that suit their individual needs. This increases the chances of a positive experience during childbirth and early parenthood."
 — Åsa Holstein, Midwife and COO, Preglife.

Through this collaboration, Preglife becomes a recommended partner of Mama Mia, allowing expectant parents to track their pregnancy and their baby’s development directly on their phone. The partnership bridges the gap between in-person healthcare visits and digital access to information, placing even greater focus on supporting the pregnant individual.

As a next step, Preglife and Mama Mia will offer free childbirth education lectures in Stockholm to everyone registered with Mama Mia, with plans to expand to all cities in Sweden where Mama Mia operates. These lectures offer expectant parents the opportunity to prepare for birth together with an experienced midwife.

"The collaboration with Preglife gives us another opportunity to provide guidance on the journey to parenthood, something we at Mama Mia are deeply passionate about."
 — Lotta Andreasson Edman, Care and Operations Developer, Mama Mia.

__For more information, please contact:__
Åsa Holstein
COO & Chief Midwife
+46 76 050 54 70
asa.holstein@preglife.com

__About Preglife:__
Preglife is one of the world’s largest and most popular pregnancy apps, providing an easy and engaging way to follow pregnancy and child development week by week — up to two years after birth. Through articles, podcasts, videos, and more, Preglife offers trusted information. The company collaborates with an international network of midwives, doctors, and other experts, such as physiotherapists and sleep coaches, to ensure that its content is fact-checked and updated according to the latest research.

__About Mama Mia:__
Mama Mia is Scandinavia’s largest private provider of child healthcare and sexual and reproductive health services. Its operations include midwifery clinics, pregnancy care, and breastfeeding support. Through continuous education and strong knowledge sharing, Mama Mia is committed to ensuring sustainable patient safety.


As part of advancing women’s health and promoting safer pregnancies, Preglife and Mama Mia are enter...

Preglife and Mama Mia form partnership for safer pregnancy and parenthood

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