Researchers are developing Conversation Cards for Pregnancy, a tool designed to help pregnant people and their doctors talk more openly about important health topics during prenatal visits. According to Gram Research analysis, the study has already interviewed 21 pregnant individuals and 14 healthcare providers to identify key health discussion topics, and is now testing a prototype deck of cards with about 40 pregnant people and 15 providers across Canada to see if the cards are helpful, easy to use, and appropriate for real clinical settings.
Researchers are creating a new tool called Conversation Cards for Pregnancy to help pregnant people and their doctors talk more openly about important health topics during prenatal visits. According to Gram Research analysis, the study involves interviews with pregnant individuals and healthcare providers across Canada to understand what conversations matter most during pregnancy. The cards are designed to make it easier to discuss sensitive topics like exercise, nutrition, mental health, and other behaviors that affect both mother and baby. Researchers will test whether these cards actually work in real doctor’s offices and whether both patients and providers find them helpful and easy to use.
Key Statistics
A 2026 protocol study published in Pilot and Feasibility Studies involved interviews with 21 pregnant individuals and 14 prenatal healthcare providers to identify health topics for discussion during pregnancy care.
Researchers are testing a prototype deck of Conversation Cards for Pregnancy with approximately 40 pregnant individuals and 15 prenatal care providers across Canadian clinical and community settings to evaluate acceptability and feasibility.
The Conversation Cards for Pregnancy study uses the COM-B behavioral framework to understand how to help pregnant people discuss health behaviors that matter to them during prenatal visits.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a new set of conversation cards can help pregnant people and their doctors talk about important health behaviors and lifestyle choices during pregnancy visits
- Who participated: The study includes about 21 pregnant people and 14 healthcare providers who have already shared their ideas, with plans to test the cards with about 40 more pregnant people and 15 more providers across Canada
- Key finding: Researchers identified key health topics that pregnant people want to discuss with their doctors and created a prototype deck of cards based on these conversations
- What it means for you: If the cards work as intended, they could make prenatal visits more comfortable and help you discuss health topics that matter to you but might feel awkward to bring up on your own
The Research Details
This is a two-step study happening over three years. In the first step (already completed), researchers interviewed 21 pregnant people and 14 healthcare providers to find out which health topics they think are most important to discuss during pregnancy. They used a method called thematic analysis to look for patterns in what people said. Based on what they learned, the team created a deck of conversation cards with different health topics on them.
In the second step (currently happening), researchers will test these cards with about 40 pregnant people and 15 healthcare providers in real doctor’s offices and community health settings across Canada. They’ll watch how people use the cards and ask them questions about whether the cards are easy to understand, helpful, and actually work in a real doctor’s visit. The study uses a special framework called COM-B that helps researchers understand what makes people change their health behaviors.
This research approach is important because it starts by listening to what pregnant people and doctors actually need, rather than guessing. By testing the cards in real clinical settings before doing a larger study, researchers can make sure the tool is practical and actually helpful before investing time and money in bigger research projects.
This is a well-designed pilot study that follows established research methods for developing new health tools. The researchers are using both interviews and real-world testing, which gives them different types of information. The study is guided by recognized frameworks (ORBIT and COM-B) that help ensure the research is scientifically sound. However, this is still an early-stage study testing whether the idea works, not yet proving that it actually improves health outcomes.
What the Results Show
The research team has completed the first step of their study and identified the key health topics that pregnant people want to discuss with their doctors. These topics came directly from interviews with pregnant individuals and healthcare providers, making sure the cards focus on what really matters to people. The team then used this information to create a prototype deck of conversation cards.
The second step is now underway, where researchers are testing these cards in actual clinical settings. They’re gathering feedback from both pregnant people using the cards and healthcare providers who see them in action. This real-world testing will show whether the cards are easy to understand, whether they help people feel more comfortable talking about sensitive topics, and whether doctors find them useful in their practice.
The research is also exploring how well the cards fit into regular prenatal visits without taking too much extra time. Researchers are paying attention to whether both pregnant people and healthcare providers actually like using the cards and whether they think the cards are appropriate for pregnancy care. They’re also looking at whether the cards help people feel more empowered to discuss health behaviors that matter to them personally.
This study builds on existing research showing that conversations about health behaviors, mental health, and life circumstances are important during pregnancy. Previous research has shown that many pregnant people don’t feel comfortable bringing up certain topics with their doctors. The Conversation Cards for Pregnancy tool is designed to fill this gap by making these conversations easier and more structured.
This is an early-stage study testing whether the idea works, not yet proving that the cards actually improve pregnancy health outcomes. The sample size is relatively small (about 100 people total), so results may not apply to all pregnant people everywhere. The study is focused on Canada, so the results might be different in other countries with different healthcare systems. The research hasn’t yet tested whether using these cards actually leads to better health behaviors or better pregnancy outcomes—that would require a larger study in the future.
The Bottom Line
This research is still in the early testing phase. Healthcare providers and pregnant people interested in improving prenatal conversations should watch for future results from Step 2 of this study. If the cards prove helpful and acceptable in real clinical settings, they could become a useful tool in prenatal care. Confidence level: Moderate—this is promising early research, but larger studies are needed to confirm benefits.
Pregnant people who want better conversations with their healthcare providers about health topics should care about this research. Healthcare providers, prenatal clinics, and pregnancy care programs should also pay attention, as this tool could improve the quality of prenatal visits. This is especially relevant for people who feel uncomfortable bringing up certain health topics with their doctors.
The full study won’t be complete until 2027-2028. Results from Step 2 (the real-world testing) should be available in 2026-2027. Even after that, it would take additional research to prove the cards actually improve health outcomes during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Conversation Cards for Pregnancy and how do they work?
Conversation Cards for Pregnancy are a tool designed to help pregnant people and their doctors talk about important health topics during prenatal visits. The cards list different health topics that pregnant people want to discuss, making it easier to bring up sensitive subjects that might feel awkward to mention on your own.
Has this tool been proven to improve pregnancy outcomes?
Not yet. This is an early-stage study testing whether the cards are helpful and acceptable in real doctor’s offices. Researchers need to complete their current testing phase and conduct larger studies before they can prove the cards actually improve pregnancy health outcomes.
Who is involved in developing these conversation cards?
Researchers across Canada are developing the cards with input from pregnant individuals and prenatal healthcare providers. So far, 21 pregnant people and 14 healthcare providers have shared their ideas about what health topics matter most during pregnancy.
When will these conversation cards be available to use?
The research team is currently testing the cards in real clinical settings. Results from this testing phase should be available in 2026-2027. If the cards prove helpful, they could become available for wider use after that, but additional research may be needed first.
What health topics are included on the conversation cards?
The specific topics came from interviews with pregnant people and healthcare providers about what matters most to them. Topics likely include health behaviors like exercise, nutrition, mental health, sleep, and stress management, but the final list was determined by what pregnant people said they wanted to discuss.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track which health topics you want to discuss at your next prenatal visit and note whether you felt comfortable bringing them up. After your visit, record whether the conversation happened and how satisfied you felt with the discussion.
- Before your next prenatal appointment, write down 2-3 health topics you want to discuss (like exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress, or substance use). Bring this list to your visit and share it with your healthcare provider to guide your conversation.
- Keep a simple log of health conversations you have at each prenatal visit. Note which topics felt easy to discuss and which felt difficult. Over time, you’ll see patterns in what matters most to you and can prioritize those conversations with your provider.
This article describes an early-stage research study that is still in development and testing. The Conversation Cards for Pregnancy tool has not yet been proven to improve pregnancy outcomes. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace conversations with your healthcare provider. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, always consult with your prenatal care provider about your individual health needs and concerns. The findings described here are preliminary and based on a small sample size in Canada; results may not apply to all populations or healthcare settings.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.