Pregnancy Records in the United States 2025 – EHRs, patient portals and your data rights

Author photo
Zappelphilipp Marx•
Pregnant woman reviewing her electronic health record on a laptop

The World Health Organization states that readily accessible antenatal records reduce complications for mother and baby. In the United States those records live inside Electronic Health Records (EHRs); there is no national booklet like Germany’s Mutterpass. This guide explains how US systems store pregnancy data, which apps give you a window into your notes and what the law says about access.

Where do pregnancy records sit in the US?

  • Hospital EHR platforms – Epic, Oracle Cerner, Meditech or Athena One – host vitals, labs, ultrasounds and visit notes.
  • Each provider owns the “legal record”; there is no federal pregnancy booklet.
  • HIPAA guarantees your right to receive an electronic copy within 30 days (often faster via a portal).

Most obstetric practices follow ACOG guidance: monthly visits to 28 weeks, bi-weekly to 36 weeks, then weekly until birth.

Your view: patient portals & health apps

Ninety-plus percent of US hospitals offer a portal. The most common options:

  • MyChart – real-time labs, secure messaging, appointment self-scheduling.
  • MEDITECH M-Health or Cerner HealtheLife – similar features, plus push alerts for glucose tests and Tdap vaccination.
  • Blue Button 2.0 – downloads for Veterans / TRICARE families.
  • Apple Health / Android Health Connect – import FHIR or CCD files for a single dashboard.

Typical US antenatal schedule (2025)

  • 8 – 12 weeks: booking visit • dating ultrasound • first-trimester panel (blood type, Rh, CBC, HIV, hepatitis B, rubella titre)
  • 12 weeks: optional NT scan and early genetic screening (NIPT or serum + NT)
  • 18 – 22 weeks: anatomy scan
  • 24 – 28 weeks: glucose challenge • repeat CBC • anti-D if Rh-negative
  • 35 – 37 weeks: Group B Strep swab • birth-plan review

Your rights under HIPAA & state law

  • Request PDFs, CCD or FHIR files – providers may charge only “reasonable, cost-based” copy fees.
  • Transferring state or insurer? Upload a summary to your new portal or carry it on an encrypted USB drive.
  • Misplaced portal credentials? Reset through MyChart or NHS Login-style identity proofing used by US systems (IdP + MFA).

What’s next – TEFCA, FHIR APIs and maternal-health apps

New federal rules require certified EHRs to offer FHIR APIs, allowing pregnancy apps to pull vitals, kick-count logs and blood-pressure trends into one view. The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) will give nationwide EHR interoperability by 2026, reducing delays when you deliver away from home.

How does the US compare?

Germany – patient-held paper Mutterpass • UK – BadgerNotes app or paper Maternity Notes • France – Carnet de Santé Maternité + Mon Espace Santé • Italy – Libretto di gravidanza + Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico • Netherlands – hybrid dossier linked to PGO apps • United States – provider-managed EHR + patient portals

Four practical tips to stay organised

  • Activate your portal at the first OB visit – download key PDFs after each appointment.
  • Back-up files in an encrypted cloud folder (or secure USB) before travelling.
  • Keep a paper notebook of symptoms and questions to discuss at the next visit.
  • Share portal proxy access with your birth partner so you both see updates instantly.

Conclusion

There’s no booklet to carry, but with EHR portals, Blue Button downloads and upcoming TEFCA links, you can keep every pregnancy record at your fingertips—wherever you deliver.

Disclaimer: Content on RattleStork is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice; no specific outcome is guaranteed. Use of this information is at your own risk. See our full Disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, you can request an electronic or paper copy of your records. Providers must respond within 30 days and may charge only a “reasonable, cost-based” fee for copies.

At your first OB-GYN visit you’ll receive an email invite—usually for MyChart or a similar system. Create an NHS-style ID.me / Login.gov or two-step hospital login, then download the iOS / Android app for instant alerts.

Download a CCD/FHIR summary from your old portal and upload it to the new one, or carry an encrypted USB stick. Most large systems can also “pull” your file via Carequality / CommonWell.

No single booklet exists. Pregnancy data live inside each provider’s EHR; you view them through a portal or export them to apps like Apple Health.

Most portals offer proxy access. Grant your birth partner “view only” rights so you both receive lab and appointment updates.

A federal API that lets Veterans Health Administration and TRICARE users download claims and clinical data in one click—handy if you receive care both on-base and in civilian hospitals.

Most EHRs post the radiology report within 24 hours. High-resolution images are often available as JPEG/PDF; ask the sonography unit to share them if they don’t appear automatically.

Hospital portals use TLS 1.3 and NIST-approved encryption. Enable fingerprint or Face ID plus a strong password. Never email records unencrypted—use the portal’s message centre instead.

Yes. By 2026 the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement should let any US hospital pull your history instantly, reducing paperwork if you deliver while travelling.

Export a Summary of Care (C-CDA) from your portal or print the latest prenatal flow sheet. Some centers accept secure email links generated by MyChart’s “Share Everywhere” feature.