Why Nourva exists
When Beatrice was pregnant, she kept noticing the same gap: nutrition apps tracked calories and protein well, but had nothing useful for iodine or DHA. Two nutrients that midwives and obstetricians consistently flag as the hardest to get enough of during pregnancy, and the ones with the clearest links to fetal brain development.
She also found that existing apps were designed for weight loss. The language, the goals, the metrics, all pointed the wrong way. Pregnancy nutrition is not about eating less. It is about eating well, for two.
Nourva was built by women who lived that experience and wanted something better.
What makes Nourva different
Iodine and DHA, actually tracked
Nourva uses a local database built from the USDA/FDA/NIH iodine database (Release 3, 2023) and the USDA National Nutrient Database SR28 for DHA. These are the same datasets used by federal health agencies and referenced in clinical guidelines. They are embedded directly in the app so iodine and DHA look up instantly, with no API call required.
Personalised to your body
Targets are not one-size-fits-all. Nourva calculates your daily calorie and macronutrient needs using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, adjusted for your trimester and activity level. Micronutrient targets follow WHO, NHMRC, and NHS guidelines, adjusted for your profile.
Wellness alongside nutrition
Food is only part of the picture. Nourva also helps you log symptoms, track how you feel, follow safe exercise guides for each trimester, and reflect on your week in a personal journal. All of it in one place.
Our data sources
Nourva uses lab-measured data from USDA Agricultural Research Service, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, USDA FoodData Central, and Spoonacular for recipes. A full account of every data source and methodology is available on our Data Sources page.
A note on medical advice
Contact
Questions, feedback, or data corrections are always welcome. Reach us at hello@nourva.app.