About Maternl

Maternl is an AI Guided Pregnancy Information Program. It is NOT a "symptom checker" or substitute for immmediate contact with a clinician, emergency department or hospital. Maternl is strengthened with human experience, feelings and understanding and will provide practical support, trusted, evidenced-based information, and caring guidance throughout your pregnancy-always private, free and anonymous with no identifiable data collected or stored

Created by Michael R. Berman, MD, MBI, FACOG, a Board‑Certified and Academic Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternl© is an original and clinically grounded educational ally for pregnancy, postpartum recovery, newborn care, and for the most difficult experiences in pregnancy — miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal loss. Maternl© combines evidence‑based pregnancy guidance with geographic, location‑aware support so every woman, in every country can have access to information to improve their knowledge about their pregnancy and an avenue for access to care if they do not know where to go. The unique features of Maternl© derive from the Founder's career-long endeavor to bridge both the digital divide and the pervasive disparities in access to care for vulnerable, minority and impoverished families, worldwide. Addressing all aspects of pregnancy; i.e. prenatal visits, labor aand delivery, post partum and the need for special care for those who have lost a pregnancy or newborn, Dr. Berman incorporates all that is expert, genuine and trustworthy to address maternal and perinatal mortality,globally.

The History of Maternl

The programs of Maternl© began as an international community of compassion, empathy, and support for families who have endured the tragedy of miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal or infant loss — HYGEIA. This vision was transformed into the Hygeia Foundation, Inc., an IRS‑approved 501(c)(3) non‑profit organization founded in 1995, which grew to exceed 30,000 members and became one of the most enduring online programs of compassion and support for perinatal loss. The Hygeia Foundation, Inc. has transitioned to become Hope After Loss (http://hopeafterloss.org). It is a thriving non‑profit with a Board of Directors, a Medical Advisory Board, and a Parents Board. Although no longer operated by Dr. Berman and the Hygeia Health Systems LLC, its mission continues to be fully supported and advocated by Hygeia Health Systems.

Selected Accomplishments of HYGEIA | MATERNL

• One of the earliest Internet programs (est. 1995) devoted to pregnancy loss and neonatal death — and the only site of its kind created and moderated entirely by an Obstetrician‑Gynecologist.
• Recognized in major media including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, the New Haven Register, and the Hartford Courant, and featured in interviews by Katie Couric (NBC Today Show) and Lisa Birnbach (CBS Early Show).
• Finalist in the International Information Technology Competition, The Stockholm Challenge (2001, 2002). The GetCare program was presented to the Society for the Internet in Medicine (Geneva 2003; Prague 2005).
• Implemented a Burial and Memorial Fund with the New Haven Health Department to help indigent families bury their children.
• Founding member of the International Stillbirth Alliance, dedicated to understanding and preventing stillbirth through research.
• Publication of Parenthood Lost: Health the Pain After Miscarriage, Stillbirht and Neonatal Death.
• Masters Degree in Biomedical Informatics, Oregon Health and Science University with a Capstone on Personal Health Records for Underserved Communities
• Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine and Professor and Asscoaite Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
• Medical Director of the Labor and Delivery Unit, Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Chief Patient Safety Officer, Mount SInai Beth Israel Medical Center
• Awarded the United Hospital Foundation Award for Quality and Patient Safety, New York, New York, the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) Obstetrical Improvement Project’s Quality and Fellowship, Academy for Medicine and the Humanities, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Evolution to Maternl©

Maternl©, now the successor to HYGEIA, realizes Dr. Berman's early vision of improving gaps and disparities in prenatal health care worldwide — particularly those affecting early entry into prenatal services and contributing to prematurity, neonatal mortality, and infant mortality.

By embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), Maternl© becomes a singularly unique platform combining:

• Pregnancy and newborn information and learning
• Geo‑location of worldwide centers for prenatal and newborn care
• An award‑winning program for miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal loss
• Other propriatary programs-yet to be rolled out

What Makes Maternl© Different

Maternl© is an original, evidence‑based AI chatbot designed to support maternal, newborn, and child health. Its content is verified through trusted, peer‑reviewed sources and strengthened by the award‑winning Hygeia.org program for families who have experienced pregnancy or newborn loss.

• Purpose‑built for maternal and infant health — focused exclusively on pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care.
• Safety‑focused by design — separates urgent warning signs and mental‑health concerns from routine questions.
• Grounded in trusted sources — draws from recognized medical and public‑health references.
• Educational, not diagnostic — supports learning and preparation; never replaces a clinician.
• Designed for real‑world use — plain‑language answers, multilingual support, and preparation for meaningful conversations with care teams.

Important Notice

Maternl and its multiple modules are for educational use only — not medical advice. Maternl provides general information about pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn health. Responses are AI‑generated and may be incomplete or inaccurate. This tool does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and using it does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult your OB‑GYN, midwife, or pediatrician for personal medical guidance. In an emergency, call 911.

Michael R. Berman, MD, MBI, FACOG
Founder and President
September 02, 2026