Why You Might Need a New Email Address for Your Pregnancy Care (And How to Make the Switch)

Pregnant? Why your inbox might be the riskiest place in your prenatal care

If you're expecting, your email is a lifeline — and a potential privacy weak spot. Between lab results, appointment links, telehealth invites and birth-plan drafts, your inbox collects highly sensitive health information. Recent coverage (Jan 2026) of Google's major Gmail decision — especially new options to change primary accounts and expanded AI access across Gmail, Photos and other services — has renewed cybersecurity concerns that directly affect expectant parents. This article walks through why creating a separate medical email now matters, how to secure it with modern two-factor authentication, and practical steps to transition patient portals and notify your prenatal care team.

Why this matters now: Gmail changes, AI access, and pregnancy privacy

In early 2026, Forbes and cybersecurity analysts highlighted important changes at Google: new account management options and wider integration of Gemini AI that can access user data across Google services. While these features aim to personalize user experience, they also increase the potential surface area for unintended data exposure. For pregnant people — who routinely receive Protected Health Information (PHI) in emails and patient portal messages — this creates a concrete risk.

Health communications may include:

• Test results and ultrasounds
• Appointment reminders with personal IDs
• Telehealth links and recordings
• Insurance and billing correspondence

One compromised email can mean access to months of prenatal data. That’s why separating your medical email from everyday accounts is now recommended by privacy-conscious clinicians and security experts.

What changed in 2025–2026 that affects expectant parents

• Major email providers expanded AI integrations and centralized data access, increasing the need to manage where sensitive messages live.
• Phishing and account takeover attempts continued to rise; threat actors increasingly target high-value accounts like those linked to healthcare.
• Telehealth and provider messaging grew more common — meaning more PHI flows via email and patient portals.

The immediate risks for pregnancy care

Understanding the practical harms helps prioritize action. Key risks include:

• Account takeover: If attackers gain access, they can view past messages, intercept telehealth links, or reset other connected accounts.
• Data aggregation: AI features that index your messages can make it easier for third-party apps (or misconfigured settings) to surface PHI.
• Misdelivery: Using a shared or old family account increases the chance that sensitive messages go to the wrong person.
• Insurance & billing exposure: Financial and identity information often accompanies prenatal care emails.

Should you create a separate medical email? A quick decision guide

Not every pregnant person needs a new address, but most will benefit. Use this short checklist to decide:

• Do you share your primary email with partners, family, or work? — If yes, separate.
• Do you receive test results, imaging, or billing emails at this address? — If yes, separate.
• Do you use your primary account for many connected apps (finance, social, health trackers)? — If yes, separate.

If you answered yes to one or more, create a dedicated medical email. Treat it like a secure vault for pregnancy-related communications.

Step-by-step: How to create and harden a medical email (in 30–60 minutes)

Follow these practical steps to set up a secure, privacy-focused email for pregnancy care. These are tested, clinician-friendly strategies you can implement quickly.

1. Choose the right provider

Options include mainstream providers (Gmail, Outlook) and privacy-focused services (Proton Mail, Tutanota). Each has trade-offs.

• Mainstream providers: Convenient for integration with patient portals and telehealth platforms, but require careful settings management if you want to limit AI/data indexing.
• Privacy-focused providers: Offer stronger default encryption and minimal data mining, but may face compatibility issues with some patient portals or provider systems.

Tip: If your provider’s patient portal relies on email verification from mainstream domains, choose a mainstream provider but secure it tightly (see steps below).

2. Use a clear but professional address

Pick an address that you’ll recognize for clinical use: e.g., jane.momcare2026@gmail.com or jsmith.health@proton.me. Avoid nicknames and shared family addresses.

3. Setup modern two-factor authentication (2FA)

2FA is the single most effective step for preventing account takeover. But not all 2FA is equal. Use the strongest form your provider supports.

• Prefer hardware security keys (FIDO2 / YubiKey) where supported — these are resilient against phishing.
• If hardware keys aren’t available, use an authenticator app (Authy, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator).
• SMS 2FA is better than nothing but vulnerable to SIM swap attacks — avoid relying on SMS for your primary medical email if possible.

Configure backup 2FA methods and store recovery codes securely (see password managers below).

4. Use a password manager and unique strong passwords

Never reuse passwords across accounts. Use a reputable password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane) to generate and store unique, complex passwords.

5. Harden account privacy settings and AI permissions

Review the account settings where AI or personalization features may access messages or attachments. In 2026, many providers allow per-account AI permissions — disable any cross-service indexing for your medical address if you prefer minimal exposure.

6. Turn off forwarding and app access you don’t recognize

Malicious actors or misconfigured automation can forward sensitive messages. Check for:

• Automatic forwarding rules
• Third-party apps with OAuth access to your mail
• Linked accounts that could inherit access

7. Use separate devices or profiles when possible

If you want extra separation, create a dedicated browser profile or a secondary phone user for pregnancy care. This reduces accidental cross-login and autofill leaks.

How to transition patient portals, providers, and telehealth accounts

Once your medical email is ready, you’ll need to update healthcare accounts and tell your care team. This section gives practical steps and sample messages.

1. Inventory where your email is used

List the places that currently receive pregnancy communications:

• OB/GYN and midwife offices
• Hospital patient portals
• Doulas and birth educators
• Insurance and billing portals
• Telehealth platforms and virtual-visit accounts

2. Update each account systematically

1. Log in to the patient portal — update the primary email to your new medical address.
2. If the portal uses email for identity verification, you may need to confirm via a link sent to your current address. Keep both accounts active for the transition window.
3. Update telehealth accounts (Zoom/health-platform profiles) to the new address so session invites and recordings go to the medical email.
4. Contact billing and insurance portals and update notification preferences where PHI may be sent.

3. Notify providers, doulas, and care team

Send a concise, secure message from your new email to alert your care team. Use this template and adapt it:

Hi [Provider/Practice Name],

I’m updating my contact information for pregnancy-related communications. Please use this email for all future appointment reminders, test results, and telehealth links: new.medical.email@example.com.

If you require additional verification, please let me know how to confirm this change securely. Thank you — [Your Full Name], [DOB or Patient ID]

Send the notification through the patient portal if possible (it creates an administrative record), and then follow up by phone if you don’t see acknowledgement within 72 hours.

4. Maintain the old address for a short overlap

Keep your old email active for 4–8 weeks. Forward non-medical messages but not PHI. Check both inboxes and gradually reduce usage of the old account.

Telehealth, doulas, and virtual visits: extra considerations

Virtual care increases email dependence. Here’s how to keep those visits private and smooth:

• Confirm links: Ask providers to use calendar invites with encrypted meeting IDs rather than plain links in emails when possible.
• Recording preferences: Know whether telehealth sessions are recorded and where recordings are stored. Request secure delivery to your medical email or patient portal.
• Doulas and non-clinical partners: Share only what’s necessary. If your doula needs appointment reminders, set calendar sharing rather than forwarding full PHI-laden emails.

Real-world examples: two short case studies (experience-driven)

These anonymized examples show why separation matters in practice.

Case 1: The shared family account

Maria used a shared household Gmail for everything. A phishing attack reset the account and accessed prior prenatal ultrasound emails; the attacker attempted insurance fraud using the info. After that incident, Maria created a dedicated medical email, moved patient portal access, and implemented hardware 2FA keys. The new email limited exposure and prevented future lateral attacks.

Case 2: Telehealth link leak

Renee received a telehealth link in her primary inbox, which synced to a family-shared calendar. A family guest saw the invite and accidentally exposed session details. Renee switched to a medical-only email for telehealth, adjusted calendar settings to private, and requested secure calendar invites directly from her clinic. Simple changes reduced accidental sharing.

Advanced strategies and future-proofing (2026+)

Think beyond the initial switch. The threat landscape and technology will continue to evolve.

• Use hardware security keys: As phishing becomes more sophisticated, physical keys (FIDO2) remain one of the strongest defenses.
• Audit connected apps quarterly: Remove OAuth permissions for apps you no longer use — in 2026, app ecosystems proliferate and quietly retain access.
• Consider encrypted mail for ultra-sensitive exchanges: For highly sensitive transmissions (e.g., genetic testing), ask your provider for encrypted delivery or use a provider that supports end-to-end encryption.
• Stay informed about policy changes: Watch provider notices and major vendor updates (like Google’s AI permissions) and act quickly on privacy toggles.
• Document change requests: Keep records of when you updated contact methods in case of disputes about whether a message was sent.

Simple checklist: Make the switch in one afternoon

1. Create new medical email with a professional handle.
2. Enable hardware key or authenticator app 2FA and store recovery codes in a password manager.
3. Update patient portals, telehealth profiles, and insurance contacts.
4. Notify your OB/GYN, midwife, doula, and billing office via portal and email (use the template above).
5. Keep old account active for an overlap period; then reduce and finally archive it securely.
6. Quarterly: review connected apps and forwarding rules.

Who to tell first: priority order

When you’re ready to notify, do it in this order to avoid missed communications:

• Hospital/OB practice patient portal (primary)
• Midwife or doula
• Telehealth platforms used for appointments
• Insurance & billing
• Birth educator, lactation consultant, and other allied providers

Resources and references

For further context, consider these authoritative sources (search for the latest versions in 2026):

• Forbes coverage of Google’s 2026 Gmail decision and AI integration (Jan 2026) — highlights privacy implications for massive user bases.
• NIST Digital Identity Guidelines (SP 800-63) — best practices for authentication and 2FA.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) guidance on patient privacy and HIPAA — for obligations of providers handling PHI.

Final takeaways: act now, stay simple, and protect your pregnancy care

Changes at major email providers in late 2025 and early 2026 make this a practical moment to separate your medical email and lock it down. The single fastest, highest-value actions are:

• Create a dedicated medical email to receive all pregnancy-related messages.
• Enable strong two-factor authentication, preferably with a hardware key or authenticator app.
• Update patient portals and notify your prenatal care team using the step-by-step process above.

Do this once now and you’ll avoid repeated exposure and confusion later. Expectant parents who treat email like part of their medical record gain both privacy and peace of mind.

Call to action

Ready to secure your pregnancy communications? Use our provider directory to find OB/GYNs, midwives, doulas, and telehealth clinics that support secure messaging — and download our free prenatal email security checklist to complete the switch in under an hour. Protect your privacy so you can focus on what matters most: a healthy pregnancy.

Related Reading

• Global Bars That Channel 1980s Hong Kong: A Nightlife Map
• Insulated Duffle Bags for Hot-Water Bottles and Cold-Weather Travel
• How to Promote a Comeback Album: Lessons from BTS, A$AP Rocky, and Mitski
• Political Upheaval and the Future of Weather Services: How Shifts in Washington Could Impact Forecasting and Emergency Response
• Noise-cancelling vs open-ear: best headphone styles for different training needs