Back in the day, when a pregnant woman needed advice, she’d call her mother. Or grandmother, or cousins, or sisters – a trusted female relative who had been through the ups and downs, the hormonal shifts, and the hankering for bizarre food combos at 3:00 in the morning. Sure, the bookstore had a pregnancy section (nay, shelf) you could peruse, and there was a related magazine or two for sale. But now, we live in a world in which you can type “mucous plug” into a search engine and yield thousands of responses. And those are just the websites; social media is one big cluster of the good, the bad, and the very unsupportive/inaccurate hashtags.
Who do you turn to in this day and age? A family member, or maybe a friend whose kids are on this side of the belly button?
The most important thing to keep in mind when seeking pregnancy advice is reliability. Is the source you’re spending time with evidence-based? Is the Instagram account or YouTube influencer linked to a reputable, professional association? Are these sources culturally sensitive and inclusive? Are they based on years of practice, or affiliated with a university or organization that specializes in women’s reproductive health?
This is not to suggest that every website or expert has to be medically related. Birth is NOT a medical condition for women who are having low-risk pregnancies, and there is a great deal of value to place on the wisdom of all the mothers who have come before us. But, before you make any decisions that will affect your health and the health of your baby, do your due diligence. Vet advice, trends – all the stuff that can creep into your consciousness and impact your decision-making. Knowledge is power, so be sure to be aware of your options. Don’t know where to turn for accurate and up-to-date information that can help you choose wisely? We can help point you to safe and reliable sources. Having the right details matter when it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenting – and surrounding yourself with the right support can make all the difference.
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