Beginner Moms Are The Ones Most Looking For Information On The Internet

First-time mothers are the ones who most seek information on the Internet to support themselves when taking care of their babies.  This, according to a study carried out by SEPEAP (Spanish Society of Out-of-hospital Pediatrics and Primary Care, free translation into Portuguese); however, despite this group being the majority, those mothers with more than one child tend to follow this practice.

We know that every mother needs advice about the things that worry them about their children, and nowadays there is always someone who is willing to provide the necessary information. However, it is preferable to look for other opinions. Thus, a study revealed that more than 70% of first-time mothers look for information on the internet and, not least, 45% of them look in books.

In this sense, the Internet is the preferred medium for obtaining advice on baby care, as it is generally the place where the opinion of experts, experienced mothers and even the information found in books can be found. However, despite this avalanche of information, this is a little worrying  as the advice is not entirely reliable.

In any case, all the opinions that serve to give advice on upbringing, education and health tend to provoke controversy in the mothers who read it. Furthermore, they are generally believed to contradict the recommendations of the pediatric societies. The most controversial topics are the classic themes: vaccines, pacifier use, breastfeeding, sleep and diapers.

What information do new mothers look for most on the Internet?

It’s not news to anyone that first-time mothers have unlimited doubts, as this is a totally different stage for them and, besides, it’s something very complex to learn if we don’t experience it personally. In this sense, both the details of the pregnancy process and the “week to week” issue and the care of the newborn are cases in which wise advice would be in order.

However, new mothers don’t just search the Internet out of curiosity or wanting to know how much their bodies can change or about the risks of their pregnancy. Apparently, once the little one is born, they start to seek advice about baby care in the first months and it is also very frequent that they participate in forums and social networks to exchange opinions with mothers in the same situation.

On the other hand, it is known that what mothers most seek on the Internet are explanations and suggestions on how to act in relation to issues that concern them; a survey carried out by SEPEAP revealed that the main concerns of all mothers are related to health problems. According to the study, vomiting, fever and diarrhea are the main causes of concern for first-time mothers or not.

As for the other concerns that mothers who seek information on the Internet have, they found the following: secondly, options to spend their leisure time, uncertainty about crying and, finally, other factors such as the labor situation or the economy. According to the studies, more than 47% are concerned with seeking information about the disease, and other concerns are related more than anything to the lack of experience.

What is the most reliable information for first-time mothers?

It is believed that more than 50% of new mothers frequently share information in virtual groups dedicated to motherhood.

Pediatricians themselves came to disagree about the indications of their colleagues, which leads us to consider the fact that less experienced mothers often may receive less good advice. On this particular topic, the main controversies are generated in medical prescriptions, such as, for example, the combination of acetaminophen with ibuprofen; indicated by many, but rejected by pediatric texts.

On the other hand, Staci Eisenberg, a renowned expert in Pediatrics at the Boston Medical Center, says that mothers are more likely to follow doctors’ recommendations when they have been advised by their family members and found the same recommendations on the subject on the Internet. That is to say, they make sure they receive information from all sources for what they deem appropriate.