The Power of Milk - DONA International

Feature StoryTrust Issues:How to Help Women Find Trusted Information On-lineBy Nancy Ripton, BScWhile pregnant with myfirst child my husbandactually placed an Internetresearch ban on all thingsmom and baby. The tipping point waswhen I collapsed on the floor in tears—convinced I was having a miscarriage.At 16 weeks I had been having somecramping. After typing in my symptomsto a variety of search engines I feared theworst. A trip to the emergency room andaccompanying ultrasound showed that Ihad a small benign cyst that was causingthe problem—nothing to worry about.On-line self-diagnosis is never a goodidea (no matter how tempting), but thiswasn’t the only bad web informationI received during my pregnancy. As ajournalist I became concerned over theamount of random, unsubstantiatedadvice out there for moms-to-be. Idecided to co-found a web site, www.JustTheFactsBaby.com, with wellresearchedarticles and an extensiveexpert panel so other moms wouldhave a place they could trust (outsideof government sites) for information.Here are some ways doulas can helpdirect moms to the best information on-line:Take the easy routeIf you don’t want to research a lot ofsites, the best choices for information areaccredited medical schools, governmentagencies and professional medicalassociations. If you are using a commercialsite, look for experts from top schoolsand associations on the advisory board.Look out forcatch phrases thatdon’t deliverJust because a site says “DoctorRecommended” doesn’t mean you cantrust it. “What you don’t know is howmany doctors recommended the site orhow long ago the recommendation wasmade,” says Dr. Jennifer Shu, editorin-chiefof the American Academy ofPediatrics’ Baby & Child Health: TheEssential Guide from Birth to 11 Years.A panel of experts or an advisory boardis a much better way to judge the qualityof a site than medical catch phrases.Look who’s talkingAuthors and contributors should beidentified for each story. Look forcredentials and a reason to trust who isdelivering the information. “You shouldalso do some of your own research,” saysDr. Shu. Do a web search of the writersand experts to see what else they havedone. Lastly, you should be able to contactthe site’s founder(s). Be wary of any sitethat doesn’t offer contact information.Blog rolesBlogs have a role in offering informationto new moms, but you shouldn’t blindlytrust everything you read. Consider blogsthe equivalent to talking to a friend.They’re great for getting helpful advicesuch as, “This is what worked for me whenmy toddler threw a tantrum.” They’reequally good at providing a voice youcan relate to and making you feel likeyou’re not alone in your new experienceas a mom. What they’re not good for issound medical advice. Most blogs are notwell researched; rather they’re opinionpieces of the host. Look to blogs for aconfidante and a way of getting cool momtips, not any serious health information.If they do offer the latter, only take noteif a link to the study is provided so youcan do further research on your own.18 International Doula Volume 17, Issue 3