Whether you are an expectant mum, a new mum or a been-around-the-block mum there are always questions that need answering. And out there in the great big wide world of the internet, there are plenty of places to find the answers, the only question from there is should I trust these answers.
There are a few things to think about when looking at a website and considering their reliability. You have to consider the overall source. Is it personal opinion, is it backed by scientific research, is it professional experience or is it an amalgamation of all of the above?
If you are looking for health advice there are some great resources funded by the government. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a national Australian Government service providing support and information for expecting parents and parents of children from birth to 5 years of age. This website has countless links back into government services, and can answer questions relating to Medicare cover for pregnancy related costs, immunisations for newborns, all the way to preparing your children for school.
Healthdirect is a national government-owned, not-for-profit organisation that has resources like a symptom checker for pregnancy. They have a lot of collaborations with local health services via the National Health Services Directory as well as articles summarising professional advice.
Lastly the Australian government website Starting A Family has a great variety of links to websites such as the Australian Breast Feeding association, the Department of Human Services for information about Paid Parental Leave and even money smart tips from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Then you find websites like BabyCenter, Kidspot, BubHub and BellyBelly. These websites are magazine like, with a mix of information, usually articles written by contributors and these contributors can range from Doulas, fertility specialists and doctors, Midwives, Physiotherapists, journalists and parents. They usually have forums as well on the site, so if you just can’t find the answer to the questions you have all you have to do is ask!
And finally the blogs. Everyone has a voice on the internet and blogs are a great way of putting thoughts and feelings out there. Blogs can help develop community and allows parents to share information and experiences. There are a lot out there and a quick google can find every version of parent out there.
Mum’s Grapevine is a website dedicated to shopping! All the sales and great list of things baby needs. Be warned this website makes me feel spendy!
Planning With Kids is written by Nicole Avery, who has been blogging since 2008. Her blog contains great tips and tricks for organising family life.
Life, Love and Hiccups is a hilarious blog written by Sonia, mother of 3 boys. Honest and open, it is great for a laugh, a great starter is her article : Oh Crap, I Accidentally Bought My Son A Hash Pipe!
So on your quest for information, you have stumbled upon the Bend + Mend website. In our blog we have lots of up to date pregnancy and womens health information. If you have any questions and you can’t quite seem to find the answers, you can ask us by emailing physio@bendandmend.com.au.
Happy reading!
