By Jennifer Wilson
I am always the first one to whip out her phone and say “let’s just Google it and find out.” I love being able to find answers quickly to burning questions about whether so-and-so was in a movie with Kevin Bacon or what year did such-and-such happen.
Pregnancy, however, has changed my relationship with Google. Inaccurate or alarmist results from a pop culture trivia inquiry do not affect health or well being (unless, of course, you made a bet on the question). I’ve become wary of “the Google” and it’s ability to offer reputable medical and health information. That said, I do believe it can be a valuable tool provided you don a skeptic’s hat first.
When to Google It
During December, I Googled every question that came to mind. Half of my questions revolved around “is XYZ normal?” A majority of what I found served to reassure me. Since I didn’t have a clue how my back and breasts should feel, reading long forum threads with “I feel the same way” quelled my nerves. Google can be helpful. But, disparity in the quality of information quickly illustrated which sites had generally reputable information and which I should not take for gospel.
- Sites I Trust: webmd.com, mayoclinic.com, federal government sites (i.e. NIH, FDA, EPA etc.)
- Sites I Take with a Grain of Salt: babycenter.com, americanpregnancy.com, whattoexpect.com
- Sites I Avoid: anything with a domain name like “xyzdanger.com”, articles I find duplicated word-for-word
When to Call your Doctor
During many of my inquiries, I was left with the instruction to call your doctor if you’re unsure. Most importantly, it’s been drilled into my head that you should always call if you experience bleeding or severe cramping. Most of the time, bleeding is normal, but of course it can also signal something gone wrong.
Many searches also brought up differing opinions (e.g. medications), even some controversy (e.g. autism, artificial sweeteners). While even doctors may not always agree, your own medical professional’s opinion can help make sense of the issues and guide you towards a decision.
Google isn’t a doctor and the vast amounts of inaccurate, out-dated and biased information means it’s not always a good way to find out the facts. Google is helpful for some questions (alleviating heartburn, sleep positions), but most real medical questions need to account for your specific history for answers to be of beneficial use. I have the patient advisory nurse line in my Contacts – because that’s what she’s there for.
When to Stop Worrying So Much
Google (and those who create alarmist websites) can demonstrate a link between just about any factor and risk to an unborn child. Certainly there is at least one web article citing negative consequences of wearing blue jeans or using a red ink pen or rubbing your belly too many times during pregnancy.
I try hard to abide by the pregnancy-revised motto of “most things in moderation” for healthy child-bearing. I genuinely believe that if you avoid the big no-no’s (e.g. alcohol), do not participate in risky behaviors (e.g. bungee jumping) and generally take life in moderation, things have a good chance of working out. There is so much we can’t control, due to genetics or luck, that excess worry is just not worth it. (Of course, there is even real research that says worry is bad too.)
This quote, attributed to the Buddha, helps me when I’m feeling worrisome:
“There is no sense in worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet. If you do and that situation never occurs then you have worried for nothing and if it does then you’ve just worried yourself twice.”
And really, who has time these days to do something twice?
What did you worry about during your pregnancy? Do you have any advice for first-time moms in the age of Google?
Jennifer Wilson is an expert Googler, but not a medical professional. You should ask a real doctor if you have any particular questions or concerns. Jennifer writes 31 and Pregnant, a column about navigating first time pregnancy in Champaign-Urbana.