Social media, birth and midwives

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35034347468@N01/111376106

Sarah Stewart 2011

What is social media?

“use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue”

Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73532212@N00/2945559128

How does it influence women's choices and midwifery practice?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9106303@N05/2493066577

8 out of 10 people have looked up health information on the internet

Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

83% women go online to look for health information

Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79576592@N00/125710155

19% of internet users look online

for information about pregnancy

and childbirthPew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/12390581

Canada 37% babies have digital identity before they are born

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124425616@N01/2282360160

Dawson, 2010

Australia/NZ 41% newborns on the net

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124425616@N01/2634681982

Dawson, 2010

USA 92% children have online presence by 2 years old

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86603835@N00/19650368

Dawson, 2010

Parents talk about childbirth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJ6F2p9Ql8&feature=fvst

They broadcast their births

They share information and advice

http://www.facebook.com/MidwiferyToday

They support each other

http://navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com/navelgazing-midwife-blog/2011/4/13/birth-abuse.html

They build communities of interest

http://www.facebook.com/theunnecesarean

They have virtual births

They become activists

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-HBAC-in-Australia-fan-page/239430759403371

They talk about their midwives

What are the implications for

midwives?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/2925293661

Listen to what women are saying

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29195126@N02/4872728620

Join the conversation

Use social media to share evidence-based, quality information

with women

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50318388@N00/1309683996

Support women to make sense of information they find on the internet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74637221@N00/3109380557

Think about how to manage issues of privacy,

confidentiality, statutory and professional

responsibilities and

requirements

Connect with other midwives

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8566600@N07/2509988622

Use social media as a tool to support the midwife-woman partnership

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8566600@N07/3069766004

References Dawson, R. (2010, October 7). Getting an online identity from before you are born is

just the beginning of a life online [web log message]. Retrieved from

http://rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2010/10/getting_an_onli.html

Pew Internet and American Life Project. (2011). The social life of health information.

Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Social-Life-of-Health-Info/Summary-of-Findings.aspx