In light of Townsville’s recent baby boom there is no doubt in my mind that I am not the only expectant mother confused by the overwhelming wealth of web information concerning every aspect of impending parenthood. From nutrition to nappies, caffeine to cravings, exercise to epidurals, caesarean section vs. natural birth, the list truly is never ending.
To add to this perplexing pregnancy plethora, when it comes to babies, it seems everyone has an opinion and wants to ‘weigh-in.’ With a paediatrician brother, midwife mother-in-law, and a whole tribe of nurses in the family, I truly have heard every bit of advice under the rainbow, and here-in lies the problem: as a parent-to-be, how does one sort the baby information designed to keep mum and baby happy, from the information that could, quite frankly, fill your baby’s nappy?
For better or for worse, the internet is a highly accessible tool and anyone with the know-how can publish an internet site, regardless of qualification or agenda. This unregulated nature of the internet presents a unique set of challenges when trying to determine the reliability of information retrieved. As you might do when purchasing a new product in the supermarket, when researching any topic, it is always important to ‘read the label.’ When researching on the internet, some examples of questions you should ask are: Does the site have a reputable author? Is it up-to-date? Is there an obvious bias? Is the site trying to sell you something? Can the information be verified on other similar sites? Does the page contain links to other reliable sites?
To get you started, CityLibraries provides a number of reliable health related online databases through the CityLibraries website (http://tinyurl.com/66awf2): Medline Plus, HealthInsite, Health and Wellness Resource Centre and Credo Reference.
The Townsville General Hospital also provides a good resource at http://tinyurl.com/6czt2k (click on ‘Having a baby’ in the left hand navigation bar). Bellybelly at http://www.bellybelly.com.au
is also a great place to start for all things maternity and be sure to read their ‘about us’ and ‘disclaimer’ links before proceeding.
Of course, before making any medical decisions, consult your qualified healthcare provider.
Need help searching the web? Contact your local CityLibrary branch:
CityLibrary Aitkenvale 4727 8312
CityLibrary Flinders Mall 4727 9665
CityLibrary Thuringowa 4773 8601 or infodesk@townsville.qld.gov.au
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Searchlight is a weekly column written by CityLibraries Townsville. It is published in the Townsville Bulletin newspaper and on this 'blog every Monday. Searchlight aims to make your internet searching more effective, efficient and fun by reviewing search tools, providing searching hints and tips, and helping with tricky search topics.
