In today’s world, we are constantly inundated with information, opinions, advice – especially during pregnancy and postpartum. The world of social media has made it far too easy for anyone and everyone to share their opinions, unsolicited advice, and even un-backed personal strategies with the whole world. As pregnant women, new mothers, or mothers navigating yet another new stage of our child’s life, we are constantly seeking advice and wisdom to try to make the best decisions for our kids, our families, and ourselves. Unfortunately, NOT ALL ADVICE IS CREATED EQUAL and with the pure overload of information being sent our way, we must learn to use a discerning eye when it comes to the information and advice we receive.
So here are a few strategies to use next time you’re scrolling:
✋🏻Always look into the account holder’s credentials! Remember you need no credentials to give advice online so always be sure to check it is giving the information. Doctors of Physical Therapy, Gynecologists/Obstetricians, Midwifes, Occupation Therapists and other medical professionals have spent years learning about the body and have taken licensing exams to make sure they are safe to practice their medical specialty. Although experience helps us to understand and relate, having had a baby and/or loving to exercise does NOT make someone an expert in providing pregnancy, postpartum, or pelvic floor advice.
✋🏻If it seems too good to be true, it IS too good to be true! I can’t believe how many step-by-step guides I see on the internet these days making absolutely insane promises to users – “get your pre-pregnancy body back” “get rid of your mom pooch” “lose 10 lbs fast” and the list goes on. Our “bounce-back” culture makes it easy for postpartum mamas to fall into these traps but if these programs offer fast results with little work, I promise they are not worth it. Recovering from pregnancy, returning to full activity, restoring your core function, and relearning to use and love your body takes work. Thankfully, there are dedicated professionals like pelvic floor therapists who are willing to walk alongside you in your recovery journey and help to make the work feel like much less of a burden!
✋🏻Take everything with a grain of salt! Many mom-fluencer’s advice often comes from personal experience (ie how they “bounced back” after pregnancy). Even medical professionals sharing online content are simply sharing information and attempting to educate you on a topic that you may otherwise not know a lot about. Please realize that health, exercise, wellness, rehab, recovery is not one size fits all. Just because it worked that way for someone else does not mean that is right for you or your body. The best way to get the best care for you is by getting an evaluation with a specialist, like a pelvic floor therapist, followed by a personalized plan of care!
Happy scrolling and stay tuned as I share some of my favorite instagram accounts for pregnancy, postpartum, and pelvic floor advice!
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