According to a new report, search engines like Google and Bing are more likely than any other source of information to provoke anxiety during pregnancy.
A survey of 300 UK mums who have given birth in the past five years published in the UK Maternity Report by the private midwifery services provider, Private Midwives, revealed that search engines were more likely than any other source to provide information which causes further worry and anxiety.
The news comes following midwife, lecturer and advisor to BBC’s Call the Midwife, Terri Coates, revealed that the internet was stopping women from turning to their professional midwife for advice.
As many as 41% reported this was the case, while almost the same number (38%) said they had read information about pregnancy in online forums such as groups and chat boards which had caused them concern.
Despite this, 89% admitted that they had consulted the internet for non-emergency health advice or information about their pregnancy, and outside of midwife appointments, mums-to-be are more likely (53%) to turn to the internet for non-emergency advice or information than anyone or anything else.
Many will do this regularly throughout their pregnancy - more than 1 in 10 (13%) searched for advice online on a daily basis, while more than 1 in 4 (27%) did so every few days.
According to the survey, as many as 90% of UK women who gave birth in the past five years experienced anxiety and worry during their pregnancy.
