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SOCIAL MEDIA AND PREGNANCY

SOURCE : GETTY IMAGES “SOCIAL MEDIA AND PREGNANCY “ Dr Shagufta Kazi Social media is a platform where we can post, search, share, chat and get connected with other people. It is a new way to communicate with others. There is no doubt that the social media and its instant availability has changed the way we engage with the outside world. At any time of life, whatever we may experience social media has become a platform to reach out to others going through the same thing. Pregnant women, for example, can reach out to other expectant mothers who are due to give birth around the same time as them, and track each other’s progress, problems and proud moments. But not to forget social media is putting pregnant women under pressure to look perfect. One of the biggest negative impacts of social media is the increase in body image dissatisfaction, as users compare themselves to the literally millions of perfect photos of celebrities and our peers available to us with just a few clicks. We always forget we are viewing images that are carefully selected, posed, filtered or altered in some way. We all know photoshop is no longer confined to professional websites, with a simple app a person can rapidly change their image to become their own ideal. Social media is actually is a false presentation of the world our peers live in, the risk of making negative self-comparison is high. Deep down we don’t realise it. Pregnancy is of course a time of a big changes to the body. Add to the growing stomach, sickness, heart burn and sore breasts and it’s no surprise that it is an uncomfortable time in a woman’s life. The frequency of the dissatisfaction and to limit the weight gain is of concern for both the physical health and well being of the mum and baby during pregnancy. Gaining too little weight increases the risk of low birth weight, premature birth and even miscarriages and is associated with a drop in self esteem in itself. Research has shown that when mums have poor body image during pregnancy they are also less likely to breastfeed which can further increase the risk of health issues for mums and babies. In a recent study exploring pregnancy body image, it’s found that women had concerns about what their pregnant body looked like, how much weight that they had gained and what their body would look like afterwards. Only one third “loved” how they looked or felt confident about their pregnant body and rest worried about their changing shape and felt they were gaining too much weight. Women’s changing shape during pregnancy and what this represents is something to be treasured. The world needs to realise that women are living for two and that the true beauty is in this lies in the stretch marks, wobbly bits and swollen ankles whether that looks “good “ on social media or not. Don’t forget your body is different, so is your pregnancy and so will be your baby. So stop comparing yourself with others. You are unique in your own way. Accept yourself , accept the way you look and be comfortable and confident. Your journey is different just enjoy. Enjoy your pregnancy. Enjoy motherhood. Dr Shagufta kazi is working as a lamaze international childbirth counselor. She is working in health sector since 2008 .

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