How to Find Helpful Health Info for You and Your Baby

Search the Right Sites

Start by searching for health info from government, education, or professional sites.

To find these websites, look at the web address. It’s a good sign if a URL ends in:

• .gov = This means it’s from the US government.
• .edu = This is info from a school, college, or university.
• .org = This comes from a professional or advocacy group.

Info from these sources is more likely to be correct and up-to-date.

Learn How to Judge Other Sources

Some health websites have “.com” at the end of the URL. This means the info is from another type of source. It could be a business, drug company, or hospital. That doesn’t mean it’s bad info. But you should check to see where it comes from.

Find out about the quality of a website’s info. Look to see:

• Who wrote it? Check to see if the author is an expert in that field. Think twice before you fully trust content that is part of an ad or from a sponsor.
• Who reviewed it? Look for articles reviewed by a medical expert with experience in that topic.
• When was it published? Health info can become outdated quickly. Look for sources with recent dates. You can often find the date at the top or bottom of the page.
• Does it list sources? An article that links to info from .gov, .edu, and .org websites may be more trustworthy than one that doesn’t.
• What is the website’s purpose? Look for an “About Us” page on the site to learn more about the company. Companies that aim to inform people may publish better info than those that are trying to sell things.
• Is your privacy protected? Most websites list their privacy policy. If you share your info with a site, make sure it doesn’t share those details without your permission.

Be careful of content by one person based on their own experiences. That includes personal blogs and social media pages. That person may provide helpful tips or ideas, but they might not be true or apply to you.

Be mindful any time there’s a big promise, like a miracle cure. This is often not based on science.

Health Sources You Can Trust

Here’s a list of online sources you can trust for health info for pregnant people and parents:

• ACOG.org/womens-health by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• HealthyChildren.org by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• CDC.gov/pregnancy and CDC.gov/parents by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• WomensHealth.gov by the Office on Women’s Health
• MedlinePlus.gov by the National Library of Medicine
• PlannedParenthood.org/learn/pregnancy

Talk to Your Doctor

It’s helpful to use online sources to learn more about your health. But this info should never replace advice from your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about what you read online. Ask any questions you have. Together, you can decide what works best for your and your baby’s health.

You May Also Like:

• The Schedule of Doctor Visits During Pregnancy
• A 2-Minute Guide to 9 Months of Pregnancy
• A Hospital’s Guide to Caring for Your Newborn