Before you consult Google…

…at 3am about a pregnancy/birth/baby question you have that’s keeping you up with worry…

…try this website: WWW.EVIDENCEBASEDBIRTH.COM

…or this one: WWW.GIVINGBIRTHWITHCONFIDENCE.ORG

…or ask your midwife or your doctor.

Try not to go on chat boards and read stories that other people have posted. This is generally not helpful and can cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Those people are not you. They cannot predict what your experience will be like! Pregnancy is a time in life when all kinds of people you know (and don’t know) come out of the woodwork to offer you their opinions on pregnancy, birth, parenting, and everything in between. Guard your peace of mind and be conscious of what kind of information you are taking in. Consult sources that are reliable and trustworthy (like the above). Then, trust yourself. Trust your body, and your baby, and set healthy boundaries. You don’t have to listen to every birth story someone tries to tell you (especially if it’s not a good one). You don’t have to listen to anyone else’s advice. YOU are the expert on your body and your baby.

Originally published at www.nightingalebirth.com.