A new project is using Facebook to match pregnant women with midwives and other mums-to-be.
Hundreds of women have already signed up to Facemums, joining small private Facebook groups to get the support of others as they prepare to give birth and for up to six weeks after their babies arrive.
Launched by NHS Trusts and funded by Health Education England, expectant mums in Bolton and Stockport can sign up for the scheme, with others across Greater Manchester expected to follow suit.
While women can access information and advice from other expectant mums put into groups of up to 20, a registered midwife moderating the group makes sure that health information shared is accurate and timely.
A two-year project led by Dr Rose McCarthy and coordinated by the University of Salford, the support of Facewives - as the online midwives have become known - is already proving invaluable to families.
One of the women who has been supported through the project, Becky, says it made a huge difference to her confidence knowing the group was there to support her.
She said: “At my eight-week booking in appointment my midwife explained the concept of Facemums and asked if I would like to be involved; I thought it was a great idea so said yes.
“The articles, advice and resources have been so useful. To get little snippets of information as I’m scrolling through Facebook really helped me digest information throughout my pregnancy, and the fact that it was from midwives meant I knew I could trust it.
“I also had the added benefit of my ‘Facewife’ being my midwife when I was in hospital and the familiarity really helped put me at ease.”
Danielle Butler, Facemums project officer at the University of Salford, said: “It is fantastic to see how Facemums is encouraging peer support between new mums and mums-to-be, as well as giving them the opportunity to get advice from a registered midwife.”
The midwife-moderated private Facebook groups were established across eight NHS Trusts in the North of England back in April. A further five Trusts, including Bolton and Stockport, joined the project in November.
Anyone due to have a baby in Bolton or Stockport in May, June or July can sign up here . For more information about the project, visit the Facemums Facebook page here .
