Facing Anxiety Before & After Birth By Julianna Steen Photo by Unsplash.com
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DOES SOCIAL MEDIA HELP OR HURT PREGNANCY ANXIETY?
t often happens like this: On your social media feed, all you’ve ever seen are pregnant moms that seem to supernaturally glow with the joy of their ever-growing baby bump or the postpartum tired-but-happy soft smiles of new mothers. Naturally, you assume pregnancy is rainbows and sun- shines, minus that tiny little part about giving birth. Then, all of a sudden, you’re pregnant and you start to panic. Whether it’s baby numero uno or number five, the reality sets in as you’re scrolling through TikTok at 2 a.m. All of a sudden, your feed only shows you horror stories of deliveries-gone-wrong via BirthTok. Or, worse yet, you finally deliver your little chunky piece of sunshine, only to discover you no longer feel the same joy you used to have… instead, you’re a bundle of anxious thoughts and depressed emotions. The myth that pregnancy is automatically a happy time keeps a lot of people silent and unsupported. Whether you’re in the thick of it or not, let’s talk about the unmentioned anxiety surrounding pregnancy and birth—and what to add or remove from your life to help you manage it.
with and will feed you more. It may start with only two trauma stories, but soon that may consume your feed. Studies have also shown that digital storytelling leads to increased self-crit- icism in new mothers. That said, social media can be beneficial when used with caution in moderation, alongside the opinions of trusted medical professionals. IS MY ANXIETY NORMAL? In short, yes. Prenatal anxiety, depres- sion, intrusive thoughts, and mood disorders are common—but they’re often still under-screened and un- der-treated. Perinatal depression, also known as postpartum depression (PPD), is a serious but treatable mood disorder that affects about one in seven pregnant women. Symptoms can in- clude extreme sadness, anxiety, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty bonding with your baby. But these emotions can develop during the pregnancy, not just in the 12 months following it. According to JAMA, perinatal depression occurs in up to 18 percent of women—and more than 75 percent of these women aren’t treated.
Birth story videos are trending, leading researchers to question if digital birth narratives are actually helpful for wom- en who fear childbirth. For instance, one study found that women consis- tently exposed to positive birth stories became less anxious compared to their peers. THE PROS: Watching or sharing stories helps many people realize their worries, symptoms, or fears are common and that they’re not alone. Moreover, social media can create a sense of community where pregnant people connect, ask questions, and receive encouragement. Not to mention the tips you can learn and the basic, important information at your fingertips. THE CONS: Nonetheless, there is also a downside to social media: Information overload, exposure to worst-case scenarios, mis- information, and comparison can all lead to increased anxiety. What’s more, the algorithm picks up on what you interact
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PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2026
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