Modern motherhood is as much about social networking and online forums as traditional coffee mornings and conversations over the garden fence.
New research shows that every year, the average online mum chats to 24 online friends who they have never met in person and that 83% of mums use the internet - 17% more than women in general.
Social networking sites and forums like TheBabyWebsite.com Forum are giving mums the chance to 'chat' openly about sensitive matters.
When a mum is online she feels she can be candid and frank about the challenges of motherhood without the worry of being embarrassed.
Internet usage among mums is highest in East Anglia, with 91% logging on in the last year, compared to the lowest areas of uptake in the North East of Englandand Yorkshire and the Humber. The national average is 83%.
The report also showed that mums are using the net for other activities to keep themselves connected to friends and family: 25% of mums use the internet to share photographs, 29% bank online and 19% use online auction sites.
Hugh Stacey, head of broadband at the Post Office who conducted the research, said: “The internet is providing mums with a critical link to information and advice in the outside world as well as providing a quick and easy way to complete every day tasks. For many mums, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it!”Top searches for Mums include:General search topics
1. Recipes
2. Best baby equipment/products
3. Potty training
4. Sharing photos
5. Chat forums
Mums-to-be:
1. Gender predictor
2. Baby names
3. Calculating due dates
4. Twins/pregnancy with twins
5. Maternity rights
Medical issues
1. Childhood illnesses (e.g. chicken pox, colic, thrush)
2. Depression
3. Anaemia
4. Vaccines
5. Panic attacks
April 2009 | 
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