Poor advice

ashleybrynne32

This is just a vent but does anyone else get so frustrated when reading posts (esp on 1st tri) giving medical advice that are just wrong? I think it gives people false hope- if you don't know the answer say "I'm praying for you," "Good Luck," or "Call your doctor" instead of spouting out medically unsound advice and giving women false hope.

zoieglow

Like what? I think people are pretty good at calling out posters with bad or unsafe advice here.

jensahokie

I actually haven't gone back to look, but I remember some dental advice one time that was totally wrong.  I felt obligated to say something since DH and I are BOTH dentists, but yes... people who are well-intentioned often give the wrong advice.  I usually don't say anything because I don't want to start a war

LizBusch

i am a fan of the "call your doctor" advice. i just feel like any time someone is unsure of a symptom they have or whatever, it's much better and more reassuring to hear an answer from your doctor than from a bunch of strangers who don't have a medical degree.

ashleybrynne32

zoieglow:

Like what? I think people are pretty good at calling out posters with bad or unsafe advice here.

I'm talking about the posts where women's betas have dropped and people post not to worry and that the baby is probably fine when in fact that is not a good sign... I'm sorry my heart is breaking for someone on first tri and I just think it's wrong to dispense advice that is likely incorrect.

ashleybrynne32

jensahokie:

I actually haven't gone back to look, but I remember some dental advice one time that was totally wrong.  I felt obligated to say something since DH and I are BOTH dentists, but yes... people who are well-intentioned often give the wrong advice.  I usually don't say anything because I don't want to start a war

Ah Jen I hate when people give out legal advice on here when 90% of the time the "answer" will vary from state to state. (I'm almost done law school and DH is an attorney also) 

Kery1499

But they might just be trying to keep that person to stay positive you know? I personally would never ever go on what a message board says alone. thats ridiculous. I always call my Doc whether or not someone on here tells me to or not. You are posting on a public message board imo and most people always think they have the best advice etc. But you cant just go on that because im sure alot of people are only saying something because they just read it somewhere and dont really know the facts., So lesson is call your Doc for things that are serious imo.

JuliaKL

as someone with a medical degree, i try to say something if it's blatantly wrong advice, but if it's just a reassurance, why fret? ?i know, it's hard to read the beta's dropping posts on first tri, but there's absolutely nothing anyone can do without the doctor's help. ?the mom is already worried plenty, so i try to just offer good luck or happy thoughts... why worry them more? ?hopefully people aren't taking SERIOUS medical advice from an internet board... i try to think of this as a place to remind me of what questions i could be asking my OB!

Shananah

I think it's irresponsible to dispense any kind of potentially life-altering advice on a public message board without the education and license to back it.   That said, I also think it's semi-irresponsible to seek said advice on a public message board.

ashleybrynne32

True, true. After two miscarriages I guess I'm just sensitive to it- I wished people would have given me a heads up as to what was probably happening but we're all different.

HeyyRed

I'm a total believer in tell the truth. I won't delude people into false hope only to have it crushed a few hours/days/week later when they are faced with a M/C. Wish someone good luck and to prepare for the worst and then if things turn around voila - you have something unexpected to celebrate.

Lying to people on a message board just seems cruel and unusual punishment.?