Sharing baby news on social media is tricky

PUBLIC PAIN: Chrissy Teigen recently posted about the stillbirth of her baby

- Olivia Petter

In the space of one week, three of Fiona’s friends announced that they were pregnant on Instagram. Normally, this would be cause to celebrate. But Fiona, 32, from Leeds, is having trouble conceiving. “I’m really happy for them all, but it’s so hard seeing daily updates about other people’s pregnancies on my feed when I’m desperately trying – and so far failing – to conceive with my husband. I’ve started muting accounts.”

When something good happens to you, it’s only natural to want to tell people about it. Today, the most economical way to do that is with a social media post. And so regardless of whether it’s an engagement, or a new job, our private celebrations have become public ones.

The NHS estimates that around one in seven couples in the UK may have difficulty conceiving. Fiona adds, “Yes, my friends are quite rightly celebrating that they’re going to be parents – and I get that – but it felt like they hadn’t considered anyone else’s feelings about seeing their happy news plastered all over social media.”