Social Media Engagement and Community Building for Postpartum Care

Social media engagement and community building are effective strategies for supporting postpartum care by providing emotional support, education, and accessible interventions, especially for mothers experiencing postpartum depression or other challenges.

Key insights include:

• Improved mental health outcomes through social media interventions: A study found that postpartum mothers with depression who participated in a social media-based parenting program showed significantly improved parenting competence and reduced depression severity compared to those in in-person groups. Social media also enabled higher attendance rates (83% vs. 3%) and active participation through comments, indicating strong engagement.

• Community and emotional support: Social media groups create a sense of connection and reduce feelings of isolation common in postpartum experiences, including among mothers dealing with loss or hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Moderated groups that provide evidence-based resources and timely responses foster a supportive environment that addresses both emotional and educational needs.

• Health information dissemination: Platforms like Instagram are widely used by postpartum women to access health information on nutrition, exercise, psychological wellbeing, and breastfeeding. Visual and engaging content can enhance knowledge translation and influence health behaviours, especially during times of limited in-person access, such as pandemics.

• Engagement with vulnerable populations: Social media communities can reach mothers with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, providing preventive messaging and facilitating access to treatment resources in a non-judgmental, anonymous manner. Engagement varies by content type but shows promise for health promotion and support.

In summary, social media platforms serve as accessible, scalable tools for postpartum care by combining community building, emotional support, and health education, which can improve maternal mental health and parenting outcomes when thoughtfully moderated and designed.