It seems that everyone has a blog these days, so one would wonder why they should pay attention to the newest addition to the blogosphere.

But when it comes to the Mayo Clinic’s “Pregnancy and You” blog, there are plenty of reasons for expectant mothers to log on, including the chance to connect online while navigating the complicated world of ever-changing pregnancy do’s and don’ts.

No coffee? What kind of fish can I eat? What is the recommended weight gain?

What’s a blog, anyway?

Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know what a blog is. I’ll admit that before September of last year, I knew only that the term existed and that it had something to do with computers.

But if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or a new mom looking for parenting tips, it is certainly worth venturing into blogdom for a bit of Mommy time. (Trust me on this! Writing and reading pregnancy/Mom blogs have proven to be a real sanity saver on the crazier parenting days when I just need to hear that others are going through the same thing!)

For every person you ask you may get a slightly different answer, but a blog is basically a reverse-chronological and interactive web journal; the blogger compiles a post appropriate to their selected blog theme and publishes on the Internet, thereby allowing readers to post responses.

Because of the camaraderie that develops between the blogger and his or her readers, it is important to be careful and not allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. In short, use common sense and avoid publishing your full name or location and always assume that what you publish on the Internet is “permanent.”

With safety in mind, participating in a pregnancy blog (by either writing your own or subscribing to and reading another’s work) can be a wonderful way to connect with women you otherwise may never have had the chance to meet.

Welcome to my blog

The site is facilitated by certified nurse-midwife (CNM) Mary Murry, director of the Advanced Practice ON/GYN Service and instructor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

She’s only two posts into her role as blog facilitator for the highly respected, not-for-profit medical practice, but she’s already got a following. Murry’s welcome post, in which she spoke about how the “rules” of pregnancy have changed in the past 20 years and all of the “baby must haves” like flat screen baby monitors, received an astonishing 52 comments from readers.

“There seem to be so many do’s and don’ts for pregnant women today. It can seem like there is no living while you are pregnant, at least not the life you were used to. I hope this blog can be a place for pregnant women to share their concerns and their worries as well as their joys and little miracles. As a mother and a nurse midwife I look forward to being a part of this community,” Murry writes in her welcome blog.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Mary Murry. And good luck!