Introducing the new Premature Babies (Preemies) Community

Hi,

This was a recent member request and we realized we didn't have a particular place to provide support and get answers are the challenges of having a premature baby. We thought this was a terrific idea and have created a new Preemies Community located at: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/250.

Please keep the suggestions coming and we hope you'll visit the new community if you have had a preemie.

MedHelp

[peekawho]

Its a very good idea, but I'm getting all bogged down with the different forums, a sentiment that has been expressed over and over and over.

There are just so many forums, particularly related to maternal/child issues.  Its very hard to keep up, and many of us have just given up trying and stick to this one.

We all appreciate the time and effort that goes into this website, but its staggering the number of different health forums all related to pretty much the same topic.

People don't know where to post questions to get the most exposure, except here, mainly.  

[amberd5191]

I agree with peekawho, this is a great website but its getting really hard to figure out where to go.

[Med Help]

Hi,

It really is a personal choice for each member in regards to what to do. We realize there are a lot of communities, however a dedicated community to a topic allows members to find each other, connect, and get answers & support from members with similar issues much faster than a very large community trying to cover multiple topics. As we identify topics that seem to have a core of members, we will be continuing to break out more communities. However, that said, the main communities, like Maternal & Child, Women's Health, etc. will always remain as is and be the more general communities to get information. We certainly don't expect members to participate in all of these communities, but just pick the ones that really interest you.

MedHelp

[peekawho]

They all interest me.  That's the problem.  It was nice when there was just one or 2 main forums...you could always be sure you saw something that might be an important question.

Oh well.  

[ZevasMom]

I agree with peekawho... I think that members will get frustrated because they aren't getting answers to questions because people don't have time to look at every forum... It is just sad that strong member, who answer questions, are being spread thin amongst the forums.  

[tiredbuthappy]

I guess it's hard to find a balance. I only look at the maternal and child, and occasionally the breastfeeding forum. But it has gotten to the point where I don't read many of the questions in the Maternal and Child Forum because either I don't have the time, or don't know anything about the topic. There are so many topics under the umbrella of "maternal and child." Although, there would be a lot less posts if MedHelp would start an "Am I pregnant?" forum and a "Who's my baby's daddy?" forum (JUST KIDDING).

either way, kudos to medhelp for asking members about changes. when serving such a large virtual community, you will never find a format that satisfies everyone. For every change that I do not like, there are 2 or 3 new features that i do like.

[Cheyenne_08]

I have to agree with these ladies.....Medhelp used to be simple and great to use....but now, there is WAY TOO MUCH going on all over the place and it really is getting harder to get answers out of people!

[2ndBaby]

OK, here is my member request....stop creating new forums!  It is to the point where I roll my eyes now when I see a new "Introducing..." post from you.  Pretty soon you'll have to add a scroll bar in the related communities box (and why is that box necessary, anyway???)

And while you are at it, I still say this place is way too busy-looking!  My additional member request is to get rid of half the junk cluttering up these pages!  I don't care to see who left a note (or whatever those new things are) for whom!  I don't care to see a hundred community member photos staring back at me.  I don't EVER look at the ads that clutter the top, the sides and the bottom (too bad for your advertisers).

I come here for information...information that is now one skinny column down the middle of my screen, cluttered with c-r-a-p on all sides.

I'm sorry to seem so harsh and critical when I'm sure you are trying to do what you think is best.  But at some point you will have to realize you can't cater to everyone.  Stop trying to make everything so commercialed and get back to the heart of the matter.

[WhatYouMakeMe]

lol, peek, I love you!!

[Trialanderror]

In theory it is great to specialize the forums, mainly because it will be so much easier to find a specific topic once it is archived. But it does take away from the vibrant exchange of experiences and thoughts that used to draw interest to posts. I realize that while posting on the Child Behavior forum, I always got replies within a few minutes, no matter how obscure the question. The one time that I post in the proper forum of Single Parenting, my question is just sitting there week after week. I don`t mind but it sure helps to post in a more frequented area. So many times people reply to a question of their interest but happen to also know something about another question in the same forum and briefly reply as well. In future I will stick to the general forums and will only guide a group of same interest posters to the specialized forums if the topic requires an ongoing exchange.