We’re thinking about merging this section, what do you think?

[MichaelMumsnet]

Hi all,
We’re doing some work on making the Talk boards more useful and user-friendly for both regular and new users. After looking at some stats for the site, we think we could boost activity on the whole by merging some of the lesser used sections.

We’re proposing to fold the topics in this section into the Pregnancy area.

This should increase the number of topics in the section - and hopefully lead to more posts and responses to members.

I agree that if it has to be combined with another topic then pregnancy choices makes more sense.

That said, I think this is probably one of those less trafficked topics that is so highly valuable to its users that it deserves to remain independent.

However I do think the way "pregnancy", "pregnancy choices" and "antenatal tests" are spread across "becoming a parent", "body and soul" and "health" is pretty confusing and not particularly intuitive.

Completely agree with the other posters.
It was hard enough posting in here in the first place, never mind having to look through all the positive pregnancy posts at the same time.

Yes do merge them. This board gets few responses and many more people look at the pregnancy one. I would always post on the latter even if the post fit better under the antenatal test topic for this reason.

Merge with Pregnancy Choices, not Pregnancy.

I pop on a lot of topics, and I think the merger would be wrong. Yes you have worries on the pregnancy board, but you also have a lot of happy people, and people talking about how tired they are in the 38th week, and here you have people worried about whether their child may survive in the womb that long (sorry to be blunt I don’t want to offend anyone- just trying to get to the point). People worried about all the different things that they have been told are wrong with their babies during their scans. People worried about how they will cope with a disabled child. People unsure if they should carry on their pregnancies after scan results. So it’s a big no from me.

These topics were split some time ago with good reason.
For women who’ve been through harrowing antenatal testing for very much wanted babies, and facing upsetting outcomes and decisions as a result, it may be unbearable being confronted with others chatting happily about their easy pregnancies. Nor is it fair to expect them to read through posts where others are contemplating TOP for personal (not medical) reasons. Posters in either category should have the freedom to discuss their circumstances and seek advice without the concern of distressing those in different circumstances. Please keep them separate.
To Me this is also why Pregnancy Choices isn’t in “Becoming a Parent” - if a woman is facing the upsetting decision of a TOP as her personal circumstances aren’t right, she hardly wants to go to that section of the board to seek advice.