Community Guidelines.

To help keep this space nurturing and welcoming, please follow our guidelines below.

1. Be Kind and Respectful 🦘

We strive to make this community a safe and welcoming space for all. Please treat fellow members with kindness and empathy.

• No personal attacks, hate speech, or bullying. Any form of harassment, discrimination, or shaming is not tolerated. Respectful disagreement is allowed, but it must be handled with care.

• Example: Calling someone names or using slurs because they shared a different opinion on a parenting method.

• Consequence: Posts like these will be removed, and your account may be temporarily suspended or permanently banned.

• Give others the benefit of the doubt. Even if you disagree, express your views in a respectful and constructive way.

• Example: “I see where you’re coming from, but I had a different experience. Here’s what worked for me…”

• Inappropriate content like offensive language, derogatory remarks, or any form of shaming (whether about parenting choices, health conditions, etc.) is not tolerated.

• Example: Telling another member they are a "bad mother" for choosing a specific birth plan or feeding method.

• Consequence: This can lead to warnings, suspension, or a ban depending on the severity. Repeat offenses may result in account suspension or permanent banning.

2. Medical Advice: Leave it to the Experts

While sharing your personal experiences is encouraged, medical advice should only come from licensed healthcare professionals. It’s important to remember that each person’s health situation is unique, and offering specific medical advice could be harmful.

• Do not offer specific medical advice.

• Example: Telling another member to stop taking prescribed medication because "it didn’t work for you" or suggesting home remedies for serious health issues.

• Consequence: The post will be removed, and you may receive a warning or suspension for spreading potentially harmful information.

• Misleading or harmful medical information may result in immediate removal of the post, especially if it could endanger someone’s health.

• Example: "You don’t need to visit the doctor for high blood pressure during pregnancy. Just drink more water."

• Consequence: Your account could be suspended to protect community safety.

3. Be Honest and Transparent

Honesty is the foundation of trust in our community. Please be genuine and transparent in your posts and interactions.

• No fake accounts or trolling.

• Users must not impersonate others or use multiple accounts to mislead or cause harm.

• Don’t spread false information.

• If you're unsure about something, encourage others to seek advice from professionals.

4. Be Helpful and Supportive

Pouch Health is built on sharing experiences, offering support, and helping others on their pregnancy journeys.

• Offer support, not judgment.

• When providing advice or sharing opinions, do so with kindness and empathy. We all have different experiences.

• Stay on topic.

• Post in the appropriate sections (forums, feed) to ensure helpfulness and relevance.

• No graphic or inappropriate content.

• Posts with explicit content (nudity, violence, or sexually inappropriate material) are strictly prohibited.

5. Solicitation: This Space is for Community, Not Commerce 🛑

Our platform is dedicated to building connections and offering support. It is not a place to promote businesses or services.

• No selling or promoting products or services.

• Posts that promote personal businesses, solicitations, or services will be removed.

• No spam or self-promotion.

• This includes repeatedly posting the same content across different rooms or threads.

6. Keep it Safe

Your safety and privacy, as well as that of others, is a top priority. Please be mindful of what personal or sensitive information you share in the community.

• No sharing of personal contact details.

• Example: Avoid posting your phone number, address, or email in public forums for your privacy.

• Consequence: Posts with personal contact information will be edited or removed for your safety.

• Do not share sensitive medical information or images publicly.

• Example: Avoid posting medical reports, ultrasound images, or other personal medical documents.

• Consequence: Sensitive information like medical images or documents will be removed to protect your privacy. Sharing such content may result in suspension if repeated.

• Report inappropriate content.

• Example: If you see something that violates these guidelines, such as harassment, unsolicited medical advice, or personal information sharing, report the post using the “Report” button.

• Consequence: Reported posts will be reviewed by moderators, and action will be taken if rules are broken.

7. Participation in In-Person Classes

Pouch Health offers in-person antenatal classes designed to support both the physical and emotional preparation for childbirth.

• Respect the course leaders and your fellow participants.

• These courses are taught by trained professionals, and we encourage you to engage positively with both them and your peers.

• Take responsibility for your wellbeing. While we provide guidance, it is important that you only participate in activities you feel comfortable with and consult your healthcare provider for any concerns.

What Happens if These Guidelines Are Broken?

We take violations of these guidelines seriously to maintain a supportive and safe environment. Depending on the severity of the violation, we may issue warnings, suspend accounts, or permanently ban users who do not follow the rules.

Reasons for Suspension:

• Medical Advice: Sharing specific medical advice is discouraged to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.

• Abusive Language: We’re committed to fostering a respectful, harassment-free environment. Harassment, hate speech, or abusive language will not be tolerated.

• Solicitation: Our platform is for community support, not for promoting or selling products or services.

What Happens if Your Account is Temporarily Suspended?

If your account is temporarily suspended, you will receive a notification explaining the reasons for the suspension. Here’s what you can do:

1. Review Our Guidelines: We encourage you to revisit our Community Guidelines to understand how you can better align your interactions with our values.

2. Reach Out: If you believe the suspension was made in error or would like to discuss the issue, our support team is here to help. Contact Support.

During the suspension, you will not be able to:

• Participate in the Pouch Health’s online forums.

• Post, like or report on Pouch Health’s community feed.

If you believe your suspension was a mistake, you can request a manual review, and our team will reassess the report. If no violation is found, your account will be restored.

Thank you for being part of Pouch Health and helping us maintain a caring and positive community for all. By following these guidelines, we can make this space a safe and supportive environment where every mom’s journey is respected and celebrated.

Together, we can hop through this journey with care and support!

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