Introduction

Childbirth is a critical life event with lasting physical, psychological and social consequences. Negative experiences are linked to postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress and impaired bonding, affecting up to 30% of women worldwide. Social media have become a dominant source of perinatal information, offering support but also spreading misinformation and idealized portrayals of birth. While such content may reduce fears, it can also heighten anxiety and foster unrealistic expectations. The study objective was to examine the association between social media engagement, birth expectations and satisfaction with childbirth among Polish women.

Material and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted online between February and July 2025. A total of 460 women aged 18 years or older, who had given birth within the past 12 months and used social media during pregnancy or postpartum, completed an anonymous computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) survey. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, social media use, emotional response to perinatal content and author-designed items assessing the perceived influence of social media on expectations regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Birth satisfaction was measured using the validated Polish version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R).

Results

Positive or neutral emotional responses to perinatal social media content were strongly associated with fulfilled birth expectations, whereas women who reported being influenced by social media were less likely to experience such fulfilment. Physiological birth and higher Apgar scores further increased the likelihood of fulfilment, while sociodemographic and perinatal factors showed no independent effects.

Conclusions

Both social media engagement and clinical outcomes were associated with fulfilment of childbirth expectations. Social media narratives appear to play a dual role, providing support but also fostering unrealistic expectations. Addressing these dynamics within midwife-led prenatal education may help women reflect critically on digital content and promote realistic, flexible anticipations.