Abstract
The mediation of parenting has recently occupied sociologists, media, communication and cultural studies scholars alike. This paper locates itself within this developing strand of research, as it explores discourses of intensive motherhood on a Facebook discussion group providing support and advice for a specific approach to and philosophy of childbirth. Presenting findings from an analysis of main posts and comments made on them, I tease out the brighter and darker sides of the performance of motherhood in anticipation of birth, on social media, reading these against discussions about the self-managing, intensive mother responsible for making the very best decisions for her child.