How to use the message boards

To create a profile, click on the profile link near the 'Welcome' message or click on your member name where it appears on any of your posts. Answer the questions and then save the page. If you would rather not answer a question leave the field blank and it won't be displayed on your profile. You can also choose a personal avatar (image) to display in your profile.

From your profile you will also be able to see your friends or ignore lists. When you add people to your ignore list, the messages they have posted won't be displayed to you.

Board settings & favourite boards
Right next to 'Welcome!' at the top of the message board pages you'll see a link to favourite boards and board settings. Use board settings to choose a time zone for message display, sign up for free email notifications, switch on our member to member email service, choose a personal icon and change your display settings.

Favourite boards provides you with a convenient place to store a list of your favourite boards. This page also keeps track of boards you have visited recently and tells you how many new messages have been posted. You can also quickly add boards to your favourites list at this stage.

Member to member email
Member to member email is a safe way for you to contact, or be contacted by, other iVillage members without giving out your email address on the public boards. When someone mails you via this service they will not be able to see your email address unless you reply to them. You will however be able to see the address of the sender.

If you receive unwanted mail via this service we recommend that you block the address and delete the email without replying to it. If you reply to the email you will give out your own email address.

If you wish to contact someone via the member to member email service you can do so by clicking the 'email me' link in their profile. Remember they will be able to see your email address when they receive your mail.

Emails will be sent to the address in your iVillage account details. To check, or change, this address go to our Member Centre and click on Update Member Information.

Email notifications & digests
There are three ways you can be alerted when messages of interest to you have been posted.

Email notifications: By ticking the Email notification box in your board settings, or where it appears at the bottom of each message you write, you will receive an email every time someone replies directly to one of your messages. To cancel email notifications untick the box in your board settings or under any post you write. Your notifications will be sent to the email address you submitted when joining iVillage. To check, or change, your email address go to our Member Centre and click on Update Member Information.

Email digests: There are two types of email digest. One will send you a roundup of all new and active discussions on the board of your choice, the other will alert you when new messages are posted within a discussion you are interested in. The difference between this and email notifications is that you do not need to have posted a message to be alerted.

To sign up for email digests click on the purple Get free email updates on this discussion or board button where it appears on any message.

You can manage your digests via your my digests page and can opt to receive digests once a day, once a week or never - which means you can easily turn them off if you are going on holiday.

Log in
Our message boards work best when you are logged in. When you are logged in the board software will: