diff --git a/backend/src/db/mongodb_impl.rs b/backend/src/db/mongodb_impl.rs
index ddc08ab..00a7826 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/mongodb_impl.rs
+++ b/backend/src/db/mongodb_impl.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-use mongodb::{Client, Database, Collection, bson::doc};
+use mongodb::{Client, Database, Collection, bson::doc, options::ClientOptions};
 use anyhow::Result;
 use mongodb::bson::oid::ObjectId;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 use crate::models::{
     user::{User, UserRepository},
@@ -17,9 +18,35 @@ pub struct MongoDb {
 
 impl MongoDb {
     pub async fn new(uri: &str, db_name: &str) -> Result<Self> {
-        let client = Client::with_uri_str(uri).await?;
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Starting connection to: {}", uri);
+        
+        // Parse the URI first
+        let mut client_options = ClientOptions::parse(uri).await
+            .map_err(|e| {
+                eprintln!("[MongoDB] Failed to parse URI: {}", e);
+                anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to parse MongoDB URI: {}", e)
+            })?;
+        
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] URI parsed successfully");
+        
+        // Set connection timeout
+        client_options.server_selection_timeout = Some(Duration::from_secs(5));
+        client_options.connect_timeout = Some(Duration::from_secs(5));
+        
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Connecting to server...");
+        
+        let client = Client::with_options(client_options)
+            .map_err(|e| {
+                eprintln!("[MongoDB] Failed to create client: {}", e);
+                anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to create MongoDB client: {}", e)
+            })?;
+        
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Client created, selecting database...");
+        
         let database = client.database(db_name);
         
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Database selected: {}", db_name);
+        
         Ok(Self {
             users: database.collection("users"),
             shares: database.collection("shares"),
@@ -28,7 +55,9 @@ impl MongoDb {
     }
     
     pub async fn health_check(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Health check: pinging database...");
         self.database.run_command(doc! { "ping": 1 }, None).await?;
+        eprintln!("[MongoDB] Health check: OK");
         Ok("OK".to_string())
     }