Having a baby in America

EnglishroseEnglishrose
edited May 2011 in Pregnant
Hey all mama's to be, i have noticed that a lot of people that use pregly are American and it seems to be a completly different protocal to having a baby than if you were in the uk.
In the uk we have the NHS (national health service) which means we get everything for free, we see a midwife regulary and have scans at 12weeks and 20 weeks and thats it. you will only have more if it is due to medical reasons. we also have to pay for 3d/4d scans. I see that alot of people seem to have a doctor to deliver the baby from day 1 and thats who delivers the baby also, we just have a midwife even in hospital unless we need a doctor.

Can someone explains what happens from point of finding out you are pregnant to having the baby? also what would happen if you didnt have insurance? sorry if this is a boring post lol but im just interested in how different it is from us in the UK.

Hope this all makes sense lol........ :)
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Comments

  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    Lilypie Maternity tickers
  • PrettyMommy86PrettyMommy86
    Hmmm well for me, yes we have a doctor unless we choose to have a midwife. My doctor's office has about 7 different doctors, and I have to see them all. And when I give birth it depends on who is on call at that time, and that's who delivers the baby. But not all office's are like this. If you don't have insurance, you can apply for state insurance which pays all or mostly all of your expenses. I don't know what happens if they deny you. Typically yes we have an ultrasound around 8-10 wks, then 20 wks unless there is a problem. And most people have to pay for 3d-4d ultrasounds.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    ow so its not much difference to how we do it then.. i am just completely fasinated by all you smerican pregnant mums to be lol....
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    so if there is a problem can you just make an app with your midwife as i see in alot of posts that people just got to the er?

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  • MrsStanley_x2MrsStanley_x2
    In my case I have had the same doctor for years, and he will deliver my babies. Also, I have had at least 6 or 7 ultrasounds (can't remember exactly) because I'm having twins and my doctor checks on them more than usual. In my area, I haven't heard of anyone having a midwife- we all just have doctors. Lol odd huh?
  • SteenySteeny
    Well I can tell you how it was for me. I have my own private insurance which I pay for every month ($163 a month) which covers most cost but not all! When I found out I was prego I applied for inurance through the state in which I live because I am pretty sure they give it to anyone that is pregnant. The next step is to choose a dr or a midwife. I chose midwife because I am interested in having a drug free all natural birth. I also thought it would give me more of a special experience but I have been a little disappointed in that aspect of it. Either way I have had 3 ultrasounds now one at 10 weeks because she couldn't hear babies heart beat and wanted to make sure all was well. Then one at 20 weeks for the normal gender/measuring. Then I had one at 30 weeks because I recently found out I had gustational diabetes and they wanted to make sure my baby was normal size and just check in. I will have one more at 37 weeks for the same reason but those last 2 will be because of the g.d. so I wouldn't normally have gotten them. As for the 3d/4d my last one was just because she asked if I had had one and I said no so we got a pic of the face! As for giving birth I will give birth at a hospital with my midwife and possibly the dr who has been managing my gd but since this is my first I don't really know what's gonna happen yet. I am 31 weeks now so I will found out soon. Hope that gives you a little more insight. It seems pretty much like yours. Oh depending on how good your insurance is some women opt to give birth in birthing centers which sound to me like a hotel with nursing staff. But I think most women go to the hospital.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @lil_buggie_3 do you mean laughing gas lol.... i had just that with my first and it was amazing.. do you guys not have it??

    @mrsstanley_x2 its crazy how its all so different, aww twins thats exciting. is it your first? do you know what your having?

    @nova yeh thats what i would prob do although our hospital/midwifes is about 15 mins away.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @steeny yeh yours does sound like ours... ow a hotel with nursing staff sounds good lol.. will your gd go after you give birth? i hope it doesnt cause to many problems for you.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @nova, that sounds like it would be a really nice experience. is it your first? we only get the option of home or hospital and if you want a water birth you have to book it in advance.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    lol try not to think it will be horrible, do you have a birthing plan? with my 1st my birthing plan was to go with the flow and and have what i needed when i needed it. i was induced at 38 weeks. waters broke at 1.30pm and i had her at 3.53pm so it was really quick and very intense but im very proud to say i only had gas and air although i was desperatly wanting an epidural im glad i didnt have it now.
  • SteenySteeny
    @Englishrose I sure hope so although now that I have it if it does go away I have a higher risk of it coming back later in life. It really isn't so bad. I have cut out sugar as much as possible and cut back on carbs. Which is probably better anyway since I was over weight before getting prego and then have gained I think 45 pounds but maybe not my midwife didn't tell me my last weight lol and I didn't ask! So after giving birth I will stick to my new diet and occationally indulge on yummy items! But I am hoping to will help drop the baby weight plus some after so I am just looking at the positive side for now. I do have to to insulin injections at night with sucks big time but my bf is a nurse so I make him do them!
    As far as the whole birthing center I was kinda jealous my insurance wouldn't cover that but since I have gd I have to go to the hospital anyway. But I have seen a few shows on birthing centers and some of them are really nice like 5 star hotel nice! The one near me isn't that great so it makes me less jealous lol
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  • PrettyMommy86PrettyMommy86
    Pretty sure I'd love laughing gas!!!!!
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @lil_buggie_3 that is such a shame, its such a great thing as it wears off within a mintute but the more you breath in the more out of it you are... it makes you feel utterly drunk and happy lol..
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @prettymommy86 its a shame i cant import a bit of it for you all ha ha
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  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @steeny ow your lucky to have a bf that is a nurse.... i never want to know my weight either at weigh ins lol... i just keep telling myself it isnt your true weight and i dont know whats baby and whats my fat lol....
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @lil-buggie_3 what are you offered then. we are offered pethidine which is a strong pain killer that makes you out of it but has bad side effects like sickness. gas and air which most pregnant women take or a epidural and thats it...
  • mamaweezymamaweezy
    Its even more fun when your an active duty military female and pregnant. I have what's called tricare prime which means I am seen at military treatment hospitals by military doctors. With my first son I never saw the same doctor twice and never had an appt. with the doctor that delivered my son. Before I was relocated due to my job I was pregnant with now my second child...I had three appointments and still have yet to see the same doctors twice, even including the ones involved with my first pregnancy lol....


    Makes me so happy right now that due to my location I get civillian care instead of military care, because there are no military hospitals within 45mins of me. I have seen the same doctor twice now...I look at her like I have seen a unicorn or something because to me its so damn different lol.
  • hurstk28hurstk28
    I have private insurance and state insurance. I see a midwife and that is the only person i see throughout my pregnancy and who delivers my child.
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @mamaweezy you must make her feel pretty special with those looks lol...
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @hurstk28 alot like ours then.
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  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @lil-buggie_3 you didnt have anythink at all?? how long were your labours.
  • SamiUKSamiUK
    We have birthing centres to in UK just depends were you are that's were I'm giving birth, got to have a check up with them first at 36 to make sure my blood's and scans fine has no doctors unless needed can't have epidural which i don't want any way just want water birth and gas and air :)
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    @samiuk aww i dint know that sami. i live in torquay, devon ( the sticks) so we dont have much lol
  • SamiUKSamiUK
    Lol i never knew either until i moved from south Yorkshire to east Yorkshire lol they are like hotel rooms there lovely :) I'm going torquay next month :) lol
  • EnglishroseEnglishrose
    i wana give birth in a hotel room lol.. no way are you?? is it for a night out?
  • MrsStanley_x2MrsStanley_x2
    I know! And yes ma'am they are my first. Lol I'm having a boy and a girl
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