American Maternity Services

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Hey everyone as you can probably see by my location I live in the UK where our maternity service is rather different to yours. I'm currently applying to study Midwifery at Uni next year so this is a topic I am obviously extremely interested in. I'm fascinated by the fact that you have virtually no Midwives, when over here and in most other European countries just about everyone delivers via a Midwife, with the option (where the pregnancy is low risk) of hoe birth, water birth etc

I just wanted to start a thread to collect your views on your maternity services? Do you like it/are you happy with it? Would you change it for any other way? Have you had any problems? Basically your experiences.

I must say my view son your system are qite unbalanced and bias in a negative light at the moment, I've seen the documentary The Business of Being Born, as well as a book 'Babycatcher' by Peggy Vincent neither of which paint it in a particulary good light.
So I'm hoping you guys can all balance me out a bit and show me all the good parts - the successes so to speak.

 

[npmommie]

Well, the area of the county in which I live does have quite a few midwives. Some connected with major hospitals, some with smaller, some doing the home birth thing..........With my insurance I could have chosen one for myself, the practice I went to had one on staff, ( its a small practice in a rural area)..... until she decided to move to Alaska! THe hospital I used to work in as an RN, had many many midwives on staff,when I would float to that department, there was always a midwife around.
So they are here in the US, but I suspect parts of the country do vary as to the availablility.

I also happen to think women need to take charge of their own birth plan, what they want and how they want it, and seek it out in whatever way they can.

 

[Hoodie]

I'm not really sure where you got "virtually no midwives". I'm expecting my first and switched OBs during the pregnancy. Both practices had equal number of midwives and OBs. You meet with them all and decide which you would like for the birth. Midwives are pretty plentiful around here.

I've had quite a few friends do water births. The thought of sitting in the same water that your "fluids" and all are also leaking into has no appeal for me, but the services are there. Home birth is increasing here too.

 

[kgc07]

I think that midwives are more popular than they used to be. My OBGYN clinic has 3 midwives and 3 OB's. You can choose to see a midwife or Dr.. There is always a midwife in labor and delivery at my hospital. She sees most laboring mothers and is in contact with their dr. (if they don't already see a midwife).

 

[Hoodie]

Oh - wanted to add that my OB also has a chiropractor, a massage therapist, an esthetician, and an accupuncturist that rotate in once a week to help out with all the other "joys" that come from pregnancy. I love it!!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Sounds like the info you are getting is not accurate at all. We have many choices when it comes to how we want to give birth - OB/GYNs, midwives, home births, birthing centers, hospital births, water births, etc...

I like having the choices. Personally I prefer a hospital with an epidural but I have many friends who have had natural childbirth either in a hospital or birthing center as well as some friends who have chosen home births.

My friend's sister is studying to be a midwife now in Virginia.

 

[lulugirl]

I think midwives/homebirths are becoming a much more popular option here in the US.
I don't know how "available" water births are, I never explored that option as it doesn't appeal to me.

I loved delivering in a hospital w/ an OB. My hospital has lovely birthing suites w/ televisions, Dvd/Cd players, fridge...all the comforts of a nice hotel and since I have great health insurance it cost me next to nothing.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Ah I see - glad I did start this thread already dispelled some 'myths'
Hoodie - sounds like you've got a great round of services available to you!

It's interesting to hear all your experiences, I honestly had no idea Midwives have become so common over your way

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Ah I see - glad I did start this thread already dispelled some 'myths'
Hoodie - sounds like you've got a great round of services available to you!

It's interesting to hear all your experiences, I honestly had no idea Midwives have become so common over your way

Good luck with your studies! It sounds like a very special and rewarding career.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Thank you very much, right now I'm just praying I get in, Midwifery courses are very competitive to get on so I dunno, but if I don't get in the year will just have to try the next!

I'm lucky in that my tuition fees to train up are paid by the NHS but I am then free to take my skills anywhere around the world with me and am not tied to practicing in the nhs. Moving to the US is something I've always considered as a challenge I'd love to take but assumed it was perhaps a bit optimistic with my chosen career. However armed with this new information it's definitely something I can re-consider for the future. So you guys have actually really helped