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AIBU?

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Original poster

or is the American version of One Born Every Minute

97 replies

SmegmaNotJustForChristmas · 27/12/2011 20:29

a bit rubbish compared to the British version?

They're all either on an epidural or about to have a c-section. Nothing wrong with either (I mean that) but it really doesn't make good for telly Grin

Where is the screaming, the swearing? And why blur the good bits? I can't imagine any 14 year old boy (no matter how sad) getting off to a woman giving birth so why fuzz that out but allow simulated sex scenes in most tv?

OP posts:
brighthair · 28/12/2011 00:41

Uk one starts on the 3rd jan I think
Same day as new biggest loser starts
Grin

WilsonFrickett · 28/12/2011 00:52

Moomin sorry for your loss. I think the stories on here do highlight that in the UK, if your pg is OK, then you'll probably be OK, ie labour the way you want, have choices etc. in the US, if you have any problems they're more likely to be picked up and managed because of doctor-led care, but less chance of a non-medicalised labour.

Massive generalisation, of course. But hopefully YSWIM.

Moominsarescary · 28/12/2011 00:56

Wilson I think your probably right, at least that's how it seems to me

bright do you know when the walking dead is on again, think its feb

brighthair · 28/12/2011 00:58

Nope, haven't seen it on the tv guide or adverts

Moominsarescary · 28/12/2011 00:59

I think it's on fx, I do love the walking dead

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 28/12/2011 01:03

Getting back to the Op, (sorry) I think OBEM USA was awful. Every birth seemed to end in total panic with the midwives pushing, the OB pulling and the mother freaking out! I'd hate to be watching that if I was pg with my first, and didn't know what was coming!

WilsonFrickett · 28/12/2011 01:16

yy catpuss I had a v traumatic birth and couldn't watch anything birth-related for years. OBEM UK first series was a kind of therapy for me - had to keep pausing it and going for a breather - but it showed the range of normal births and in some way that really helped me. Whereas seeing one or two types of birth endlessly repeated wouldn't have had that affect.

Moominsarescary · 28/12/2011 01:21

Agree, you do see some realy good births, the water births seemed seemed realy calm and nice

BertieBotts · 28/12/2011 09:21

I'd forgotten that I posted on this thread! I wondered why I was dreaming about being four days overdue Grin

HeadsRollingInTheAisles · 28/12/2011 09:31

I had my first in the US. It was the medicalised experience you describe and quite traumatic as a result. I also had countless VEs throughout pregnancy which I hated.

Having said that the hospital was sparkling, nursing was 1:1 ratio, private room and bathroom. Room service style food menu you just picked up a phone for at any time. Bed for my husband next to mine and no visiting hours enforced. Never heard of anyone ever getting an infection after a c-section either.

Still, I still grieve for the natural birth I had wanted.

HeadsRollingInTheAisles · 28/12/2011 09:31

Oh and yes, no gas and air for labour but you can have it at the dentist!

AmberLeaf · 28/12/2011 10:00

I am Shock that G&A is not available in the US!

No wonder so many take up the offer of epidural..

hackmum · 28/12/2011 10:07

Not a fan of the US system - there was an Amnesty report last year showing they had double the maternal mortality rate of other Western countries.

Do they allow pethidine in the US?

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 28/12/2011 10:37

Not wanting to diminish personal experiences but it is much safer for mother and baby, to give birth in uk compared to US.

If I was pregnant in the US I'd find a boat a row back here to labour rather than stay there!

mummytime · 28/12/2011 10:41

The reason they have so high a maternal mortality is the women who can't get regular check ups etc, because they have no insurance or inadequate insurance. Also if you go to areas of poverty the women just aren't as well before they get pregnant.

I had a footling breech with my first, and received fab care. I even got to talk to my (very frazzled) consultant on my second pregnancy.
There are several types of epidural available in the uk too, with a mobile one you can walk around (actually I have walked after a totally numbing, you may need a CS one too...but..).
Do they give you morphine after a CS in the US?
I have also heard of women giving birth in semi-private rooms in the Us; whereas here as far as I know all birthing rooms are private.

FutureNannyOgg · 28/12/2011 10:45

"I'm sure I've read somewhere that we have a higher rate of stillbirths than they do"

Nope, the other way around, the US has the worst infant mortality rate in the developed world.

Feminine · 28/12/2011 13:15

mummy I had my own room in the US.

the care here is wonderful if you can get it.

Its very sad, that many can not.

stubbornstains · 28/12/2011 13:26

"Misconceptions" by Naomi Wolfe- that's a good book about the American way of birth- and NW's experience of it.

I did loads of research before having a baby, me. Didn't stop me having a totally medicalised birth -in the UK- but, hey, at least I was able to argue with the midwives about not wanting to be sucked into a chain of intervention! An argument which they won, hands down. Bah.

Feminine · 28/12/2011 13:29

What I didn't like about the US, was being forced to stay in the hospital for 24hrs.

I had been used to escaping in 6!

Of course, I was able to leave I suppose, but...they will not allow the babies to go (tests etc)

No midwife visits I guess.

bemybebe · 28/12/2011 13:45

As Moomin I have experienced the rough end of the hands off approach of the NHS. My dd died at 3 weeks after ic and subsequent strepB infection. MW was reassuring that my pains were normal at 24weeks until I texted her that I am in A&E 4cm dilated and taking in to labour ward.

This time I am not taking any fecking chances with "hands off". I am being seen as high risk patient privately on a 3 weekly basis as NHS will only treat me as high risk only when my second baby comes preterm. At 39 with a succession of failed IVF I do not have the "luxury" Angry.

NeedlesCuties · 28/12/2011 13:58

Thanks for the link to that show The Business Of Being Born, have googled it and will watch it online later.

Original poster
SmegmaNotJustForChristmas · 28/12/2011 14:08

Feminine

Pregnancy medicaid is US national health care I didn't compare it to the NHS.

It's government funded health care and pays for everything in my pregnancy.

OP posts:
Feminine · 28/12/2011 15:12

smeg :)

You said "isn't covered by medicaid (NHS basically)"

Its not.

Its not paid for in the same way is it?

The Government will give you medicaid if your income falls bellow a certain level...its not available for all.

When you were granted medicaid to cover your expenses, you were given pretty much the same treatment (depending on hospital) as if you had paid for it out of pocket or in a normal co-pay situation.

To say its the same as the NHS is totally inaccurate.

spiderpig8 · 28/12/2011 15:34

when my sister had her babies in america, pain relief was either epidural or nothing - no gas and air, TENS or pethidine

CheerfulYank · 28/12/2011 15:42

We still don't have gas and air here. When my friend was in the UK and got hurt, she was appalled at being offered it. :) Some dentists here use it but not any that I've ever been to.

There is medication that you can get in our IV, but I just had an epidural.

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