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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think British maternity care must be among the worst in the developed world?

628 replies

ForestGoblin · 18/08/2023 08:14

Nurses refusing to watch newborns when a mum needs to poo??? Nurses have got a professional and legal obligation to support patients to receive adequate personal care (not being compelled to poo yourself has got to be rung one of meeting that obligation).

Friends who have given birth in Ireland, france, south Korea, Switzerland were all given support to sleep, recover, be recognised as an injured person in need of recovery time.

British nurses trick new mothers into thinking they can't leave their babies for a minute on a bloody hospital ward (even when they've got numb legs).

Rise up, damnit!

OP posts:
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12
Angelil · 28/08/2023 17:50

Angelil · 27/08/2023 20:14

Not quite free in France. It operates on the basis of a co-payment system. Everyone has a ‘cadre vitale’ linking them to the national health service. You make contributions via taxation (taken immediately from your salary) and employers also make healthcare contributions for ALL of their employees (this is mandatory). Everyone is also obliged to take out an inexpensive monthly health insurance package as well, with the care of the vulnerable being subsidised by the state. I lived there for 9 years and it’s not free but more importantly it works well. I was always very happy with the care I received. Getting my wisdom teeth removed under GA was as simple as sitting down with the anaesthetist, getting our diaries out and deciding when I wanted to (and could) have it done. Think we scheduled it 2-3 weeks ahead.

see also the Netherlands (where I had both of my children, in 2018 and earlier this year). So in short I don’t think the OP is BU. The Netherlands also works on a co-payment system and based on the stories I have heard (here and IRL) I am so glad I gave birth there and not in the U.K. I had amazing continuity of care: saw the same midwife throughout both pregnancies and she delivered both of my children as well. Frequent scans and printed photos even for a standard pregnancy. Had a box delivered by my health insurance company during each pregnancy, containing items for baby (e.g. grooming kit, bath thermometer, soft toy) and for me (e.g. maternity pads), as well as kit for a home birth (e.g. rubber sheet for mattress). They do a lot of home births in NL and bed raisers were also delivered so as to not put the midwives’ and maternity nurses’ backs out. My midwife came over and examined me at home to see progression before sending me to hospital (with my first baby) and setting me up for a full (unplanned) home birth (with my second). In NL it’s also standard for a maternity nurse to visit you at home for 2-3 hours a day for 7-10 days after birth, to check you (stitches, blood pressure, temperature, diastasis recti) and the baby, to show you how to look after baby, and to help around the house (laundry, cleaning, food shopping, taking older kids to school, cooking…whatever you need or want really). All standard and covered by the system. So YES British women are getting an INCREDIBLY raw deal.

Show quote history

Sorry, that should have read CARTE vitale. Blooming autocorrect.

Needspace2023 · 28/08/2023 18:57

Angelil · 27/08/2023 20:14

Not quite free in France. It operates on the basis of a co-payment system. Everyone has a ‘cadre vitale’ linking them to the national health service. You make contributions via taxation (taken immediately from your salary) and employers also make healthcare contributions for ALL of their employees (this is mandatory). Everyone is also obliged to take out an inexpensive monthly health insurance package as well, with the care of the vulnerable being subsidised by the state. I lived there for 9 years and it’s not free but more importantly it works well. I was always very happy with the care I received. Getting my wisdom teeth removed under GA was as simple as sitting down with the anaesthetist, getting our diaries out and deciding when I wanted to (and could) have it done. Think we scheduled it 2-3 weeks ahead.

see also the Netherlands (where I had both of my children, in 2018 and earlier this year). So in short I don’t think the OP is BU. The Netherlands also works on a co-payment system and based on the stories I have heard (here and IRL) I am so glad I gave birth there and not in the U.K. I had amazing continuity of care: saw the same midwife throughout both pregnancies and she delivered both of my children as well. Frequent scans and printed photos even for a standard pregnancy. Had a box delivered by my health insurance company during each pregnancy, containing items for baby (e.g. grooming kit, bath thermometer, soft toy) and for me (e.g. maternity pads), as well as kit for a home birth (e.g. rubber sheet for mattress). They do a lot of home births in NL and bed raisers were also delivered so as to not put the midwives’ and maternity nurses’ backs out. My midwife came over and examined me at home to see progression before sending me to hospital (with my first baby) and setting me up for a full (unplanned) home birth (with my second). In NL it’s also standard for a maternity nurse to visit you at home for 2-3 hours a day for 7-10 days after birth, to check you (stitches, blood pressure, temperature, diastasis recti) and the baby, to show you how to look after baby, and to help around the house (laundry, cleaning, food shopping, taking older kids to school, cooking…whatever you need or want really). All standard and covered by the system. So YES British women are getting an INCREDIBLY raw deal.

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It sounds brilliant in the Netherlands for expectant mothers and the post care as well. If only we had a fraction of that care here in the UK 😞

Angelil · 28/08/2023 19:21

Needspace2023 · 28/08/2023 18:57

It sounds brilliant in the Netherlands for expectant mothers and the post care as well. If only we had a fraction of that care here in the UK 😞

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I know 😞 I honestly feel so sad that Britain (a comparable country in terms of its economy and development) cannot bring itself to provide this for its women. I am British but have lived abroad for a long time. Looking at Britain these days is like looking at an alcoholic relative: you love them but their behaviour is pushing you away and you just wish they would come to their senses.

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