Is that the 'real' America?

[Hattie05]

Just watched maternity ward on discovery health.

It was set in an American hospital, and every single woman was strapped down, encouraged to have epidurals, and the slightest worry were sent to theatre for c-section.

Is this a true representation for America's maternity care? Any American mumsnetters here to answer?

I was really surprised, thought American's would be hot on natural births.

Uwila, that just isn't true IME.

For pgs that aren't high risk, there's not a lot you can do apart from a dating scan at that stage.

Marls001, I'm familiar with your area. You should also have access to clinics in Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. That area of NW AR is almost like one large city rather than 4 smaller towns.

CarolinaMoon, I think for some women it's important to make sure they are taking the proper pre-natal vitamins and diet. I mean, probably most of us on this board already know these things, but that doesn't mean it is common knowledge.

Surprised to find out that one doesn't see the doctor in UK until the same time period! I just think this is a mistake, in either country ... of course, this is my second pregnancy so I knew for the most part what to eat/not to eat, etc., but a refresher course ASAP (and some recognition, and a place to call if I had a fever) just after I found out about the pregnancy might have been nice. I believe that many newly pregnant are completely clueless about what to do - and all the systems are mostly formed by 11 weeks, so IMO this is the most important trimester; guess I don't understand why at least some instruction is not given by the office the woman chooses to call when her test reads positive.

Hi jabberwocky - This area is certainly one large "city" in many respects. Still, not too many choices (who take Aetna). Literally I had 3 alternatives - two clinics where I'd be rotated, and the one where I am now! I think I have gotten over the man OB thing ... he really seems okay. Only sad because one of the best things about pregnancy in Houston was my doctor & hospital experience there!

expatinscotland - Are you from the US?

marls001, I know what you mean. In general, I prefer a woman, but ironically out of the 5 people who saw me during my nightmare of a birth experience the only one who properly diagnosed the situation was a man!

plenty of the embryo is formed before you even know you're pg. If you want to eat the right stuff, you should start before you are pg really.

yes, i am from the US

After one miscarriage and one neonatal death before having ds, I'm all for intervention. dont care if delivery is vaginal, oral, transdermal, with forceps, serving spoons, ventouse, incantations, or the section is ceasarean augustine, nefertiti or nero. Just give me a live one.

My midwife was so pro natural chilbirth, she dismissed my swollen hands and legs at 16weeks, my creeping blood pressure and didnt have the means to notice that my 24 week old had stopped growing at 22 weeks and thst the placenta had started to develop problems. scan at 21wks was fine but trouble started week after. she dismissed trace ketones and proteins in my urine. DD died 5 weeks after birth born at 27 wekks the size of a 23 week old baby.

I just wanted to experience contractions so i took castor oil. it works. quite well. too well. within the hour.

The chances of that happening to an otherwise healthy mum with no adverse history is very small but the loss was too great.

I live in the UK but am originally from africa. When to uni close to a wonderfull group of vilages where the population was roughly 30% twins.

Most people have no choice but to deliver naturally and mortality is abt 25%. I can totally appreciate the american angle. when people get pregnant, we follow greet then with 'may we hear the voice of mother and child' or 'may we not bring the dead out of the living or the living out of the dead' daily.

I'd take the american way anyday. But i'm even more grateful that both uk and usa have wide options and cater to our different prefrences.

finefatmama