Statistics show in the UK we have a lower infant mortality rate than in the US, that kinda goes to show all those doctor appointments in the US are for there benefit not yours.
When I had my son in America, I was never asked my preferences. They just chose what pain relief I’d have,etc.. and not discuss any of it with me. I was allowed one person in with me,and gave birth in what was basically an operating room. When I had my daughter here in England, I was allowed to fill in a birth plan and discuss my preferences with them. My daughter’s birth was in a lovely room with my mother and husband in attendance. After my daughter was born,they drew a bath for me,and offered my mother,husband,and I coffee or tea. My mother got out her purse,and the midwife said,”Put your money away-your daughter just had a baby!”
The reason you see the DOCTOR so much more often than needed in the US is so they can bill you for it.in the UK no bill so its bassed entirely on clinical need
My wife was seen every week because she was a high risk. Had to have a transandominal suchuture and cesarean and long hospital stay. Cost us nothing, just our taxes and happy to keep taxes paying to help our country's future babies come to us safe and healthy.
The more people you see in the US and the more qualified the more money the hospital makes. In the UK you get to see who you need to see when you need to see them.
Before we had the introduction of baby showers in the UK, it would be considered unlucky to give baby gifts before the birth. There were probably good reasons behind that in the days when maternal and infant survival was so different than today.
We’re much more laid back about the whole process over here. It’s not an illness and the most natural thing in the world. Why over complicate it🤷🏻♀️. I hope our NHS treats you well and you have a healthy baby. Oh, and NO belly touching over here either.
@@ITzDaveXD It was a stranger. I worked in an optical assistant job role. This woman came in said oh are you pregnant. Leaned over the table and stroked my belly.
@@zoewilkins2896 Not always in the past. My wife had a friend about 30 years ago who was pregnant with twins. She went out and bought everything needed but double including two cots and a twin baby buggy. One of the twins was still born. I can't imagine the grief involved of disposing of all the unwanted stuff.
neville mason Oh I am so sorry to hear that - it must have been really hard and very sad for them - and upsetting for their friends and family too. Medicine is amazing today, but unfortunately miscarriage and still births are still with us, and it is still dreadful for all those affected.
My son and his wife had one baby, they wanted a second. His wife became pregnant, she went Into hospital to have have the baby as there was some sort of complication. The baby was stillborn. There was a thorough investigation after the birth, unfortunately there was a genetic problem,It was In the millions that my son and his wife met up and had this particular gene. They were told that there was a one in four chance of it happening again.The NHS went to great lengths to investigate and find out what had happened. They did become pregnant again, but unfortunately the next baby had the same problem. That was it. The problem is the four grandparents start wondering if it was from their side of the family, We managed to accept that we would never find out. But it affected each of us. The Doctors were wonderful.
Generally pregnancy is treated as a part of normal life and not a medical issue in the UK, providing obviously that you are both healthy. A highly Experienced and trained midwife is all the medical staff a normal pregnancy needs. The ONLY time you should NEED a doctor is when things go wrong, other than that you really don’t need to see a doctor. The midwives job is to monitor both of you, and refer to up to a doctor only when needed. We find that the less clinical approach, is more comforting and natural, it also puts the mother far more in charge.
In the US they are probably more concerned about being sued and of course having more appointments means they make more money or am i just being cynical
Also midwives rule the roost over here. They are very highly trained and are often the only medical professionals you see during pregnancy and birth. Though if you have had previous complications you would be put under a consultation.
Nurses and midwifes have far greater roles in care throughout the NHS. I was a Senior Clinical Nurse before I retired. My skills were better than many doctors who would pass thru my department as part on their specialty training.I and others nurse specialists would give lectures on our area of expertise to fully qualified doctors. The nurses role in America is very very different. They have far less responsibility in patient care
Being able to charge for a doctor is far more attractive to the US Health Industry. Nothing to do with the healthcare provision, about the ability to charge more.
For future reference to you or others - just GO TO THE DOCTOR! Don't mess around with trying to find 'someone' for this or that, your doctor's is the 'go to' point of contact. They will refer you to the right person dependant on your medical need.
I think the reasons why you don't see as many appointments here in England is because they're not trying to get as much money off you as possible, they're not really needed as often unless there's issues, and constantly having appointments can be quite tiring
My wife is due with our first next month, so this is a very timely video. I've been to every appointment & antenatal class with her (both her request & I want to be an involved dad), I don't think we've seen the doctor once. Even for things like the GTT test technically at the OB, we didn't see one - it was a nurse practitioner who did it, no need to get a doctor involved to take blood & ask a patient to drink what's basically sugar water. I think the reasoning is that she's not ill, or at risk, so why would we need to see a doctor?
My parents are still best friends with a couple they met at ante-natal classes. I call them my aunt and uncle and I always introduce their daughters as 'basically my cousins' 😊
I can really recommend going to an ante natal class. They are usually run by midwives and its your go to place for general information. My class midwife organised a maternity unit hospital visit so I could see and become familiar with the maternity unit. A good idea for your partner to attend so they know where to go on the big day. Stops them panicking
Yeah, I attended the antenatal classes with my wife - they were super informative, particularly as it's our first. But we also got a tour of the Birthing unit which was really useful (these were NHS organised classes, not the NCT offered ones. Not sure what those are like but I've read mixed stuff about them).
So sorry that the current virus means those toddlers groups can't meet and a baby shower might have to be a virtual one from a distance. Have you heard about the National Childbirth Trust ? Look it up online and see what they are doing to support parents during this difficult time. Hope you have all the help you need and thanks for a great video x
In the US your see a doctor. pregnancy isn't an illness, so why do you need to see a doctor? This seems to be down to money and the hospital can charge you more for a doctors appointment than they can for a midwife appointment. UK midwives are highly trained and experienced and are more than capable in guiding you through your pregnancy, only referring you yo a doctor if their are problems or you are high risk. In the UK a midwife will also deliver the baby, not a doctor, unless there are complications. To determine the sex of the baby, just place a credit card on your bump, if the baby kick and feels as though it is trying to grab the card then it will be female.
All those things you say the doctor did in the US, our excellent, highly qualified, graduate midwives do over here. Baby showers are becoming a thing in the UK, sadly (my daughter in law has one coming up). I think if a stranger touched my tummy, I would probably scream. Definitely not a thing here, thank goodness! Glad to hear about ante-natal groups. I joined the National Childbirth Trust when I had my children, who are now 27,29 and 31. Those women I met are still all my friends - we plan events monthly and meet up for walks, DVD evening, suppers, etc. I couldnt manage without them all, even now!
It was the sonographer who discovered my son was going to be been born with a cleft lip, not the doctor. He found it pretty quick too, they're the experts while the baby is in the womb.
vincygarifuna no need to be nasty to our American cousins. We both have great countries simple as that. I’ve been to the state’s and it’s lovely there, but I love our country as well. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸.
@@raywilliams5876 Sorry mate they don’t compare to the UK. And if we are not careful we will become like them.To visit it’s nice (Canada is better ). But to live no thanks. You have to have your brain cells removed and become indoctrinated in their I’m alright jack attitude. I don’t want to be rude to them but there’s nothing and I mean nothing in the UK I would swap with them.
On superstitions. When I was growing up. The pram was not allowed in the house until after the baby’s birth. If it was a first pregnancy, it was either kept at the shop with the deposit or full payment made and collected after the Mother and baby came home. If it was a second birth onwards, usually a relative kept it at their house until after the birth. It was considered bad luck to have the pram in the home before the baby. And the same applies to gifts for the baby. Everyone gave gifts after the baby was born. Not before. Think those traditions are mostly being lost now.
Strangers touching your stomach is REALLY creepy! Only friends and family would do it in the UK.( I would hope😜) it borders on assault I feel and certainly I would have hated anyone doing that in my pregnancies. If we didn’t know them my husband would have asked them to move away quickly.xx
I can't imagine ever wanting to stroke a stranger's pregnant bump let alone having the gall to actually DO it. It's just so weird and disrespectful 🤦♀️
Isthisjustfantasy 75: Many thanks for your kind advice. I am THE archetypal IT numpty who struggles to come to grips with this type of thing. After your advice I shall live and learn.
Hi, Danielle, very interesting video. Comparisons like that are always fun. Do you know the gender of number 2? I can understand why people like to know but I also think a surprise is nice and I'm sure no one really minds when he or she arrives. Looking forward to your next video soon.
We (based in the UK) went to National Childbirth Trust couples classes when I was pregnant with my firstborn. Best thing we did. We gained a good idea what might happen, so when things didn’t go exactly to plan (nothing serious, just a longer labour than normal), we knew how to react as we had discussed different scenarios beforehand. The friendship network we made through the classes was great too. I do feel for expectant couples during this Covid-19 lock-down. Must be a very anxious and difficult time.
The anti-natal class my wife and I attended made a massive difference and we are still friends with some of the other attendees. It was provided by the National Childbirth Trust.
And we would never dream of touching another person, pregnant or not it's infringing on someone's personal space. They'd probably get a slap if they tried
The US model is designed for as many appointments/drugs as possibleat the highest specialism (OB vs maternity nurse), because these generate money for insurance and/or pharmaceutical companies. The system is setup to find problems/risk and create work. The UK model is to only offer services where evidenced (both the costs and health benefits).
Hello Danielle, first I hope You and the baby will be fine after birth. I'm a 66 year old male from the Netherlands and as my wife was pregnant we had to go to the hospital because of health issues and we did never got a bill either. The UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany for sure are basically the same. In the Netherlands we pay a base premium where the people with lower incomes are compensated by tax return. In France your payment depends on income, the more you earn the more you pay. It's a percentage of your income. Belgium is 7.5% of income and employer pays 3.8%. Germany is 8.2% of your income. So in general it is similar in each country.
i think when it comes to traditions you can do whatever tradition you want :) i think its very common for anyone in the UK to celebrate traditions with someone if it was part of their culture (i've even celebrated thanks giving with my american friends just to make her feel more at home) so i'd say if you want to have a gender reveal (i think this isnt that common here) then go ahead! and if you want a baby shower (which i believe is still fairly common) then thats fine too!
The ante-natal classes (ours was run by the NCT) were excellent. I just wish they covered looking after your newborn for the first 6 months (the bad bits) in more detail.
In the US - if you're paying for your health insurance - you're paying WAY more for your healthcare, so it should be way better. For the NHS to compete favourably is a tribute to it.
That's not even remotely accurate. The NHS is not free, it costs an enormous amount of public funds. If we had privatised healthcare here then the costs would be around the same for insurance and co-pays here as it is there now.
@@ruk2023-- Who said the NHS was free?? I pay for it with my taxes! It is however free at point of use,. And paying for healthcare via private insurance is vastly more expensive - how do the insurance companies make their money after all? Someone on an average salary in the UK pays maybe £130 in income tax and national insurance per month for the NHS. and their entire family receives healthcare. Average family insurance premiums in the USA are about $1,600 per month. Even with 70% employer contribution (far from universal), that's $500 to find. Then there are co-pays and deductibles to pay. And on top of all that, a US tax payer is paying more in compulsory tax for Medicare and Medicaid than a UK tax payer on the same salary pays for the NHS! But don't generally benefit till they retire! So no, costs are not remotely comparable.
No, it's not. It's just unsolicited touching and rudeness. Assault is to inflict harm; stop allowing the blurring of the lines between rudeness and assault.
@@ipolarisi2381 This insanity is getting worse and worse as years go by. Why is everything an "assault" or an aggression of some sort? It's strange how people have become so fixed on trying to find offense everywhere.
You have more appointments in the US because it's about profit, not people. It is also in their interests to frighten you into thinking you need more intervention than you do.
I was an anaesthetist in the Uk for 30 years. Before Margaret Thatcher, almost everything was free; if an epidural or caesarean section was indicated,didn't cost a penny to the parents. Oh tempore, oh mores.
@@oscargrainger2962 In my youth, everything was free; spectacles, dental treatment, prescriptions the lot. Extra payments in the Australian public service are getting pretty awful.
You talk about money, US is a healthcare business V UK is Health Service. While talking about risk, the figure you need to look at is 3.8 per 1000 mortality rate in UK and 6.2 per 1000 mortality rate in US. Belly touching, we are civilised in the UK.
Now you know why a medical consultant specialist in the UK has only 1 luxury car and maybe a river cruiser but his US counterpart has 3 and a sea-going yacht.
My understanding is that we are more laid back, not because they are not measuring risk, but because unless they are identifying something they are concerned about, they do not want to stress out the mother with lots of statistics That changes if a genuine concern is identified, but they are really focused on making the whole thing as simple and stress free as possible. Also (if I may say) they arent booking in lots of unnecessary appointments because no one is making money out of you having those appointments. I do know of instances where strangers have come up and put their hand on someones pregnant tummy despite not knowing them, but I think as a generalisation most people respect the fact that if they dont know you, they shouldnt be touching you. Maybe some money to be made in selling maternity wear in the US that says "Touch the bump, lose the hand!"
I think the reason why we are more layed back in the UK is because we look at it as if the mother knows her own body and how it feels. If some thing feels wrong you just contact your midwife or doctor. Also if they start making to much of a fuss then that can stress out the mother, which in turn can cause problems with the baby, so it's better to have a more relaxed mother than a stressed one. Add to that because there is no charge in the UK we don't go out of our way to find probems, whereas in the states the more problems they find the more money they get. You may have noticed that we don't really go in for touching much in the UK, so belly touching is a complete no no, unless your with people you know friends/parents. Even if you ask some one to touch your nelly, most will be hesitant to do it.
I think in America it's the fear of lawsuits that causes the inundation of information, they have to make sure all bases are covered. In UK birth is a natural thing and complications if any are only discussed if necessary. I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy
I think here pregnancy is treated along the lines of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Or, in other words, don't add to the mother's stress by going through all the things that might go wrong. Don't worry, if there is something that might become an issue, you the mother WILL be in the loop. Enjoy your pregnancy hun :D
Yep. The American doctors probably go through every single thing individually to seem like they're earning their money as well. 'Look I checked this, this, this, this and this....'
Being pregnant is not considered a ‘illness’ so why would you need to see a doctor? Unless there was a problem. It proves that in the US its about money not about healthcare.
I found it shocking that you had to pay to hold your New Born Baby to get that Skin to Skin contact that is recommended by Nurses in U.K. Hospitals to establish a bond between Mother & Baby. Absolutely despicable putting Money above Patient care!!.
In Scotland the first time we meet a baby of a family member/friend we hansel it. This means we slip a token sum of money into its pram, usually a note so inflation has moved it from 10/- to £5.
Had a C section in England cos he was breech. Very good operation and had a cup of tea after it. It costs about £1,000 but paid nothing as we have NHS. Paid for in taxes.
I had my son in the UK and my daughter in the USA. There was a few differences like pain control the USA only offered epidural or some tens machine .in the UK we had epidural or pethadine . Also my daughter was born by junior doctors and assistance .my daughter was born with a broken collar bone . And some junior doctor was been rough and I found breast feeding was forced on you alot more in the USA .
You said that the part of your attendance at US appointments when you discussed insurance and your payments for your treatments did not happen in the UK but I don't think you mentioned that it was all free. A significant difference. As for belly touching which happened in the US and not in the UK is because of the natural reserve and respect Brits have for the people they meet would make such touching, with a complete stranger, inappropriate.
In the U.K., 8.9 women for every 100,000 live births die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. In the U.S., this figure declined in tandem with Britain’s until 1990. It then reversed course, rising to 25.1 women per 100,000 in 2015, almost three times higher than the U.K., and among the worst in the Western world.
I can't tell you anything about being pregnant but I can tell you that my parents closest friends are people they met in antenatal classes 40 years ago (their daughter and I were born within a few days of each other) and it's very common to make lifelong friendships in these classes according to a straw poll of my mum and some other women I know who have had babies.
Money is actually an issue in both countries. In the US it’s more obvious: every appointment is a chance to bill you and of course it’s always with the doctor: they bill the most! In the UK people don’t like to say it but the opposite is true: the NHS only spends money when it has to (because of cuts). At every stage in NHS provision a judgment is made about whether it’s worth spending this money given the level of risk and the potential knock-on effects of not catching something early. That’s not a bad thing: there’s only so much money to go around, so is it really worth paying a doctor to do an ultrasound when you could pay them to treat cancer instead? The good thing though is that everyone can access it: you could be living on the street, but if you have a complicated pregnancy and need countless interventions, hospital admissions, expensive drugs, and numerous doctors from all disciplines - you will get that. On the flip side no matter how much money you have the NHS won’t pay a doctor to do your ultrasound. In part that’s why we have midwife-led care (they’re cheaper than doctors), but actually there are good medical reasons as well: pregnancy is not an illness, it doesn’t need a doctor, and actually at a time when hormones and stress are extremely relevant to outcomes having a more relaxed, less clinical, environment is a good thing.
@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure if you're interested in the science, midwife-led care is also shown to have (slightly) better health outcomes. You're in good hands :) "We identified 15 studies involving 17,674 mothers and babies (search date 25 January 2016). ... The main benefits were that women who received midwife-led continuity of care were less likely to have an epidural. In addition, fewer women had episiotomies or instrumental births. Women’s chances of a spontaneous vaginal birth were also increased and there was no difference in the number of caesarean births. Women were less likely to experience preterm birth, and they were also at a lower risk of losing their babies. ... The review identified no adverse effects compared with other models." Source: www.cochrane.org/CD004667/PREG_midwife-led-continuity-models-care-compared-other-models-care-women-during-pregnancy-birth-and-early
Speaking Truth I agree completely, you’re expressing my point in another way: lots of expensive procedures =/= better outcomes. The NHS is wholly focused on getting the best outcomes for a fixed amount of money, which is a good thing. But the money is definitely constrained. Anyone who’s had a baby under the NHS will know what I’m talking about: Health Visitors stop visiting people’s houses and instead run clinics, because it’s more cost effective; breastfeeding support is cut back even though it leads to better outcomes; labour wards in some hospitals are closed so you need to visit others further afield; MLUs are closed when there’s not much demand so that midwives can help in the labour ward; midwives have to juggle multiple labouring women at once; etc. Again I don’t think that’s intrinsically a bad thing. I think we should increase funding for the NHS, but whatever the funding level is it’s good for them to focus on getting the best outcomes for that amount.
So in America everything is premium because you're paying for it via insurance or other means. In the UK it is not premium because everyone is paying for it including the nurses.
Hi just watched your video over here in England we don't go round touching a pregnant woman's bump because it's actually classed as assault because you never gave permission for them to do it. When I had my son nearly 30 years ago now I was well looked after also over here unless necessary they don't automatically give you an epidural unless you asked for one. I myself had a natural birth which I think is best I was told to get one so I wouldn't feel anything but I didn't want one, I was only in labor for 3.5 hours which surprised the staff with it being my first one. They said it could take up to 24 hours I just said I hope not lol. Hope everything goes well for you and your family...
Never heard of "belly touching" in the UK. Perhaps it started as a habit in the USA within a particular ethnic community and spread. Wishing you a smooth and healthy pregnancy and baby.
Appearances can be deceptive. Infant mortality is higher in the US than the UK so seeing a Obstetric doctor more regularly does not automatically mean better outcomes. (Also important to note the UK infant mortality rate is higher than some other developed country). The Women's (expectant mothers) mortality rate is also 3 times higher in the US compared than the UK (2015 figures) as well. Conversely, it would be ridiculous to infer that seeing a midwife compared to an obstetrician would result in a better outcome as well. Healthcare is complex but I think one of the reasons for better outcomes in the UK in these respects is the standardis(z)ation of care.
Nobody had touched your bump yet, because they know they would get a black eye in 99% of attempts! Unless you have a specific complication, pregnancy isn't seen as an illness over here, so things will be fairly low-key. Good luck!
Exactly! I don't know how anyone would have the gall to go up and start touching a stranger's body like that. That's creepy and very disrespectful 😠 women don't become public property because they're carrying a baby 🤦♂️
People saying belly touching when I was pregnant I got touched at least once on my belly. A woman ran her hands over my tummy like I was a good luck charm. This is in the UK This was 5 years ago.
About gender reveal parties, a lot of people, including my parents keep the gender a surprise (I’m not sure how it’s done in the US) as well as friends parents but I’ve only really noticed it for the first child and then the second one they will more often than not find out the gender (this is only from my experience however so I may be completely wrong)
An 'old wives tale' that I even do now. If a member of your family or a friend has a baby, you cross the babies hand with a silver coin. It's supposed to bring luck 👣👣
Statistics show in the UK we have a lower infant mortality rate than in the US, that kinda goes to show all those doctor appointments in the US are for there benefit not yours.
their not there which refers to location.
When I had my son in America, I was never asked my preferences. They just chose what pain relief I’d have,etc.. and not discuss any of it with me. I was allowed one person in with me,and gave birth in what was basically an operating room. When I had my daughter here in England, I was allowed to fill in a birth plan and discuss my preferences with them. My daughter’s birth was in a lovely room with my mother and husband in attendance. After my daughter was born,they drew a bath for me,and offered my mother,husband,and I coffee or tea. My mother got out her purse,and the midwife said,”Put your money away-your daughter just had a baby!”
A doctor in the US sees a pregnant woman as a part-payment of his next yacht.
The reason you see the DOCTOR so much more often
than needed in the US is so they can bill you for it.in
the UK no bill so its bassed entirely on clinical need
@RotherhamReport GoogleIt You don't pay per visit in the USA ?
@@1346crecy no you just pay on average 10k for a baby in the US and up to 30k depending on where you live
@@glastonbury4304 Thank god for the NHS then
@@1346crecy yes.
My wife was seen every week because she was a high risk. Had to have a transandominal suchuture and cesarean and long hospital stay. Cost us nothing, just our taxes and happy to keep taxes paying to help our country's future babies come to us safe and healthy.
The more people you see in the US and the more qualified the more money the hospital makes. In the UK you get to see who you need to see when you need to see them.
yes and you go to the right person straight away get an answer and ready to take off. No politics .
@@mariajones8995 that's a fallacy, Americans on RUclips say you get to see the right person in the UK quicker than the US
@@peterbrown1012 Maria Jones was agreeing with you, calm down.
@@Welcome-t1u doesn't matter if it's social care or private, there will always be bad doctors
Before we had the introduction of baby showers in the UK, it would be considered unlucky to give baby gifts before the birth. There were probably good reasons behind that in the days when maternal and infant survival was so different than today.
We’re much more laid back about the whole process over here. It’s not an illness and the most natural thing in the world. Why over complicate it🤷🏻♀️. I hope our NHS treats you well and you have a healthy baby. Oh, and NO belly touching over here either.
The belly touching when I was pregnant I got touched at least once this was 5 years ago though.
The NHS will treat you with the most great care . X
It also reduces the stress on the mother if you're not giving them percentages of things that could go wrong
@@Oddballkane was it a stranger or someone you are acquainted with? That might be the difference
@@ITzDaveXD It was a stranger. I worked in an optical assistant job role. This woman came in said oh are you pregnant. Leaned over the table and stroked my belly.
It’s always been traditional here in the UK to give gifts after the baby has been born.
Agree - bit unlucky to give them before baby arrives, for some reason. (Higher mortality rates in the past, maybe?)
@@zoewilkins2896 Not always in the past. My wife had a friend about 30 years ago who was pregnant with twins. She went out and bought everything needed but double including two cots and a twin baby buggy. One of the twins was still born. I can't imagine the grief involved of disposing of all the unwanted stuff.
neville mason Oh I am so sorry to hear that - it must have been really hard and very sad for them - and upsetting for their friends and family too. Medicine is amazing today, but unfortunately miscarriage and still births are still with us, and it is still dreadful for all those affected.
My son and his wife had one baby, they wanted a second. His wife became pregnant, she went Into hospital to have have the baby as there was some sort of complication. The baby was stillborn. There was a thorough investigation after the birth, unfortunately there was a genetic problem,It was In the millions that my son and his wife met up and had this particular gene. They were told that there was a one in four chance of it happening again.The NHS went to great lengths to investigate and find out what had happened. They did become pregnant again, but unfortunately the next baby had the same problem. That was it. The problem is the four grandparents start wondering if it was from their side of the family, We managed to accept that we would never find out. But it affected each of us. The Doctors were wonderful.
Generally pregnancy is treated as a part of normal life and not a medical issue in the UK, providing obviously that you are both healthy.
A highly Experienced and trained midwife is all the medical staff a normal pregnancy needs.
The ONLY time you should NEED a doctor is when things go wrong, other than that you really don’t need to see a doctor.
The midwives job is to monitor both of you, and refer to up to a doctor only when needed.
We find that the less clinical approach, is more comforting and natural, it also puts the mother far more in charge.
I agree and doctors tend to want to interfere too much in the natural process which is why there are radical midwives
I love this!
In the US they are probably more concerned about being sued and of course having more appointments means they make more money or am i just being cynical
Also midwives rule the roost over here. They are very highly trained and are often the only medical professionals you see during pregnancy and birth. Though if you have had previous complications you would be put under a consultation.
*consultant
@@heliotropezzz333 .....I'm not sure many pregnant would want to be put under a consultant.
@@2eleven48 you are placed under a consultant if there are complications and/or you are high risk
@@2eleven48 I never suggested any such thing. I was just correcting a typo someone else made.
Helen Trope Well don’t.. we all knew what she meant. 🙄
Nurses and midwifes have far greater roles in care throughout the NHS. I was a Senior Clinical Nurse before I retired. My skills were better than many doctors who would pass thru my department as part on their specialty training.I and others nurse specialists would give lectures on our area of expertise to fully qualified doctors.
The nurses role in America is very very different. They have far less responsibility in patient care
Being able to charge for a doctor is far more attractive to the US Health Industry. Nothing to do with the healthcare provision, about the ability to charge more.
In the UK only someone you were close to would touch your stomach and usually after asking permission.
Or being invited if the baby was kicking.
Definitely no random stranger belly touching over here. Some family members won't even touch, and the ones that do would always ask first.
I can’t imagine touching a strangers belly, ESPECIALLY if they were pregnant. That must feel like such a threat. 🙀
It's the quickest way to a smack in the mouth.
Not a thing here in UK, if any one had tried that when I was pregnant I’d have decked em👊
If someone just came up and touches my stomach I would be so so uncomfortable and freaked out. That’s so disrespectful.
For future reference to you or others - just GO TO THE DOCTOR! Don't mess around with trying to find 'someone' for this or that, your doctor's is the 'go to' point of contact. They will refer you to the right person dependant on your medical need.
I believe that that is what happens.
Strangers doing "belly touching". You have got to be joking. I just can't imagine such a thing.
I think the reasons why you don't see as many appointments here in England is because they're not trying to get as much money off you as possible, they're not really needed as often unless there's issues, and constantly having appointments can be quite tiring
My wife is due with our first next month, so this is a very timely video. I've been to every appointment & antenatal class with her (both her request & I want to be an involved dad), I don't think we've seen the doctor once. Even for things like the GTT test technically at the OB, we didn't see one - it was a nurse practitioner who did it, no need to get a doctor involved to take blood & ask a patient to drink what's basically sugar water. I think the reasoning is that she's not ill, or at risk, so why would we need to see a doctor?
My parents are still best friends with a couple they met at ante-natal classes. I call them my aunt and uncle and I always introduce their daughters as 'basically my cousins' 😊
Touching a pregnant stranger would be seen as an assault in the UK.
On the whole, if it is something that means spending money buying gifts/cards/costumes/special food etc, it's a fair bet it originated in the States.
@Bilbo Baggins And mother's Day and fathers day and Valentine's day and Halloween and infinitum.
I can really recommend going to an ante natal class. They are usually run by midwives and its your go to place for general information. My class midwife organised a maternity unit hospital visit so I could see and become familiar with the maternity unit. A good idea for your partner to attend so they know where to go on the big day. Stops them panicking
Yeah, I attended the antenatal classes with my wife - they were super informative, particularly as it's our first. But we also got a tour of the Birthing unit which was really useful (these were NHS organised classes, not the NCT offered ones. Not sure what those are like but I've read mixed stuff about them).
So sorry that the current virus means those toddlers groups can't meet and a baby shower might have to be a virtual one from a distance. Have you heard about the National Childbirth Trust ? Look it up online and see what they are doing to support parents during this difficult time. Hope you have all the help you need and thanks for a great video x
In the US your see a doctor. pregnancy isn't an illness, so why do you need to see a doctor? This seems to be down to money and the hospital can charge you more for a doctors appointment than they can for a midwife appointment. UK midwives are highly trained and experienced and are more than capable in guiding you through your pregnancy, only referring you yo a doctor if their are problems or you are high risk. In the UK a midwife will also deliver the baby, not a doctor, unless there are complications.
To determine the sex of the baby, just place a credit card on your bump, if the baby kick and feels as though it is trying to grab the card then it will be female.
They can charge more for seeing a doctor then seeing a nurse
The ultrasound “tec” is called a radiologist and they are doctors.
All those things you say the doctor did in the US, our excellent, highly qualified, graduate midwives do over here. Baby showers are becoming a thing in the UK, sadly (my daughter in law has one coming up). I think if a stranger touched my tummy, I would probably scream. Definitely not a thing here, thank goodness! Glad to hear about ante-natal groups. I joined the National Childbirth Trust when I had my children, who are now 27,29 and 31. Those women I met are still all my friends - we plan events monthly and meet up for walks, DVD evening, suppers, etc. I couldnt manage without them all, even now!
Midwives here take a minimum of 4 years training. The sonographer will do u/s all day every day, they are the experts on this, not the Dr.
It was the sonographer who discovered my son was going to be been born with a cleft lip, not the doctor. He found it pretty quick too, they're the experts while the baby is in the womb.
Isn't it funny how 9/10, in UK v US videos, the UK comes out on top
So one in ten we tie?
@@joemacleod-iredale2888 haha
America could never ever compare with the UK. Just because they shout about how great they are, doesn’t mean that they are
vincygarifuna no need to be nasty to our American cousins. We both have great countries simple as that. I’ve been to the state’s and it’s lovely there, but I love our country as well. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸.
@@raywilliams5876 Sorry mate they don’t compare to the UK. And if we are not careful we will become like them.To visit it’s nice (Canada is better ). But to live no thanks. You have to have your brain cells removed and become indoctrinated in their I’m alright jack attitude. I don’t want to be rude to them but there’s nothing and I mean nothing in the UK I would swap with them.
I just want to wish you a Happy pregnancy and a smooth delivery.Best wishes to your family.
On superstitions. When I was growing up. The pram was not allowed in the house until after the baby’s birth. If it was a first pregnancy, it was either kept at the shop with the deposit or full payment made and collected after the Mother and baby came home. If it was a second birth onwards, usually a relative kept it at their house until after the birth. It was considered bad luck to have the pram in the home before the baby. And the same applies to gifts for the baby. Everyone gave gifts after the baby was born. Not before. Think those traditions are mostly being lost now.
Strangers touching your stomach is REALLY creepy! Only friends and family would do it in the UK.( I would hope😜) it borders on assault I feel and certainly I would have hated anyone doing that in my pregnancies. If we didn’t know them my husband would have asked them to move away quickly.xx
Normal for your close friends 3 year old daughter to do it. Random people - weird.
I can't imagine ever wanting to stroke a stranger's pregnant bump let alone having the gall to actually DO it. It's just so weird and disrespectful 🤦♀️
Isthisjustfantasy 75: Many thanks for your kind advice. I am THE archetypal IT numpty who struggles to come to grips with this type of thing. After your advice I shall live and learn.
Stay Safe, hope the NHS takes care of you during these strange times.
Hi, Danielle, very interesting video. Comparisons like that are always fun. Do you know the gender of number 2? I can understand why people like to know but I also think a surprise is nice and I'm sure no one really minds when he or she arrives. Looking forward to your next video soon.
We (based in the UK) went to National Childbirth Trust couples classes when I was pregnant with my firstborn. Best thing we did. We gained a good idea what might happen, so when things didn’t go exactly to plan (nothing serious, just a longer labour than normal), we knew how to react as we had discussed different scenarios beforehand. The friendship network we made through the classes was great too. I do feel for expectant couples during this Covid-19 lock-down. Must be a very anxious and difficult time.
I sincerely hope your Baby is born happy and healthy and I wish you and your partner all that you wish yourself
My mum is still best friends with people from her antenatal class. (I'm 23 now)
The anti-natal class my wife and I attended made a massive difference and we are still friends with some of the other attendees. It was provided by the National Childbirth Trust.
The reason US doctors are fixated by risk is that infant mortality is higher in the US than the UK.
And we would never dream of touching another person, pregnant or not it's infringing on someone's personal space. They'd probably get a slap if they tried
Cost of Pregnancy in the USA without insurance and without complications. Between $10,000 and $30,000 (2019 )
The US model is designed for as many appointments/drugs as possibleat the highest specialism (OB vs maternity nurse), because these generate money for insurance and/or pharmaceutical companies. The system is setup to find problems/risk and create work. The UK model is to only offer services where evidenced (both the costs and health benefits).
Congratulations, I hope you have a good time. Roughly how much does each appointment cost in the States ?
Hello Danielle, first I hope You and the baby will be fine after birth. I'm a 66 year old male from the Netherlands and as my wife was pregnant we had to go to the hospital because of health issues and we did never got a bill either. The UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany for sure are basically the same. In the Netherlands we pay a base premium where the people with lower incomes are compensated by tax return. In France your payment depends on income, the more you earn the more you pay. It's a percentage of your income. Belgium is 7.5% of income and employer pays 3.8%. Germany is 8.2% of your income. So in general it is similar in each country.
i think when it comes to traditions you can do whatever tradition you want :) i think its very common for anyone in the UK to celebrate traditions with someone if it was part of their culture (i've even celebrated thanks giving with my american friends just to make her feel more at home) so i'd say if you want to have a gender reveal (i think this isnt that common here) then go ahead! and if you want a baby shower (which i believe is still fairly common) then thats fine too!
The ante-natal classes (ours was run by the NCT) were excellent. I just wish they covered looking after your newborn for the first 6 months (the bad bits) in more detail.
In the UK touching a pregnant woman's belly in the street is considered highly inappropriate and rude.
In the US - if you're paying for your health insurance - you're paying WAY more for your healthcare, so it should be way better. For the NHS to compete favourably is a tribute to it.
That's not even remotely accurate. The NHS is not free, it costs an enormous amount of public funds. If we had privatised healthcare here then the costs would be around the same for insurance and co-pays here as it is there now.
@@ruk2023-- Who said the NHS was free?? I pay for it with my taxes! It is however free at point of use,. And paying for healthcare via private insurance is vastly more expensive - how do the insurance companies make their money after all?
Someone on an average salary in the UK pays maybe £130 in income tax and national insurance per month for the NHS. and their entire family receives healthcare. Average family insurance premiums in the USA are about $1,600 per month. Even with 70% employer contribution (far from universal), that's $500 to find. Then there are co-pays and deductibles to pay.
And on top of all that, a US tax payer is paying more in compulsory tax for Medicare and Medicaid than a UK tax payer on the same salary pays for the NHS! But don't generally benefit till they retire! So no, costs are not remotely comparable.
@@ruk2023-- utter crap ...Americans already pay more of their taxes into their healthcare system than we do ...yet still no UHC ...
@@glastonbury4304 What are you talking about? Have you even bothered to figure out what people are discussing here?
"Belly touching?" If it's unsolicited, then surely it's technically an assault?
No, it's not. It's just unsolicited touching and rudeness. Assault is to inflict harm; stop allowing the blurring of the lines between rudeness and assault.
@@peachesandcream8753 putting your hands on someone without their consent is assault
@@katiePetsy No it's not. If I put my hand on your back or shoulder as I walked past you, that would be considered assault? Don't be ridiculous.
@@peachesandcream8753 In todays world i wouldn't be surprised if it was. It's so ridiculous but unfortunately that's just how things are
@@ipolarisi2381 This insanity is getting worse and worse as years go by. Why is everything an "assault" or an aggression of some sort? It's strange how people have become so fixed on trying to find offense everywhere.
They may seem blazei at your appointments but don't worry they're on the ball and looking out for everything. You're well looked after
You don't touch anyone you don't know in the UK, pregnant or not.
It's not (only) because in the US they're more concerned about risks, but it's also that because they love to send big bills.
You have more appointments in the US because it's about profit, not people. It is also in their interests to frighten you into thinking you need more intervention than you do.
In UK I had a c section which was great.
We are brought up to respect people's bellies :)
Apparently, birthing outcomes are better in Britain than in America.
My 4 best friends are from my antenatal class 10 years ago! Definitely worth going to!
I was an anaesthetist in the Uk for 30 years. Before Margaret Thatcher, almost everything was free; if an epidural or caesarean section was indicated,didn't cost a penny to the parents. Oh tempore, oh mores.
Didn’t know it cost anything now, my wife had epidural with my 2 kids and I didn’t pay a bill.
@@oscargrainger2962 In my youth, everything was free; spectacles, dental treatment, prescriptions the lot. Extra payments in the Australian public service are getting pretty awful.
You talk about money, US is a healthcare business V UK is Health Service. While talking about risk, the figure you need to look at is 3.8 per 1000 mortality rate in UK and 6.2 per 1000 mortality rate in US. Belly touching, we are civilised in the UK.
If anyone touched my belly without asking they would get a bunch of fives, and even if they did ask I'd tell them to get stuffed
Of course you met the doctor more in the US, you're paying for it!
You have more appointment in the States because it is about $$$$$
Now you know why a medical consultant specialist in the UK has only 1 luxury car and maybe a river cruiser but his US counterpart has 3 and a sea-going yacht.
My understanding is that we are more laid back, not because they are not measuring risk, but because unless they are identifying something they are concerned about, they do not want to stress out the mother with lots of statistics That changes if a genuine concern is identified, but they are really focused on making the whole thing as simple and stress free as possible. Also (if I may say) they arent booking in lots of unnecessary appointments because no one is making money out of you having those appointments. I do know of instances where strangers have come up and put their hand on someones pregnant tummy despite not knowing them, but I think as a generalisation most people respect the fact that if they dont know you, they shouldnt be touching you. Maybe some money to be made in selling maternity wear in the US that says "Touch the bump, lose the hand!"
Pregnancy not considered an illness in the UK.
I think the reason why we are more layed back in the UK is because we look at it as if the mother knows her own body and how it feels. If some thing feels wrong you just contact your midwife or doctor. Also if they start making to much of a fuss then that can stress out the mother, which in turn can cause problems with the baby, so it's better to have a more relaxed mother than a stressed one. Add to that because there is no charge in the UK we don't go out of our way to find probems, whereas in the states the more problems they find the more money they get.
You may have noticed that we don't really go in for touching much in the UK, so belly touching is a complete no no, unless your with people you know friends/parents. Even if you ask some one to touch your nelly, most will be hesitant to do it.
Laid back*
I think in America it's the fear of lawsuits that causes the inundation of information, they have to make sure all bases are covered. In UK birth is a natural thing and complications if any are only discussed if necessary. I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy
We don't really touch random people's baby belly that would not be ok don't forget to pick up your bounty pack you get lots of info in them
Antenatal is very common here.
Pregnancy is not an illness!
Why were you not registered with a GP...
I think here pregnancy is treated along the lines of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Or, in other words, don't add to the mother's stress by going through all the things that might go wrong. Don't worry, if there is something that might become an issue, you the mother WILL be in the loop. Enjoy your pregnancy hun :D
Yep. The American doctors probably go through every single thing individually to seem like they're earning their money as well. 'Look I checked this, this, this, this and this....'
@@isthisjustfantasy7557 It is also to avoid being sued for malpractice. That is a possibility because people may want to recoup medical costs.
Being pregnant is not considered a ‘illness’ so why would you need to see a doctor? Unless there was a problem. It proves that in the US its about money not about healthcare.
I found it shocking that you had to pay to hold your New Born Baby to get that Skin to Skin contact that is recommended by Nurses in U.K. Hospitals to establish a bond between Mother & Baby. Absolutely despicable putting Money above Patient care!!.
In the US they test you to the hilt for future problems you might have as an insurance risk, basically it's about money 😕
In Scotland the first time we meet a baby of a family member/friend we hansel it. This means we slip a token sum of money into its pram, usually a note so inflation has moved it from 10/- to £5.
The area I'm in,in Scotland it has to be "silver" coins
I had a C section in UK and it was great. No pain at all.
Had a C section in England cos he was breech. Very good operation and had a cup of tea after it. It costs about £1,000 but paid nothing as we have NHS. Paid for in taxes.
I had my son in the UK and my daughter in the USA. There was a few differences like pain control the USA only offered epidural or some tens machine .in the UK we had epidural or pethadine . Also my daughter was born by junior doctors and assistance .my daughter was born with a broken collar bone . And some junior doctor was been rough and I found breast feeding was forced on you alot more in the USA .
I think with the ultrasound/risk points are also them justifying and proving the cost of the bill.
You said that the part of your attendance at US appointments when you discussed insurance and your payments for your treatments did not happen in the UK but I don't think you mentioned that it was all free. A significant difference. As for belly touching which happened in the US and not in the UK is because of the natural reserve and respect Brits have for the people they meet would make such touching, with a complete stranger, inappropriate.
In the U.K., 8.9 women for every 100,000 live births die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. In the U.S., this figure declined in tandem with Britain’s until 1990. It then reversed course, rising to 25.1 women per 100,000 in 2015, almost three times higher than the U.K., and among the worst in the Western world.
The first thing to know about the two systems is that the USA has, approximately, a 50% higher infant mortality rate than the UK.
I can't tell you anything about being pregnant but I can tell you that my parents closest friends are people they met in antenatal classes 40 years ago (their daughter and I were born within a few days of each other) and it's very common to make lifelong friendships in these classes according to a straw poll of my mum and some other women I know who have had babies.
Have you been craving anything that you cannot get UK-side and had to get shipped or flown over?
If a stranger came up and touched my belly I'd consider it an assault, same as any other unwatched touch.
Money is actually an issue in both countries.
In the US it’s more obvious: every appointment is a chance to bill you and of course it’s always with the doctor: they bill the most!
In the UK people don’t like to say it but the opposite is true: the NHS only spends money when it has to (because of cuts). At every stage in NHS provision a judgment is made about whether it’s worth spending this money given the level of risk and the potential knock-on effects of not catching something early. That’s not a bad thing: there’s only so much money to go around, so is it really worth paying a doctor to do an ultrasound when you could pay them to treat cancer instead?
The good thing though is that everyone can access it: you could be living on the street, but if you have a complicated pregnancy and need countless interventions, hospital admissions, expensive drugs, and numerous doctors from all disciplines - you will get that. On the flip side no matter how much money you have the NHS won’t pay a doctor to do your ultrasound.
In part that’s why we have midwife-led care (they’re cheaper than doctors), but actually there are good medical reasons as well: pregnancy is not an illness, it doesn’t need a doctor, and actually at a time when hormones and stress are extremely relevant to outcomes having a more relaxed, less clinical, environment is a good thing.
Very interesting and well put! Thanks for the comment.
@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure if you're interested in the science, midwife-led care is also shown to have (slightly) better health outcomes. You're in good hands :)
"We identified 15 studies involving 17,674 mothers and babies (search date 25 January 2016). ...
The main benefits were that women who received midwife-led continuity of care were less likely to have an epidural. In addition, fewer women had episiotomies or instrumental births. Women’s chances of a spontaneous vaginal birth were also increased and there was no difference in the number of caesarean births. Women were less likely to experience preterm birth, and they were also at a lower risk of losing their babies. ... The review identified no adverse effects compared with other models."
Source: www.cochrane.org/CD004667/PREG_midwife-led-continuity-models-care-compared-other-models-care-women-during-pregnancy-birth-and-early
Speaking Truth I agree completely, you’re expressing my point in another way: lots of expensive procedures =/= better outcomes. The NHS is wholly focused on getting the best outcomes for a fixed amount of money, which is a good thing.
But the money is definitely constrained. Anyone who’s had a baby under the NHS will know what I’m talking about: Health Visitors stop visiting people’s houses and instead run clinics, because it’s more cost effective; breastfeeding support is cut back even though it leads to better outcomes; labour wards in some hospitals are closed so you need to visit others further afield; MLUs are closed when there’s not much demand so that midwives can help in the labour ward; midwives have to juggle multiple labouring women at once; etc.
Again I don’t think that’s intrinsically a bad thing. I think we should increase funding for the NHS, but whatever the funding level is it’s good for them to focus on getting the best outcomes for that amount.
@Speaking Truth Yes. Midwives are highly-trained, highly-experienced specialists. Doctors are generalists, unless they are specialist consultants.
@@phueal The cut-backs are “saving the tax-payer money”. 🙄
So in America everything is premium because you're paying for it via insurance or other means.
In the UK it is not premium because everyone is paying for it including the nurses.
Pregnancy is a condition, not an illness.
Hi just watched your video over here in England we don't go round touching a pregnant woman's bump because it's actually classed as assault because you never gave permission for them to do it. When I had my son nearly 30 years ago now I was well looked after also over here unless necessary they don't automatically give you an epidural unless you asked for one. I myself had a natural birth which I think is best I was told to get one so I wouldn't feel anything but I didn't want one, I was only in labor for 3.5 hours which surprised the staff with it being my first one. They said it could take up to 24 hours I just said I hope not lol. Hope everything goes well for you and your family...
Canada gives you the same service as the NHS in England.
Britain is best in everything full stop.
Never heard of "belly touching" in the UK. Perhaps it started as a habit in the USA within a particular ethnic community and spread. Wishing you a smooth and healthy pregnancy and baby.
Appearances can be deceptive. Infant mortality is higher in the US than the UK so seeing a Obstetric doctor more regularly does not automatically mean better outcomes. (Also important to note the UK infant mortality rate is higher than some other developed country). The Women's (expectant mothers) mortality rate is also 3 times higher in the US compared than the UK (2015 figures) as well. Conversely, it would be ridiculous to infer that seeing a midwife compared to an obstetrician would result in a better outcome as well. Healthcare is complex but I think one of the reasons for better outcomes in the UK in these respects is the standardis(z)ation of care.
Nobody had touched your bump yet, because they know they would get a black eye in 99% of attempts!
Unless you have a specific complication, pregnancy isn't seen as an illness over here, so things will be fairly low-key.
Good luck!
Exactly! I don't know how anyone would have the gall to go up and start touching a stranger's body like that. That's creepy and very disrespectful 😠 women don't become public property because they're carrying a baby 🤦♂️
People saying belly touching when I was pregnant I got touched at least once on my belly. A woman ran her hands over my tummy like I was a good luck charm. This is in the UK This was 5 years ago.
About gender reveal parties, a lot of people, including my parents keep the gender a surprise (I’m not sure how it’s done in the US) as well as friends parents but I’ve only really noticed it for the first child and then the second one they will more often than not find out the gender (this is only from my experience however so I may be completely wrong)
Midviwes are more qualified here in U.K, and their education is more standardized
That is because you were a money box to them you don't need that kind of looking after.
An 'old wives tale' that I even do now. If a member of your family or a friend has a baby, you cross the babies hand with a silver coin. It's supposed to bring luck 👣👣