Trying for our first baby (NHS)

We've decided to try for a baby once we are married in May.

I'm not sure about health care.  Do they do all the same tests as in the USA here on the NHS or should I get private insurance?  I want to make sure I have the best care possible as it will be my first child!

Hi Moggy
I recently had my daughter here. The medical is a bit differant here then in the US. For one,you have midwives taking care of you for the most part. The midwives as well as hospitals do the same tests as the US does. NHS is fine with maternity. I have no complaints

Congratulations on your baby!!

Im just terrified.  My experience with UK health care hasnt been very good. I bruised my tail bone so badly that I couldnt walk and all they did was tell me to take the equivalent of advil or ibuprofren!!  And Ive been bruising terribly lateley all over my legs with no reason for it and the doctor told me 'you have light skin' and that was it!

I guess i just got to used to having the same doctor all the time in the USA....I worry that since the NHS is free that they wont order any extra tests that a USA doctor would etc....

I must admit I was a bit taken aback not to have a male doctor involved, but strictly women midwives. Now, of course, it makes perfect sense and far more relaxing! The only male doctor I had look at me told me i'd have a small baby. Imagine his embarrassment when I had a 10 lb plus whopper

I must admit I was a bit taken aback not to have a male doctor involved, but strictly women midwives. Now, of course, it makes perfect sense and far more relaxing! The only male doctor I had look at me told me i'd have a small baby. Imagine his embarrassment when I had a 10 lb plus whopper

I had a 10 pounder, too. . . Yikes.

I've had one child here and am expecting another in December.  Am SO glad that pregnancy here - excepting when you develop a complication - is treated as a bodily function and NOT a medical condition or illness.  Of course, it's important not to overthink things as well - you just get stressed and it's no good for yourself or the baby.  

With my first, I developed hypertension, but it was well managed and I got excellent care.  With this one, I have anaemia so I do see the midwife fortnightly.  

At our infirmary - Edinburgh Royal - you cannot book a private room, they are reserved for mothers whose babies undergo complications and have to be in the NICU or mothers of mulitples - but that didn't bother me.  

I still got an epidural when I wanted it - at about 4cm - and the midwife promptly called a consultant when I'd been pushing for over an hour w/no success.  Turns out the baby was malpresented and I needed an assisted delivery.

But I can't fault the care at all.

The NHS to me is very different in the way pregnancy is dealt with.  I have had two children in the US and am expecting my third.  There is no private insurance that pays for a normal pregnancy, I have fully investigated this possibility.  You can go private, in which you pay for treatment yourself.  I have checked into the prices ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 pounds.  
 

The NHS is not free, you do not have to pay for anything at point of service.  My husband pays a large amount of his check monthly to cover his NHS contribution.  I would perfer he paid for private insurance.  I do think the NHS is an excellent thing to have, due to the fact that everyone is fortunate enough to get medical care, something the US  lacks.

I think you will be more than fine to have a baby on the NHS.  there are some extra tests that you can pay for yourself, if you choose.  

I wish you the best of luck.

I'll warn here that I haven't read this whole thread, but I do think you need to change your mindset from "trying" for our first baby to "conceiving" our first baby. You'd be amazed what that can do.

Good luck - I forgot that part! 

Hi there, just trying to find out which tests you mean?  If you mean fertility tests, they usually don't do them until you have been trying to conceive for at least a year (6 months if you are 35 and over)  But it's like that in the US as well.

Best of luck BTW!

The scans and the number of scans you're offered can vary.

Most places offer two: one for 'dating' around 12-14 weeks, the other for abnormalities around 20 weeks.

In Edinburgh and Glasgow, however, you only get one - the 12-14 week one.  If you want an abnormality one OR you wish to know your baby's gender, you need to go private and the cost is about £150.  Even if you have an emergency scan, they will NOT tell you the baby's gender.

I had one at 22 weeks when the baby was too active for the midwife to track the baby's heartbeat, and so the ultrasonographer was able to check for abnormalities, but when she got to the business area she moved that probe away like a shot.

The scans and the number of scans you're offered can vary.

Most places offer two: one for 'dating' around 12-14 weeks, the other for abnormalities around 20 weeks.

In Edinburgh and Glasgow, however, you only get one - the 12-14 week one.  If you want an abnormality one OR you wish to know your baby's gender, you need to go private and the cost is about £150.  Even if you have an emergency scan, they will NOT tell you the baby's gender.

I had one at 22 weeks when the baby was too active for the midwife to track the baby's heartbeat, and so the ultrasonographer was able to check for abnormalities, but when she got to the business area she moved that probe away like a shot.

Ah, she meant scans, nevermind then, ignore me

The scans and the number of scans you're offered can vary.

Most places offer two: one for 'dating' around 12-14 weeks, the other for abnormalities around 20 weeks.

In Edinburgh and Glasgow, however, you only get one - the 12-14 week one.  If you want an abnormality one OR you wish to know your baby's gender, you need to go private and the cost is about £150.  Even if you have an emergency scan, they will NOT tell you the baby's gender.

I had one at 22 weeks when the baby was too active for the midwife to track the baby's heartbeat, and so the ultrasonographer was able to check for abnormalities, but when she got to the business area she moved that probe away like a shot.

What is the big deal on telling you the sex?  If they don't want to give your hopes up on the sex they can always say "its not 100% sure"

What is the big deal on telling you the sex?  If they don't want to give your hopes up on the sex they can always say "its not 100% sure"

I think it's to avoid cases in which people may elect to terminate if the child were not of the gender they would have liked. 

I think it's to avoid cases in which people may elect to terminate if the child were not of the gender they would have liked. 

    Thats awful