Trying for our first baby (NHS)

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. 

WHAT!!!!  No!!!

And if someone were that determined to abort due to the sex, they could simply pay for their own scan.  The sad part is that not all PCTs do it the same way.  Some will tell, some won't.  Post code friggin' lottery! 

My first thought was is they are going to be the kind of people that would abort a baby souly because of the sex,then what kind of parents are they going to be once the baby is born 

The system in the UK is very different and takes some getting used to. Your care woud be led by a midwife, which I loved. As with any system you'll have good and bad stories - I think the most important thing is to do your research and know a bit about what to expect before going in. There are a few older threads in this board about the differences in UK to US births, a quick search might find them. In the UK they take a much more hands-off approach, they aren't as paranoid as the US system - which can be good and it can be bad. Everything is free in the UK, and after the birth a system in in place (through Health Visitors) for medical support. If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you will have fewer visits to your GP and/or midwife than you would in the US. Your first and last appointments are usually in your own home. After giving birth you are usually placed in a ward with other mothers, separated by curtains - and your husband/partner/whatever isn't allowed to be there except for during visiting times. I personally had quite a bad experience in the UK, and found that my medical concerns weren't addressed, but I wouldn't paint the entire system with a bad brush for it.

Post code friggin' lottery! 

It certainly is, Cait.  It many parts of Scotland, for example, you get two scans.  But in Edinburgh and Glasgow, demand is too high to cope w/staffing levels, so we get only one unless there's an emergency.  Or you've got a spare £150 laying around.   
It's just how it is right now.

I should point out, too, that if you have an uncomplicated delivery here and no feeding problems, you can be discharged directly from the delivery suite about 6 hours after you give birth w/o ever being on the ward.  The midwife will visit you daily for the next 10 days.

I'm hoping for this this time round, especially as will soon have my Mommy around to help out.   

The midwife will visit you daily for the next 10 days.

Thats another thing that is different from place to place - my midwife only visited me every other day from the day I came home, for about a week. (3-4 visits) Then it was the Health Visitor.

  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.

My company uses the Guardian Insurance. All three of my children were born at the Portland. My insurance has reimbursed me for most of it. 

Thats another thing that is different from place to place - my midwife only visited me every other day from the day I came home, for about a week. (3-4 visits) Then it was the Health Visitor.

After Courtney, the midwife only came twice,then the hv is making her second and final visit tomorrow. I cant imagine having the midwive come everyday for 10 days!

Instead of having two scans they had the midwife comes visit us, I guess?!   

I also had a post partum infection as well.  And PND.

My company uses the Guardian Insurance. All three of my children were born at the Portland. My insurance has reimbursed me for most of it. 

How lucky for you!!!! 

London has private hospitals that do maternity services like The Portland, but other cities may or may not.

JK Rowling, for example, gave birth in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary w/the rest of us peons last year.  She did have, however, an independent midwife licensed to practice there, spent the night in the delivery suite and went home the next day.

right so im a bit confused and just want to see if anyone can help. My husband and I are trying for a baby. We live in cardiff and I was just unsure about this, what exactly will happen. I will obviously go to the doctor when I test positive, but do I get to know my babies sex if we want which we realllly do!   ? Can anyone fill me in on what its like at the NHS hospitals? what should i expect and not expect? how long do you stay in the hospital after giving birth? provided no complications or anything?
thanks!!!  ( cant exactly ask mil or friends as were keeping this a secret until successful) lol

a lot depends on your location.  in ours, for example, we only get one scan unless there's a problem - at 13 weeks.  even if you get later scans, they will NOT tell you the sex.  if you want to find it out, you have to pay privately - about £150.

stay in hospital, antenatal care, postnatal care, etc. varies vastly by region. 

i stayed in for 5 days w/my first b/c of delivery complications and postpartum infection, but this time round i was released from the delivery suite.  you can also stay in for help w/breastfeeding if need be, or elect to come home and try it there - where you'll probably be more relaxed - w/help from a counsellor.

Expat is right, a lot depends on where you are. I was with the Royal Free in Hampstead and had the 12 week and 20 week scans. At my hospital they did tell you the sex. I had some minor bleeding a couple of times in the 3rd trimestre and immediately I had more scans and was seen by the Consultant Obstetrician and several registrars from her team.  I liked the midwife system but I didn't like seeing different midwives all the time (at my hospital they were on rotation). Luckily the two midwives at my delivery were lovely but some others I saw during my pregnancy were not only rude but STUPID.   The labour ward at my hospital was brand spanking new and clean and shiney.  The post natal ward was older and a bit grubby round the edges and there was no shower in my bay, I had to go down the hall - next tiime (if there is one!) I would go for a private room.   I would also take my own food! I ate a lot of jaffa cakes from the hospital shop!

so you can opt for a private room? is there a shower room en suite or is there some sort of shower facility? Also is there room for my husband to stay overnight with me?