2nd Child Born in NZ

[Tia Maria]

Congrats Flutterby!

I had 2 in London and 1 in Auckland...Auckland was a much better experience for me.

[JandM]

I had both my children in the same hospital in the UK. I was unlucky in two of the midwives I saw during my second labour (it was a long one so there were shift changes)*. I entirely agree that a good one makes a huge difference to your own confidence and wellbeing, but wouldn't count the unsympathetic ones as representative of the whole setup - they weren't the norm even of the one hospital.

*You know, at the time (September, 1973), I thought to myself, 'When this is all over, I'm going to write to the authorities.' I've just remembered, I never did!

[Manks]

Congrats Flutterby

[xanctus]

In the UK my experience was more like an assembly line - get in, give birth, get out.

Interesting, I found it birth experience in NZ is like what you said.

[thewoodies]

Well i feel i'm in a position to compare right now, i've experienced a birth in UK and a birth in NZ, both times i was asking for the same kind of experience yet with very different results.
Both my partner and i agreed that it is all far more relaxed here than in the UK resulting in a much more pleasant experience.

I had the most amazing waterbirth experience and then spent 24hours in their aftercare facility and from all but 1 staff midwife the care was excellent.

In the UK my experience was more like an assembly line - get in, give birth, get out.

This is very comforting to know because i have just found out that I am going to be ..................... a grandma

A kiwi in the family

[thewoodies]

Same with me, although I had 3 homebirths so not quite the same, but the midwifery care I recieved in UK was excellent. I've come to the conclusion that the care varies enormously by region in UK.

Very true