"Mum of Two" wrote in message
Quite possibly not. I based the sweeping generalisation on a lot of horror
stories and complaints about hospital births that get posted on MKP, and
seem to be for the most part generated by US posters.

The tendency for people to only relate the horror stories is paramount. No
one ever tells a good story. The majority are good stories, but no one talks
about them because they are not interesting. Just like the media, they tend
to blow everything out of proportion.

It does seem from what I read though, that there are a lot of extra tests
and procedures (many of them harmful and unnecessary) used over there
which we've never even heard of.

There are a lot of tests. It comes for a sue-happy society we live in.
Though the tests are offered, they are not mandatory. Some OBs are adamant
on them, but we have a free choice of physicians (at least most do) and can
switch if our insurance covers the next physician who is more lower
intervention if that is what the patient wants.

Overall, from what I've heard I would be
*afraid* to birth in the US. If I found myself holidaying over there at
term
far from a good midwife, I would endeavour to birth in one of your yellow
cabs. Again, just from what you've all told me.

And I would not want to birth in your country. I feel that the medical
society in other countries are not as well versed in the technology that we
seem to have here. And there seems to be a lot of outdated information in
other countries. If a woman wants intervention, she can get it and if she
wants a lower intervention, then she can get that too. The point is there is
a choice and the woman needs to be informed and make informed choices based
on what is needed.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)