[NiKA]

So my best GF lives in Australia - she moved there Right before DS was born so about 2 1/2 years ago.

Anyway they are expecting their first boy, due Dec 8 (yay)
But she was saying how the med system is so different. She doesn't get weighed @ appointments, she hasn't had to pee in cups for infection/protein/glucose in urine at any appt yet. Also she has only had to do blood work ONCE and that was only After the GD glucose test!
BUT she did have regular U/S (4) including all 3D/4D if she wanted. She also said that at the hospital she's delivering at is run by midwives so there are very few nurses and everything is very pro natural birth.
And in the same context she says she believes the circ rate for boys in her area is Maybe 10% at best. So because they want to circ, no dr's or mw's will tell her where to go, she has to FIND them on her own--basically by finding a Mom who has done it and getting the information from them, I asked about a jewish community - because rabbi's would do it or know someone but her town is too small to have an established congregation <is that what it's called I don't know>
crazy

anyway totally made me realize how everything is done different where ever you go!

[Isaeph]

Wow, that's pretty crazy! Sounds like my kinda place to deliver though.

[keekopeeko]

that sounds fantastic to me!

~Em

[aussiechick28]

Having grown up in Australia, i can definitely attest to how different the medical system is over there.

I think regarding the being weighed at appts, blood tests, etc, that will vary depending on where you go, because I know my friends have had to do those things also.

But, their whole experience is very different because it's much more common to have midwife assisted births rather than doctors. I think everyone that I know has had a midwife deliver their baby.

Regarding the circumcision, that is definitely true - at least where I lived, the norm was definitely NOT to circumcise and I think i only came across one person who actually was circumcised.

[NiKA]

Just makes me chuckle thinking of the argument many people have about having a child 'be the same' as everyone else. Where there it's opposite as here

[Erikajo]

That is so different, but it sounds nice! I hate having to step on that scale every visit and all the other unnecessary tests & interventions!

[orangelily78]

Sound like how its done here in Northern Ireland. It is always a midwife delivers mine and dr's only intervene if there is a problem. I have been weighed once although my urine is tested every visit. we routinely get 3 scans unless there is a problem and then you get more. so far I have had 5 and still have another one to get at 34 - 35 weeks and circ is not usually done here. Plus we don't pay for any medical bills unless you want to go private.