If you're already ridiculously jealous of the generous maternity leave policies mamas overseas get, this latest move is going to make you positively green. In the U.K. a new plan will give all women one-on-one care from a midwife before, during, and after their babies are born.
According to The Guardian, the plans recently unveiled by the National Health Service are meant to offer better care to women and to better help identify and support women who suffer from postpartum depression. Under the plan women who have miscarriages or stillborn babies will also receive increased care. How bloody brilliant is that?
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told Yahoo!:
No woman should have to cope with postnatal depression without help and support. The changes we are putting in place today will mean that the NHS is providing even more support to women who have this serious condition.
It's seriously wonderful news for the women of the U.K., but why is it that they make it so much easier for women there than we do here in the United States? And they get the clotted cream too!
I know they have socialized medicine and all, but we've got to figure out how to do some of this here too. Sure we can hire our own midwives, and some women do, but many can't afford one. They're often shuttled between numerous doctors and nurses, never seeing the same one twice. Having one "named" person who gets to know you and your pregnancy would be beneficial in countless ways from increased breastfeeding rates to fewer c-sections, say experts.
Research continues to show how important a woman's pregnancy and delivery are to the health of a child. Few things should be more important than giving every person the best start possible in life, no matter where you live.
Do you agree that giving every woman a dedicated midwife would be helpful during pregnancy?
Image via Seattleye/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 31
I am SO JEALOUS. I actually lived in the UK for a year when I was 21. All my British friends complained about the NHS (in the same way we complain about bad traffic in LA, or long lines at Starbucks) and I always told them do you even realize how LUCKY you are?! When i was over there, even though I wasn't a citizen, I had access to FREE health care (I was a student at a local University studying abroad) INCLUDING FREE BIRTH CONTROL!!! it was amazing. it was actually the first time in my life I got on the pill, b/c they just made it so darn easy and affordable. Not only did they give me the p[ill, they also scheduled 2 follow up appointments at 3 month intervals to check my blood pressure and make sure I was adapting to the medication OK. Every time I got sick I knew I could go see a doctor no probloem. I was practically weeping for joy while my British friends were scoffing about how inefficient the NHS is because they might have to wait 20 min to see a doctor. 20 min is NOTHING comapred to thousands of dollars worth of bills & insurance premiums etc!!! I miss the NHS, they were WONDERFUL to me and I wasn't even a citizen! :(
Why cant the USA just follow this example?
Wow...to say I'm jealous would be a HUGE understatement.
Amazing! :) The US is seriously lacking in the way we care for pregnant woman before and after the birth of their babies. There are several countries we would be wise to follow in regards to pregnancy/labor/delivery.
Before we even get to that point though, midwifery needs to be legal in all states because at the moment it's not.
You can do this here. It's as simple as choosing, hiring, and paying your own midwife. I did it.
To carify my earlier post, midwife or physician.
The problem is culturally, Americans don't value "free" things (in general) and our government is not fantastic at working with social service systems (see US education if you need an example.) I wish health care weren't so ridiculously cost prohibitive. You shouldn't need insurance to buy birth control, go to a regular check up (or even a non serious visit.) We as citizens are so passive in our health care and the AMA should be actively investigating complaints against doctors. For a professional association you never really hear about them being involved, law suits should not be the standard way or have a complaint addressed. Rant complete.