Being a predominantly American site do any of you other UK mums or mums to be find all the American traditions and things interesting? I feel like there is such pressure on them and that we are a lot more laid back in the UK!
Hi there, I live in Hayle, Cornwall! I'm 20 weeks + 4, and I found out what I'm having on Tuesday ;-)! I definitely agree that we are a lot more laid back in the UK, I don't think I could deal with all the added pressure. It has been a real eye opener finding out about the American traditions. Have a good day everyone ;-)! Xxxx
Me! I live in Kidderminster. I do agree that there seems to be a lot more pressure on mum's from the US, which is a shame because pregnancy is meant to be an enjoyable time x
I'm 18 weeks (FTM) and in SW London (Ealing). I'm an American who moved to London 4 years ago, and I can say I'd rather be pregnant here than in the US! Far less pressure, societal expectations, and senses of entitlement. And while the NHS certainly has its flaws, I feel sorry for all the pregnant Americans worrying about costs and insurance.
London... Yes I think it's quite different but my friend is Italian and they do things very differently there also. I must admit it seems more relaxed here.. All NHS experience has been really good so far...
Hiya! North london momma here... so glad this thread opened - I was thinking I was the only one who thought all the hype of announcing your pregnancy and babys gender and planning a nursery etc.. was pressurising, my friends and I are much more chilled
Yeah, I'm from Glasgow. All of the American chat certainly is different and sometimes confusing. I agree with all PP about the NHS being a godsend, having a baby is hard enough without having to worry about insurance and those costs!
For a little US perspective, I think it depends on the person! I'm not stressed out about baby at all (other than the usual "first child, hope I don't kill it the first day" stuff, haha), am not setting up a nursery (just having her in my room at least at first for easy night feedings), am not doing a gender reveal party, am only having a baby shower because my best friend is excited to host one, spent exactly 30 seconds coming up with an announcement idea and had a friend photoshop it for free in one day (she enjoys such things so it was just fun for both of us), have received no unwanted advice or mean comments from people, and have amazing insurance through my husband's job and am not paying a cent for any doctor's visits or hospital delivery! I think in general the type of people who spend time online talking about babies tend to be the type who also are very into the pomp and circumstance of it all, or who have more anxiety about things...not necessarily a bad thing, but also not necessarily representative of how all Americans approach pregnancy
All that said, every time I go to my fancy doctor's office without paying a cent, I also make sure to remember that I'm blessed to have free healthcare, and how messed up it is that other women in my country end up tens of thousands of dollars in debt before their babies are even a day old.
Hi! I'm British, from Derbyshire. But been living in the US for nearly 2 years. I find things a lot more overwhelming being over here as things are so different, I miss the NHS but fortunately insurance is mostly not an issue for me, I also don't have to pay a penny towards prenatal care or delivery. I just wish I didn't have to deal with so much paperwork!
A couple of friends here are keen to throw me a baby shower, which I feel a little weird about as it's not something I'm used to, and my step mum spent ages yesterday telling me how wrong she thought they were, so I'm torn!
There is a small group of us Brits in the International Bumpies forum, but it could do with some livening up!
I'm from Truro, Cornwall, grew up in Bristol and now living in Sydney Australia with my Australian partner and our mixed bubs To see british people on here excites me
Hi to all the Brit mums! I'm in the U.S. but I love Britain and it's so interesting to read how things are different compared to America. Just wanted to say hi :-h
I studied mostly British history in college and I love seeing where all the people I've read about and studied lived. I want to see the cliffs of Wales and Hadrian's wall. York and Edinburgh are on my list of things to see next time. My last trip I came during the 500th anniversary of Henry VIIIs reign which was so amazing.
The Grand Canyon is really huge. I was surprised how big it was and it took all day to see just the sections of it we went to. New York is overwhelming. It's pretty but you get tired just from the hustle and bustle.
There's tons of stuff I haven't seen here yet either. I'm on the east coast near the capital so I want to explore the west coast and up north.
Well this is the nicest thread I have ever read on here ) I didn't know there was an international board and I can't seem to find it. I love American traditions and enjoy things like baby showers and reveals etc. Americans definitely like to celebrate everything and we are more reserved here which isn't necessarily a good thing!
I'm 19 weeks today, i live in Dubai but my family is in the UK, I'm thinking of being with them for the delivery & post pardom, do u know if my old NHS will still be working? Will i be taken in easily?
@Leilaq25 I think you need your national insurance card or number. If you still have that your all sweet. I think that's right... Maybe? Back up anyone? And yeah this is actually a nice thread And how can you find the international board?
Hi Rebecca! I actually live so close, UWE area! Great thread! I don't know any pregnant ladies like me yet so would be nice to know someone from Bristol. A shame you're too far
They are trying to charge me $220 for my anti natal classes. I may skip that and go to pregnancy yoga instead. Also added northern beaches mums to be group and there is a picnic on the beach next month with lots of pregnant women in the area. Facebook is actually good for meeting pregnant women close to you! Just google it in your area Something I never thought I'd be doing but hey!
For those looking for the International Bumpies forum, once you click on the Community tab, scroll down to the Stages/Specialty/Local section, and View All for the Specialty. It's listed in there. If there is an easier way to find it I haven't discovered it yet! I like having a thread in the birth month club too though :-D
I'm an American but I lived in Sheffield for several years before moving back stateside, and my husband is from Norfolk. Really miss the NHS and hate dealing with all the stress of insurance and not knowing for sure how much everything is going to cost! My brother and sister in law had a baby last winter in London and their experience just seemed so much nicer than a lot of the stuff here! Maybe we'll relocate before we think about having another one
I'm not sure what Americans like so much about Britain- maybe the fact that we come from there but how we do things is different?
I know what I like lol
I love British history, it's quite violent (Royal lineage) and I like visiting castles. My favourite is the Tower of London, I went again in 2012 and it takes my breath away. The Grand Canyon just looks incredible. I'm not a theme park person but would really like to see some of the smaller towns and cities of the U.S. I can never get my head around how huge a country it is!
The Tower of London was amazing. I got goosebumps going up to tower green. We did Hampton court and Windsor too.
Small towns are the best places to get an idea for what American life is like for a lot of people. Little east coast towns especially near the coast are so cute and fun. The U.S. Is best done in sections or with a specific destination in mind otherwise it's overwhelming
Re: UK mums
been a real eye opener finding out about the American traditions.
Have a good day everyone ;-)! Xxxx
To see british people on here excites me
I'm in the U.S. but I love Britain and it's so interesting to read how things are different compared to America.
Just wanted to say hi :-h
I want to see the cliffs of Wales and Hadrian's wall. York and Edinburgh are on my list of things to see next time.
My last trip I came during the 500th anniversary of Henry VIIIs reign which was so amazing.
The Grand Canyon is really huge. I was surprised how big it was and it took all day to see just the sections of it we went to. New York is overwhelming. It's pretty but you get tired just from the hustle and bustle.
There's tons of stuff I haven't seen here yet either. I'm on the east coast near the capital so I want to explore the west coast and up north.
I know what I like lol
I didn't know there was an international board and I can't seem to find it.
I love American traditions and enjoy things like baby showers and reveals etc. Americans definitely like to celebrate everything and we are more reserved here which isn't necessarily a good thing!
I think that's right... Maybe? Back up anyone?
And yeah this is actually a nice thread
And how can you find the international board?
Something I never thought I'd be doing but hey!
I'm an American but I lived in Sheffield for several years before moving back stateside, and my husband is from Norfolk. Really miss the NHS and hate dealing with all the stress of insurance and not knowing for sure how much everything is going to cost! My brother and sister in law had a baby last winter in London and their experience just seemed so much nicer than a lot of the stuff here! Maybe we'll relocate before we think about having another one
We did Hampton court and Windsor too.
Small towns are the best places to get an idea for what American life is like for a lot of people. Little east coast towns especially near the coast are so cute and fun.
The U.S. Is best done in sections or with a specific destination in mind otherwise it's overwhelming