Hello my fellow bumpers

I thought it may be a good idea to have sort of a dictionary of terms on here or even just differences between what we do in the US (and Canada) versus what happens in the UK (and the rest of Europe) with pregnancy. I know most of these boards are filled with lovely ladies from the UK and us yanks have a hard time keeping up sometimes Also, there may be things we refer to that make the UK/European ladies scratch their heads.

Can you help with this list? I'll get it started and add as we go???

(UK) scan = (US) sonogram/ultrasound
(UK) NHS = National Health System (something we don't have in the US at all).
(UK) "up the duff" = pregnant (we don't say this in the US LOL)
(UK) trousers = (US) pants
(UK) knickers/pants = (US) underwear
(UK) Loo = (US) bathroom
(UK) pram/pushchair/buggy = (US) stroller
(US) vest = (US) undershirt for adults, onsie for babies?



Do you pay for NHS? In the US, we have insurance that we pay for through our jobs (if employed) and some people that have low incomes qualify for Medicaid/Medicare which is insurance paid for by the government with more restrictions that private healthcare.

I have also noticed that it seems like everyone in the UK has a midwife? We don't do that in the US unless you seek one out, its a choice. I wonder how midwives in the UK and the US differ? In the US, midwives can obtain hospital privileges, in some states can prescribe most medications needed by women, and can attend birth in the home, hospital or birth centers. They can provide family planning and women's health care in addition to the full scope of prenatal and birthing care. But generally, I think most women just see an OB and they have a midwife if they want a natural birth in a birthing center instead of a hospital.

and what is a nuchal scan? What is A&E? what is antenatal? I think these are UK terms..? or maybe I'm behind the times?

Ok, enough questions

Oh Dear Lou.. where to start

Ok, nuchal scan is a scan done between 11-14 weeks which checks for fluid around the base of the head/top of the spine which can indicate Down's syndrome. I assume that this is done as matter or course in the States as one of the normal scans done around 11-14 weeks

A&E is Accident and Emergency - same as your ER

Technically our healthcare (the NHS) is free to all, however if you work and earn over the basic threashold you have to pay contributions to the NHS as part of the taxation system. These are called National Insurance payments. The more you earn, the more you pay. Still only a small amount though in the wider scheme of things and much cheaper than paying for Private healthcare.

We still have to pay on top for things like prescriptions/most dental care and optometry (glasses) but if you are a no earner or low earner you can also get help paying for these.

On the midwife front... we tend to get assigned to a midwife as 1) our doctors are too busy to see us on pregnancy related issues and 2) we don't normally get an obstetrician unless we are referred because something is wrong. Midwives do pretty much everything

and midwives are covered by your health care?

awesome, that clears up some of my questions So midwife versus OB is totally different here. We all see OB's, even if we choose to see a midwife, but I've personally never known anyone that has had a midwife.

as for the nuchal scan, I didn't have this when I was pregnant with DD... we have a blood test around 14 weeks called the alpha-fetal protein test which checks for things like downs, neural tube defects, etc... but its not a scan. Unless something has changed in the past 7 years (highly possible) I don't think we do this?

I honestly have no idea, I think bc they're totally optional that they're not covered??? I could be wrong, but I don't know anyone who's ever had one.

In alberta, they aren't covered by our healthcare, but they will be as of april 1. boo! I am so happy about my bean, but I kinda wish I could take advantage of the province paying for the midwife rather than having to see an OB/GYN

Midwives are covered

I've had 2 scans so far, bloods etc and the only thing I have had to pay for were the scan photos (and the money for them went to charity)

UK Dummy = US Passifier.
UK Duvet = US Comforter?

UK - Nappy
US - Diaper

Its really pretty amazing how many differences there are between our countries.