Giving Birth in Germany 🇩🇪 v. USA 🇺🇸 #livingingermany #germanyvsusa #birthstory

[usa.mom.in.germany]

This was the first video I ever posted that received over 1M views. It is WILD to hear how my voice has changed and to see my demeanor be completely different 💚

[solala]

I'm glad that universal healthcare gives you the option of a home birth AND still covers all hospital expenses if you need to go there.

[jennenny]

I have had three babies in the US. I chose to forgo an epidural all three times specifically because they force you to stay in the hospital bed hooked up to a bunch of IVs and monitors as soon as you get the epidural. Studies show that once you are hooked up to continual monitoring, you are much likely to end up with interventions such as vacuum-assisted birth or C-section. I tend to have very difficult recoveries from things like that and wasn't willing to take on that increased risk. However, if a walking epidural were offered, I would absolutely have considered it.

And I want to be clear that I have absolutely nothing against medically assisted births, whether emergent or elective. I'm so glad those choices exist and strongly support everyone's right to choose the best options for their body and their family. Bodily autonomy, medical privacy and informed consent are absolutely fundamental to a free society.

[ChristineKrannich]

My last birth experience was almost 34yrs ago in the US.

This is the first time I’ve heard of a walking epidural and I’m so glad it exists! I asked the anesthesiologist back in 1989 if he had a way to do it to block the pain (or lower it) but still let me out of bed. Nope!

[sayhello]

Oh that’s so interesting. The hospital where I delivered in the USA offers walking epidurals— they actually recommend them.

[Robynhoodlum]

Not to mention you get a lot more time to recover in Germany, and your partner can be there too if that’s what you need.

[sisuguillam]

I am so happy you had a safe birth - and especially safe options to pick from that suited you and baby.

[bronwynbrin]

I think the walking epidural is a newer thing. I'm in Australia and had a stock standard epidural for my 1st child but was recommended the walking epidural for the 2nd. Either that or I was in a more progressive hospital.

[kianna]

My parents are both German immigrants to the US, and I got my dual citizenship for Germany, im highly considering leaving America more and more😅

[Cat_DeGaulle]

I swear I love germany. I want to live their so bad

[Bananabanana]

There’s also not being charged to hold your baby….yes that is a real cost.

[keinPlanernsthaft]

I feel like the American health system kinda sucks…I‘m glad you had a better experience in Germany! <3

[ChillTheChilli]

You should watch "the business of being born"

[MichaelsPwner]

A walking epidural!?!
I didn’t know that was a thing.
The only thing I know about epidurals is they give you permanent nerve damage because the medical staff is incompetent.
I know multiple people who got nerve damage from them, so my wife opted to not get an epidural at all.

[Why-D]

Yes, the Kreißsäle in Germany have many different options how to give birth.
The problem with a home birth is often the insurance of the mid wife.

[MedEwok]

As an anaesthesiologist I am surprised you weren't offered a walking epidural in the US. Evidence based medicine led us to lower the dose of local anesthetics in all epidurals for giving birth years ago, so that by now every epidural in the maternity ward should be one that allows walking. A significant number of the studies demonstrating that these walking epidurals have less complications was made in the US.

[travellolo]

Wow, what a difference. Sounds exactly the same as my daughter in law here in CA. There was no out of pocket cost with my son's insurance.

[notmyrealname]

Do walking epidurals even exist in the US? I haven’t birthed in a hospital in 13years, but I remember that all of the medication options involved losing my mobility. By “all” I actually think there was only two options, IV and epidural.

[xolotl_lemone]

Thanks for the tone tag, as an autistic person this helps a lot

[captain_context]

Doctors in the US almost never go to peoples homes except if its an absolute life or death situation. I have heard its because they are afraid of getting robbed of their meds and supplies, but I also think it has to do with... Peoples living standards often being rather... Lets say unsanitary. Over here in Norway its quite normal for doctors to do home visits.