i have a few friends in the uk who have just had kids, to me it sounds a little more medicalised, more hospital stay seems the norm. and less check ups before birth. i was having scans every other day from 40 weeks and daily from 41 weeks, my uk friends thought that was amazing as they just had one a week in those last two weeks. and they were amazed that i was 'allowed' to go 12 days over....apparently 8 is the norm there....
i dont know if thats the norm inthe medical system or just that group of friends and the way they think and plan thier own births.
interested to hear what others say...