Hi,
I gave birth to DD in Namibia (same hospital where Angelina Jolie gave birth to Shiloh four months earlier, and I was in the same recovery room as her and had same midwife looking after me). It was a private hospital and I saw a local GP throughout who was also present at the birth. At every appointment she tested my urine and weighed me (never had that here with subsequent pregnancies). I ended up with high blood pressure so was induced five days early. There were no antenatal classes to attend, I had no idea about anything and it was a basically 'learn on the job' - I birthed on my back as that as what I was instructed to do. The stay was for three nights. All babies see a paediatrician before they leave the hospital, high risk or not and continue to see a paediatrician for all the check ups - not a MCHN. There are no mothers groups or anything like that. It wasn't a positive experience for me, very limited options and help after. No lactation consultations, no help with sleep, no PND help, no nothing. In all seriousness I don't know how I got through it, I had no family and no friends with kids there and DH was working 7 am till 7 pm everyday, it was a very lonely experience for me and not one of joy that it should have been. When I gave birth to DS1 here in Australia, I was amazed at the support networks there are and realised that we are a very very lucky country indeed, in terms of the birth options and support that we do have here.