I just asked my sister about this (she's a doctor and delivers babies). She said that most docs she knows (including her) will induce at 39 weeks if requested by the patient. She said the reason for this is, in their view, it's fine for the patient and more convenient for the doctor.

Oh I know. I didn't mean it was free. I don't think people think that here. We know you pay for it in taxes. I just meant the government negotiates the rates and decides how much to pay and here it's privately done. Private insurance pays a lot more for procedures historically and the government is (for obvious and very good reasons) always trying to cut costs. I completely understand you still pay for it in the end, you just don't get as much control over it. My degree is in Health Care Administration so I've had several classes on the subject and have done lots of research. The U.s health care system is very flawed I know. I am not saying ours is better because we are private by any means.

also wanted to say as beth brought up I am in a small town and that I live 1.5 hours from my hospital and like beth said there is worry of going into labor on the road and getting stuck in a traffic jam or delivering on the side of the road so they strip the membranes and start to monitor closely after that. I know its not that way every where but here it is.

I had my cervixs checked at 36 weeks because I was already getting my Group B test done & I was a 1-2. Since then I have been getting checked. I believe that this is my Drs practice to start checking & I don't mind. I had an appointment yesterday & kidding around I said when can we take her, he said next Thursday, I was shocked. I was like cool I may not make it till then, cause I lost my plug this morning

I like it when I have a choice to be able to induce or not. But that is my personal opinion. But not all Drs are like mine.

I just feel the need to point out that our healthcare isn't "free" neither does the government pay for it. Working people pay National Insurance every week/month )however often they are paid). So we do pay for our healthcare. Not forgetting we do have the option of going privately but it is extremely expensive.

Also, someone mentioned about not meeting who will deliver your baby. That's actually not true in all cases.

In my area, we have a Midwifery Group Practice and I am a Midwifery Group Practice client. This means that with ALL my midwife appointments, she will come to MY house, I have only had to go to hospital for my 1st lot of bloods at 12 weeks and my scans.
My midwife will also be at the birth of my baby & will deliver her IF is possible, unless one of her other ladies are in labour or she cannot get to the hospital on time etc. Or complications etc.
This is a new thing in my area and very popular. My local hospital now has a midwife-led birthing unit which is where my wonderful midwife comes from The only downside is, if there are complications I will have to go to the next town to give birth there. But we have a choice where we want to give birth in my area, here or in the next town.
No pain relief except gas&air and water in the birthing centre also :S Lol.

My Dr will be inducing at 40+1 because that's when she is on call at the hospital. I got to choose from a 2 day window after my due date of when she was available. I've been getting checks/internals since 35weeks, I don't see how it does any harm. My internal yesterday has actually sped things up for me and I may be able to go naturally in the next few days rather than having to be induced (i've lost a lot of plug and been having contractions since my appt)

The optimal time for babies to be born is between 39-40 weeks. If you google it, statistics show that the rates of stillborns, breathing problems, jaundice, and loads of other issues are at their lowest between 39-40 weeks, anything before or after the rates start to rise again.

Anyways, I don't see why everybody talks about the US being so "medical" like it is a bad thing? I personally love our system, I love having a doctor that has had 12+ years of schooling take care of me and my baby, and I like having said doctor at my delivery. I like delivering in top notch hospitals filled with doctors and medicine and advanced machines that make sure everything goes right with my labor. Why is that so bad?

And where I am, you can choose to be induced starting at 39 weeks and you don't have to have a medical reason for it.

I've never heard of a sweep... I feel so left out of the lingo!

Im going to start getting internals at around 35 weeks, because as a PP said that is when they will do my Strep B test. And from what Ive read, not 100% sure, so dont hold me to it, I dont think they do Strep B tests in UK. But other than that I dont know if my doctor offers sweeps, they havent said anything to me about it, and I also dont know when I will be offered an induction, if one is offered. But I just wanted to offer my input on the internals

Yeah I don't really know what a "sweep" is...I was checked at 36 weeks because thats when they did the group B strep test...I am scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks if LO doesn't come sooner...I think here in the US the risks and complications having the baby after 40 weeks is greater..so they would just rather induce earlier to avoid them!