Having a baby in France

[WHIGERS]

Does anyone have any info or experience of the Frence health care system? We are hoping to move there at the end of the year. We have a DD who is 7 months now and would like more eventually. I had a great home birth and would love to do this again but I am aware that the French love their hospitals and I am worried that I wouldn't be able to have a home birth there. We have friends who live there and they are not aware of anyone having home births, although I know tis does not mean people in FRance don't do them. They must surely. I would even cosider comming back to have other babies if It was not possible in France. I know it seems a little premature to be worring about this but it is the only thing that bothers me about moving there.

Look at Pamina's post (the second post of the discussion) here :
www.mumsnet.com/s/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=1737&stamp=020128155814

I may have more info tonight as I am meeting some doulas this PM and was told that there are doulas in France... so that must mean that there are home births as well.
My mum lives in France and was horrified (read : scared for me) when I told her I was going for home births.
The first time I mentioned it she called me back to say that her gynaecologist (in FR) thought I was mad... too dangerous ! Bear in mind that in France you tend to have a ob/gyn present at the hospital birth.

I'll also have a look on the interenet as I am French speaking.
Do you speak/read French ?

thanks pupuse, I don't speak French Yet, Will be learing shortly. what is a doulas?

I just read Pamina's post and the responces. Just what i thought, but I am not giving up yet. There must be different ways. I think the main thing is going to be that I am very well informed. Just as Well I have started looking into it now!!

Well I have found a doula contact in France and will e-mail her to find out aout home births over there. WHich part of France are you thinking of ?
A doula is a birth companion... and much more.
More info here : www.doula.org.uk

Also how's your daughter doing ?

My inlaws are French & from what they describe, IMO the French system is very traditional. For example, my husband is disparaging of anything touchy feely, new-agey - preferring to consider birth as standard as having yr tooth pulled - but then that could just be dh

French Public hospitals give very high quality of care, altho' most expats & rich people give birth at the American Hospital in Paris for the snob value. Hospital Foch is supposed to be the top maternity hospital in Paris - exactly in Surense which is 10 minuthes from the 16th. However my sister in law had a nightmare first birth there - her baby was breached & coming out quickly, in the end they took the decision to let it come out naturally (no epidural & breached too - ouch!). All turned out well, but for her next 2 - she was not going to let anyone keep her from the epidural!

Pupuse - We will be in the Dordogne (near a place called Riberac to be precise). Thanks for the web site I'll have a look.

DD (Olive) is well. We are still stuggling with the early mornings and having just been away things have become a bit disrupted. (5.30 this morning!). I am not getting as stressed out about it these days but would so much love to get it sorted. I and giving her a few days to see if she settles back after being away. I have been letting her have at least an hour at the am nap and anything form an hour to 2 and half hours at pm nap(12ish), depending on when she wakes. By half 6pm is shattered usually and goes down like a log, but not surprising if she has been awake from 6ish. So you know, much the same really :-)
Thabnks for asking.

pena and pamina - thanks for checking things out for me you are all gems!

Let me get back to you when I find out more about France... maybe a little while (you never know, some people are slow on e-mail )

Read the Early waking thread.....

Got some great info on Home birht in rance from someone who has done it 2 times and is about to do ot agian. If anyone is interested go to
Yahoo! Groups : HomeBirhtUK. You need to join to read but it's good! Search for Home Birth in France and the Alison is the one to look for.

WHIGERS - good news - my contact has come back with some info as well.
If you want me to get her to contact you, please get Mumsnet to give you my e-mail address and I will put you in touch with her.

WHIGERS- the French contact is actually in France but from Wales, I have given her the website details so maybe she'll post direct !

Thanks Pupuce - How do I go about getting mumsnet to give me your email address?

Thanks Pamina - Will look into that organisation!

I am away for the weekend so will post again after that. Have a fun easter! Great excuse to eat lots of chocolate!!!