11 weeks (found out yesterday) and lost re what to ask dr

[lostinparis]

I found out last night that I am 11 weeks pregnant. As this was unexpected I am unprepared + need to book the maternity asap (on top of that I am living in Paris so have to work my way round the sys here) - can anyone suggest questions I need to ask/things I need to think about in order to decide what sort of childbirth I want (here you have choice between an obstetrician doing the delivery or a midwife - any views?)+ any other points at all re what I need to do at this stage/think about now very welcome as I am completely lost.

congratulations

can't really offer any help but just thought i'd say congrats.

i had a midwife birth but just because thats the norm in the UK unless you have problems

Congratulations, lostinparis! I have never had a baby anywhere other than the UK so I can't offer an analysis of the French maternity system - but I would have thought your doctor is the natural place to start. Ask him/her to explain the options open to you and go on from there. You have a while till you have to think seriously about the actual birth. I know of at least one other French Mum on here: Frenchgirl, she may have more information for you.

Is this your first baby? Good luck!

There are several threads & MNers who can probably help, if they see this thread!
Try here and ggglimpopo's thread . Also... Frenchgirl is another MNetter who may have a clue.

Personally I'd prefer a midwife, but I sort of thought you had to have an obstetrician in France!

Don't worry about being "unprepared" at 11 weeks btw - I don't think any of us are "prepared" at that stage with baby#1. You've got bags of time. If you've found this site already you're probably being very efficient about it all. Congrats

The French are very medicalised for birth (very high rate of epidural).... if you think that's reassuring and your sort of thing than you'll be pleased. If you are more natural birth inclined you will have to do your research and that could be your 1st question to who ever you see.... what are my choices ?
There are more than 1 option but you need to find out what your choices are.... most women there are very happy with the standard of medicalised care.

I don't know anything about the French system, but here in Canada, the majority of women see an OB, with the remainder seeing their own GP.
I had 1st trimester care in the UK with a midwife, and I miss her dreadfully over here. I see an OB who does everything a midwife would do, except she is a doctor and I don't feel I have the same 'easy' chatty relationship with her.

Also, whilst the midwife would provide post-partum care for me AND the baby, over here I will be tranferred to the local HVs, who don't know me.

I know the midwife system takes a lot of abuse, but only being looked after by a doctor, who medicalises everything, is crap.

Midwives, in any country, get my vote

Felicitations lostinparis (hope you don't really feel lost though ). I hade my dd in the UK though! But my sister in law had two kids in France and had an OB. She was very happy with the care she received, and compared to the standard of care I got in Guildford, I do think she was much better looked after than I was... If you have a good relationship with your GP then he/she should be able to explain the different options to you in detail. I would go for an OB personnally though (but I come from a 'medical' family, so am biased...). I am sure you'll be absolutely fine, but don't be afraid of asking 'obvious' questions, after all you're in a foreign country and this is your first baby!
Bonne chance, keep posting! Sorry I'm not much help...