giving birth in france

[MotherOfIssy]

I've read various stories on good / bad expereinces, but I haven't managed to get to the bottom of whether they take your baby away at night so you can 'rest'. I'm planning to have my second in France later this year and do not, under any circumstances, want them to take my baby at night... anyone know whether I will have a choice in this matter? I've read that they are pretty old fashioned in France...

I gave birth in France in a public maternite and there was no suggestion made of taking the baby away. I found out later that there was one for women who needed it, but rooming in was the norm. It was my first baby but it certainly didn't feel old fashioned.

Google the maternite and you'll see the rates of cs, epidurAL etc. It's different there I'm sure - they don't think g&a helps, had never heard of tens, but did have herbal baths, acupuncture preparation etc. Plus the rooms on the public wards hold a max of 2 women and for e30 a night I got a private room. I spent 5 nights in hospital with meals brought, a mw or nurse who came to help with bf when I rang a bell, a nurse to show me how to wash the baby etc every morning and a goodnight herbal tea at lights out!

Check out your local hospitals - I know from friends that the local private hospital is very medicalised, run by gyn/obs and little mw input and another is large and a bit assembly line. Don't assume they are all the same

I'll let you know in two weeks time as I am two weeks away from giving birth with first baby.

You might want to post this on the Living Overseas thread - when I got pregnant I posted there and got lots of really friendly, helpful responses.

Also - when is your due date? In France they usually give the EDD at around 41+3 (that is my due date) and they won't let you go much longer than that before inducing - or certainly that is my experience to date They will laugh at you for thinking you are due at 40w! Although in saying that I have been offered a sweep tomorrow.

My experience to date is that the care is generally quite medicalised and depending on the hospital they can be a little stuffy about how you labour/give birth and what kind of pain relief you use (you need to 'book' an epidural and have blood tests beforehand, although that doesn't necessarily bind you to having one). I concur that they have never heard of 'tens!'

You are nil by mouth during labour too (you can use a water spray though) in case you need a caesarian and in case you need to go for surgery afterwards.

It really depends on area to area and whether you give birth in a clinic or a public hospital - our local public hospital is great, I will have my own private room and the baby does sleep in the room. I have heard that in clinics you can request to have the baby sleep elsewhere, not sure if that is true though!

If you are planning on BF then make sure you and your partner know what you want as they are quite old-fashioned about BF too. Read up before hand and stand your ground about certain things. I think only 60% of French women BF on leaving the 'maternite' and a lot stop when the return to work at 10 weeks.

This is just a small bit of help based on what my mid-wife (English but based in France) has told me to expect.

How long will you be in France before giving birth?

I also live in France (married to a Frenchman) and will find out all this for myself in a couple of weeks (due date in France: 24th Feb), so I will let you know...

However, I second everything flyingcloud has said apart from the BF bit, which seems a bit harsh. All my French friends BF for at least 6 months (even after returning to work!) and everyone has been very supportive of my decision to try to BF myself. I have even been prescribed homeopathy to help prepare my body for BF!!

The level of care during my pregnancy has been outstanding in comparison to what I hear from my friends in the UK, albeit with a more medicalized focus than perhaps I'd like. However, this being my first birth, I'm keeping my mind open to all eventualities and appreciate how much time all the doctors and MW have for me and my questions.

My local hospital has an excellent maternity wing and I will be staying in my own room and no-one will remove my baby from my side from the moment he is born, unless I request it. We don't even give him his first bath until he is 1 day old, and it will be done in my room. And any time he is to be removed from my side and I can't follow, the father will accompany him!!! I don't think you need to worry in the slightest.

My French MV does agree that France is a bit behind countries such as the UK in terms of alternative birthing therapies and methods, but as the Public Health Care system is so good and free of charge, people have great confidence in it and feel no need to seek alternatives. However, more and more hospitals are giving women choices (birthing pools, birth balls, alternative birthing positions, etc) and the MW are being trained in all these things, so I think it's a question of finding out about your particular hospital and what they are used to doing.

Anyway, I will update this thread if necessary in a couple of weeks after my own French birth experience. After the past 8.5 months witnessing the level of Health Care here, I have no doubt that everything will be fine! I'm sure you have nothing to worry about!

Yes, surfwidow is right about the level of care, it is very reassuring for a first-timer, having monthly check-ups and although annoying the bloodtests are also reassuring (monthly check-up for toxoplasmosis immunity).

My experience of bf is completely different to surfwidow's though as none of my French friends have BF - those that have are English/Irish expats. Most of my French friends have been a bit about the fact that I want to! But the people I have met in ante-natal are all planning on BF.

I have no worries about the birth as the care is outstanding.

In our hospital though they do not allow the mother to have skin to skin after a CS until she is out of recovery although the father can go with the baby and he can have skin-to-skin.

Wow. This is all fantastic - thanks very much. This is my first post and it is so great to hear from you all.

This will be my second child and I am only just pregnant - due early Oct. Not sure exactly when in France! I was very keen on a natural birth with my first and ended up with an emerg c-sec... ah well these things happen... so in actual fact I am keen to have another c-sec this time (never thought I would say that!)

I'm glad to hear they don't take the baby as that was really concerning me. I breastfed on demand last time, despite the fact that I missed all of the early skin-on-skin as was out for the count and fully intend to bf on demand again.

I'd love to hear about your experiences once you have given birth and what you think -if you have a moment to yourself....

We move over in mid June, so hopefully I'll have sufficent time to get into the French system before the big day!

Good luck all those about to give birth - hurrah for you and thanks again for taking the time to reassure me!

Make sure you get issued with a declaration de grossesse (for some reason I didn't for ages) as this entitles you to free medical care from the fifth month of pregnancy and also, in our case, gets us a free car seat (this is particular to where we are but there may be other things to take advantage of.

Definitely get your medical care, social security etc sorted out first - there is a bit of paperwork to fill out, but it will make it all so much easier!

great advice - thanks! It's paperwork, paperwork, paperwork in France isn't it!

Hello. I had my first birth in UK and my second birth in France . If i ever had another I would definitely go back to France! It was fantastic - the care before, during and after, I couldn't fault it. All through i felt i was in the best of hands. They were highly professional, very caring - what more can i say! The nurses even looked after DD1 so papa could be by my side during the birth. They certainly didn't take my baby away afterwards, she stayed by my side, the doctors/nurses tended to my every need (including midnight snacks) and the nurses babysat baby for brief periods to let me sit outside in the outdoor cafe to get some sunshine. Bliss

I think as with all things, it depends on where you give birth. DD1 was born in a French hospital at about midnight after a long labour, and it was suggested to me that they take her away for the night so that I could rest. I insisted that I wanted to have her with me and that I wanted to breastfeed her.
My request was granted without too much trouble and we had a nice individual room.

I was somewhat surprised to wake up at about 4am and to find that someone was bringing my daughter back to the room (I had been fast asleep and had not heard her stir). The lady said "Oh, we just went to change her nappy". She didn't settle straight away so i took her in my arms, at which point she did a large milky burp.

When I asked in the morning what had happened they denied giving her a bottle, but I know that this would not be at all unusual in France, and I still fail to understand how she could have brought up milk when my milk hadn't come in yet.