Worried about returning to France with newborn!! Need reassurance!

[Zozojones]

Hi All
I'm currently living in France(Brittany) and 4 months pregnant with my second child. I'm due early june by which time i'll be back in the UK, and have planned to have baby there, all being well, but have to return to France in august because of DH's job.
I'm registered with a doctor here as well as in the UK for scans etc. I'm having french lessons but feel extremely isolated not speaking the language, plus i'm stressing about the aftercare for baby when i return as it seems over here they don't have a support system like we do in the UK.
I worry about vaccinations and general welfare of baby, maybe i'm over reacting but after having DD in the UK i just don't know what to expect over here.
Anyone had similar experiences in France?
Would greatly appreciate any advice you may have.
Thanks in advance

Hi,
I saw your post in pregnancy and glad you have posted here.

Firstly there is a great organisation called Message Paris which may be able to help you, although being in Brittany, the uses you get from it may not be the same. There are some great resources for non-French speaking mothers though.

Can I ask why you are having the baby in England (none of my business, I know). I just think from an admin point of view it is so much better for the baby to be born in the country where you are going to live. I have had one baby in France and DC2 is due in 4.5 weeks (roughly :) ) - the support in hospital is good, but you don't get a lot post-birth. The organisation you need is the PMI (I think, the Protection Maternelle et Infantile). You should have a local one in Brittany and I suggest contacting them. If you are declared as pregnant in France they should contact you automatically - we had a local mw from the PMI who came out to visit us pre-birth to check that we were OK and had everything we needed. They also do drop-ins and I was able to take DD there to get weighed.

Do you or your husband have a Carte Vitale or a mutuelle here in France? The benefits are so much greater if you do and you will find support to fall back on.

Normally a baby born in France is seen in the first couple of weeks by your GP or Paediatre (effectively a child's gp, not private). In my case I needed to make the appt in the first couple of days post birth. They are seen fairly regularly by their doctor in the first nine months of life, and the carnet de sante, issued at birth is a great resource for keeping on top of what appts should be made and what the schedule is.

My experiences have been very positive here in France, I have a great paediatre and have a great mw. They both advocate natural approaches and minimal intervention where possible.

The one thing I found about giving birth in France is that the five days spent in hospital for a first child are hugely helpful, generally your milk has come in and you have the baby blues bit out of the way and you go home knowing how to give a bath and change a nappy. Obviously it's all about who you see and what your HCP are like, and the approaches aren't all the same to the UK.

Not sure any of this has been helpful, but keep posting questions and good luck with it all.

You'll be fine. If you do the medical bit in France then you'll have the vocabulary etc. It is very easy to continue the check ups if you give birth in France because you get the carnet. I don't know how you apply for one or attach the baby to the carte vitale if you don't.

From a language POV depending where in Brittany you are you may be able to find English speaking HCPs and at the very least other anglophone parents.

Do be careful about being clobbered with a non-resident NHS bill if you decide to return.

That is all extremely helpful!! I'm having baby in the UK purely because i had my first DD there privately and want the same experience with No2. My french is extremely limited and i just don't feel comfortable not fully understanding what's going on.

My husband can translate but i want to feel relaxed and calm during a sensitive time so you can understand why i'm favouring UK. Also living in france will only be for 2-3 years maximum.

I have just received my carte vitale and have registered with a gynaecologist here who i've seen for a scan, but i return to the UK every 6-8 weeks to see my obstetrician who is delivering baby.

I know some people might think i'm mad but i miss home so much that its also an opportunity to see friends and family at the same time.

I do understand, and if France is never going to be your home, then you have good reasons.

However I think it's hard to have one foot in another country. To be honest, unless you go private in the UK or you have an unusually bad hospital in France then I think the standard of care is going to be higher in France (although that is based on my personal experience and may not be true of everywhere).

I am just trying to reassure you rather than get you to change your mind - it's your choice of course. But obviously babies and childbirth aren't always that predictable and if you end up going into labour early or have a problem, then you should know that the healthcare here is first rate and with a French speaking DH you will cope just fine, as Fraktious says. :)

I hope someone can advise you on the admin side because that I can't help with.

I think it depends what you want whether the standard of care is higher or not. If you want the works France is the best place to be. If you want a hands off, natural, whale song and water birth then it's not the right place. I was enormously stressed about it all because I have a huge fear of hospitals and everything that goes with them but communication with a great team of MW and an understanding OB sorted it. Based on that I would make preparations for birthing in France including a clear birth plan and the relevant vocabulary just in case. The worst thing would be to go into labour early and have the stress of that plus the language plus not having made preparations.

Completely see your point, but i plan on going private in the UK like i did with DD. I know things can be unpredictable in pregnancy, but I guess i may of thought differently if i'd been living in France longer(only 5 months) and had more experience with their services. Can i ask where in france you had first baby?
I feel it could vary depending on area.

Whereabouts in Brittany are you Zozo I know there are a few Mnetters in Brittany who have either had babies in the UK and gone to Brittany as soon as they've had the passport or have indeed given birth in Brittany - maybe they live near you and can offer you some RL support.

The standard of care in France is pretty good, although I delayed my own move to France until I'd had my baby because I felt like you that I didn't want to deliver a baby in a country where I had language difficulties so I completely understand where you're coming from.

alicia: I'm in Lorient area which is north western france.

I was in Reunion. Incidentally the base at Lorient is a possible posting for us in August and I have checked out the maternities near there

I gave birth in Picardie. Since DD was born the hospital have acquired a birthing pool :)

zozojones I'm near Vannes (about 40 minutes from Lorient) & had DS2 here in 2008, you're very welcome to cat me or ask any questions you want...

Thanks jenpetronus. Will keep you in mind :)