Public or private hospital in France?

[sarah19kieran]

Hi mummies!

I'm 12 weeks pregnant with my first baby and living outside of Paris in Puteaux, so I'm very clueless about most things to do with pregnancy here in France!

I'm currently registered at a public hospital in Neuilly sur seine (Puteaux and Courbevoie are partner hospitals), as I panicked when I was told to register early, so I just picked the closest one!

Has anyone given birth in neuilly or heard any reviews, good or bad?

I've heard amazing reviews about a private hospital called Les Lilas (apparently they do water births which is something I would love to have). But does anyone know how much I would be looking to pay for a private place?

Should I consider changing or would me and the baby still get good care in neuilly in a public maternity hospital?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :-)

A lot of the expats choose to give birth in private hospitals, but IME public hospitals in France are excellent. Reasons people often give for choosing private hospitals are to do with people thinking birth here is over medicalised. I know plenty of people who have given birth in public French hospitals and had a great experience. More people who have given birth in public hospital than in private actually.

Have you a midwife or an OB GYN? You might like to talk to them about your options and what you would like to do.

You would also need to see what your health insurance will cover.

Do you speak French? It may be worth going on to Doctissimo or one of the mum forums and reading what people have to say about Neuilly public hospital or any others you are considering.

Someone will no doubt be along with more experience of the hospitals in your part of Paris.

Neuilly-sur-Seine hospital was the birthplace of my two DSSs (19 and 17, so some years ago!) and of many children we know. I expect the care is still highly medicalised - but it is a safe place to give birth and has on site neonatal care, unlike most private hospitals.

I forgot to say that I would go public in France pretty much any time over private, for anything. The facilities are better. I mean the medical facilities.

Also IME the wards are nothing like British wards. Your postnatal room won't have more than 2 patients including you in it. I have never had to share a room in a French hospital, except on one occasion in an emergency, and have never paid private fees. It was just luck :)

In Puteaux you're not far from the Franco-Britannique if language is an issue. Forget Les Lilas, it's right over the other side of town and you won't want to do that journey on the periph when you're in labour. Other than that, I had my DS in a public hospital and had excellent care and a room of my own. Some places now have maisons de la naissance, there's one in Pontoise, but not sure if there's anywhere closer for you. And as always, check out Message Paris for advice on childbirth and parenting in Paris in english.

PS thank fuck the process was highly medicalised else me and my son would be dead.