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Original poster

Having a baby in France

52 replies

Mumpbump · 04/07/2007 09:30

I have a very strong suspicion that my sister who lives in Chamonix is pregnant and am worried about how she is going to manage with the French system and, in particular, being half-way up a mountain (in Chamonix, not actually on a ski slope!) when the baby arrives.

Can anyone give me some reassurance about being pg in France and the system there?

Thanks very much!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumpbump · 18/07/2007 09:55

Well, I'm a bit puzzled tbh. Apparently she went along to see a doctor who told her to come back when she was 12 weeks and waved a leaflet at them which they weren't allowed to take. So she hasn't got any idea of what to expect and I only know about the English system which isn't much help!!

Should she arrange to see an obs privately?

OP posts:
ggglimpopo · 18/07/2007 09:57

If she has a good mutuelle, all her private care will be reimbursed. Does she have friends with babies or young children? She should ask around and see who everyone recommends.

Rach35 · 18/07/2007 11:22

Did she see a GP or a obs/gynae? I would suggest she hooks up with a Gynae consultant (and you can change them quite easily if you don't get on with them). Also - the French system counts the pregnancy as 41 weeks (not 40 as in the UK). They will definitely see her for 3 scans - the first one is in time for the nuchal fold check - the 2nd one at 22wks is to check all the internal organs, brain, heart the usual measurements etc and the 3rd one is to check loads of brain measurements, the estimated weight, placenta position, insertion of umbilical cord etc - I had it confirmed there was no hare lip for example. (And you get tonnes of photos - got a lovely 3D set for free which made me gush with love - prob won't look like the baby though) (My gynae has got his scanner at his office so it is easy for him). One thing - the French care more about weight gain and watch this much more than the UK. I am lucky as my gynae doesn't care so I would suggest she takes this with a pinch of salt!

Original poster
Mumpbump · 18/07/2007 11:23

X-posts, Beachcomber. It is very comforting to me to know that they routinely do a nuchal fold scan! Just confused by how she will get this if they don't see her until 12 weeks.

GGG - she has a friend who had a baby last year at the hospital where she will go so hopefully she can give her a few pointers.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumpbump · 18/07/2007 11:25

Rach - think she just saw a GP. I am definitely getting the impression that she would do well to book in with an obs/gynae as well. I guess that would get her in the system and they can start the process for the scans... Will suggest it to her!

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll be back with more queries - all your help is very much appreciated by this slightly overprotective sister!!!

OP posts:
Rach35 · 18/07/2007 11:33

I was told you HAVE to see a Gynae - and the system is so nice here you can ring one up and book an appt. Suggests she gets a list of local Gynaes and go from there - unfortunately you can't find out if they speak English (it is against the law in France for Drs to say they speak other languages apart from French). I bought a Baby book in French and read that with a dictionary and my vocab has improved massively (although I have had a lot of fun with my gynae when he tried to explain what the bladder was in ENglish!)

ib · 18/07/2007 22:56

You don't have to see a gyne, you can do all your ante-natal care with a midwife, and just see an obstetrician for the scans. The 12 week scan is 12 weeks by the UK reckoning, by the way. They count weeks like us but more commonly use months from date of conception (i.e. two weeks after last period)

Othersideofthechannel · 19/07/2007 06:55

Yes, you don't HAVE to see a gynaeco but most people do.
Most who haven't already got a gynaeco start seeing one in the fourth month when their pregnancy is offically declared. This needs to be done by the 14th week so she can get child benefits, or so I was told for my pregnancies. The declaration can be done with the GP, so maybe that's the paper that was flashed at her.

lummox · 19/07/2007 06:59

ib - how did you find an independent midwife in France? Would be interested in trying that if we have a third (I went back to the UK for a couple of months each time in order to have an independent midwife for ds1 and ds2)

Original poster
Mumpbump · 19/07/2007 09:44

I think she has decided to book in with a gynae/obs. The thing that is worrying us is the timing of the first scan and the fact that if she waits to see the doctor when he has told her to go back, she might be too late to get a nuchal fold scan. I think the alternative is for her to go back to the doctor armed with her increased knowledge and ask him about what scans she can expect when.

I think they're both going to talk to friends who have recently had babies to see what their experience was...

OP posts:
ggglimpopo · 19/07/2007 09:46

Lummox - ring round for an independent midwife.

Nuchal scans are routine here. She should change obs if she is not happy with what is being offered.

lummox · 19/07/2007 10:05

ggg - sorry to be dense, but who should I ring round. Is there an Association of Independent Midwives type thing in France?

ggglimpopo · 19/07/2007 10:13

No, look under sages femmes in your pagesjaunes and ring and ask.....

ib · 20/07/2007 16:40

independent midwives

sorry, just seen this. hth!

ib · 20/07/2007 16:42

Not all of them do home births, but if you call some of the ones in your area they are likely to be able to direct you to one that does (if that is what you are after).

lummox · 20/07/2007 17:56

That's great, ib. Thanks.

Thanks also to ggg, but would feel a bit odd ringing round before actually deciding to try to number 3.

Good to know options though.

Oh, and apologies for hijacking the thread.

FinistereMaman · 01/08/2007 10:56

Hi, sorry to jump in, but does anyone know if the cost of a sfl can be reimbursed?
I'm ttc#3 and planning on a vba2c (1st emcs in UK for ftp past 5cm, 2nd emcs Fr, ftp past 4cms, both times on back strapped to monitor).
I have been told by my ob that she will not care for me if I opt for a vba2c, as there has never been one at my hosp - except for one mother arriving fully dialted and pushing.
Also, can I be refused care by a hosp?
Thanks.

ggglimpopo · 01/08/2007 10:58

what is sfl?

FinistereMaman · 01/08/2007 11:04

Sorry, sage femme liberale (sp?).

ggglimpopo · 01/08/2007 11:07

I think this would depend on your mutuelle? You will get routine maternity care at 100% on the secu but anything else should be covered by the mutuelle, if you have a good one.

What about contacting the michel odent centre near Paris, will google for you, hang on.

Do you speak French?

ggglimpopo · 01/08/2007 11:11

ici

FinistereMaman · 01/08/2007 11:11

I'm actually thinking of contacting him myself, well at least contacting wombencolgy if I can't contact him direct and asking his/their advice.
Great minds
I speak some French and my dh is French so will ask him to look into secu and all that, thanks.

FinistereMaman · 01/08/2007 11:13

Merci

ggglimpopo · 01/08/2007 11:15

My pleasure.

Funnily enough, I am pg and am going to see my obs this afternoon and ask for a caesarian....

FinistereMaman · 01/08/2007 11:21

Good luck. I would certainly say my emcs here was a much better experience than my emcs in the UK, I had emergency surgery for a ruptured ectopic here too, in a strange way it gave me great confidence in the health system here, just wish they weren't so stubborn lol.