Do you live in France?

[ggglimpopo]

Where do you live?
Why did you choose that region?
Why did you come here in the first place?
Do you work?
Do you regret it/love it?

Tell us all!

I live in Bordeaux.

I initially chose Montpellier and had everything (sort of!) set up there, but found it too hectic - and my original holiday accomodation was vile - so came to Bordeaux on holiday and stayed.

I came here post divorce!

I have had an epic time here - a very very rough ride, but life events rather than simply french ones, and am here to stay.

I love the region and will stay put in the south west. I would LOVE a house by the sea - dream on!

I don't regret it and have married a Frenchman to prove the point.....

Et vous?

Teafortwo that lady at the HG was mean! I think there are a few ways in which HG can work, so I hope someone does explain things to you properly. FWIW at ours, you had to register and then agree on set days / half days that your dc would attend. Or you could just call them early in the morning, and if there was a free place that day the dc could attend.

Liverpool is great, I do miss it. Although I'm not actually from Liverpool, but from another nearby, smaller, less glamorous town. I just call myself scouserabroad cos every British person I've ever met in France has said "Oh, you must be from Liverpool!" the minute I start talking

OK about the x-posts

I am going to brave the town hall sometime in the next week. I hope, when/if I eventually sort it out, that our hg is as great as the one near you othersideofthechannel and as flexible as yours scouserabroad!!! You have all been fab and reassuring!!!! Thanks.

What age can you take your LO to the HG? Mine isn't even born yet, I'm not trying to palm it off already, just wanted to know!

FarFarAway - I'm seeing Dr Sedbon at the AHP. Have you had a baby there or having one? Who have you/are you seeing?

Has anyone had a baby at Clinque Sainte Isabelle in Neuilly? I read it is where all the bon chic bon genre have their bebes!!

My doctor delivers at both places so if anyone has a thought on either place, please share! Ta.

Sainte Isabelle not popular among my acquaintances in Neuilly - either AHP (foreigners) or the hospital, but both are really interventionist.

What kind of birth are you after?

I think it is from 4 months provided they have had the necessary vaccinations.
I'm sure you won't want to palm off your first born so early.
I started putting DD early because DS who had loved going for nearly a year suddenly got upset at the idea of going and the directrice thought it would help him if baby DD stayed for a bit, which it did. I didn't feel too bad about it because she used to sleep through most of it and it was great getting things like smear tests done without 2 under 3 in tow.

Lots of English women go to Hôpital Franco-Britannique in Levallois-Perret - I go there for my daughter's pédiatre and it's good, not glamorous though

I never sent my daughter to the halte-garderie, but the mothers who I know who do complain that the children pick up a lot of bugs there

Thanks Anna, the ob I'm seeing only delivers at AHP or Clinque St Isabelle and I definitely want him to deliver my baby so it a choice of those two for me. Both seem fine, quite small though, each only has 15 maternity beds. I can safely say I would never be described as glamorous so I might stuggle to fit in with their bon chic clientele.

If you'd ask me what sort of delivery I wanted for my first baby, I'd say a water birth at home. Now I'm up to my 6th pregnacy with no children, I just want a healthy, alive baby - how they arrive isn't so important anymore.

I had heard French hospitals generally are keen to medicalise(?) the process. I have a friend who will give birth at the AHP in a few months and she has booked in her induction as it helps her organise her diary and so her parents can book their plane tickets to be here for the birth. I'm not keen on planned induction (my diary's not that hectic) and I'd prefer not to have a ceasar if it's not medically needed (these hips have to be good for something!). I'll see how I get on. I'm only half way so I have yet to have these discussion with my doctor. AHP encourage breast feeding which is what I want to try to do - so that's a positive.

AHP is the most medicalised maternity unit in France.

However, if you are having your first baby after six pregnancies, you might rather like that, and be rather less anxious than other mothers about the sort of delivery you have.

IMO, France is pretty safe place to give birth. The medical staff will place a much higher priority on your and your baby's safety than on your modesty, and there might be rather a lot of people hanging around - but I expect you won't care too much.

Do you need anything? I am only a few minutes from Neuilly.

Down here the only halte garderie we have accepts a child for six hours a week maximum.

DD has started going to the halte garderie when she was 2, and it has significantly boosted her confidence & motor development. Yes, she gets more bugs than she would have if I kept her home, but that is a small price to pay for the social, psychological, and even physical benefits we have seen in her.

DCs didn't seem to get any more bugs by going to HG after 18 months but then we used to see friends with school age children once a week so were probably getting a fair amount of exposure from early on.

OK went to town hall today and told hg is not for me. Not quite sure why - think in my town there is a problem with places and I am not a priority case! Told a friend who lives in my town and she said I should have forced myself to start crying or start making friends in the right places!!! What is it here about friends in the right places??? I have friends because I like people - isn't that the normal thing to base a friendship on???!!!???

Anyway I am completely zen tonight about the whole thing - No probs - this academic year dd and I have had a blast. Next yr we will continue to have a great time together too - and why not! I have decided to be cool!

Doozie like Anna - I am close to you too. So I second her if you need anything just say!

Btw Doozie, I had quite a medical French style birth - for me it was just perfect. I felt very safe and cared for. I hate this whole guilt culture thing that happens in the UK about that. If, like me you feel more comfortable like that, again I second Anna (hey that woman knows stuff)- go for it!!!

teafortwo - to tell the truth, the only person I know who got a place for her child in the state garderie was our gardienne. All the other mothers I know around here had to use a private garderie (most AmStramGram on rue de Tocqueville) as they didn't meet any criteria for the state garderie.

Fair enough - our gardienne lives with her husband and son in 1.5 dingy rooms, and she works all day. That little boy ^really

There is an open air garderie in the Jardin du Luxembourg that is open in the summer months only and is very good if you want to shop etc in the 6th arrondissement. It is open to anyone, first come first served, and if you want to use it ever you need to go over to the Jardin du Luxembourg and fill out a form.

That little boy really needed to get out.

It is so different in the cities isn't it? We actually don't live in the 'communauté de communes' of the HG we used but it wasn't a problem because not enough people were using the service.

Yes, it is different in Paris - a lot of people here are excluded from public services (garderie, crèche, PMI etc) because priority goes to the most needy.

Another thing that is happening right now in Paris is huge pressure on schools in up-and-coming areas like the 9th arrondissement, where a lot of young families have moved, and schools closing in the centre of Paris where residential property prices have gone beyond the reach of Parisian families due to investment by foreigners.

Doozie - I was with Dr Mcginis but I have heard good good things about Dr Sedon too. Think they may share offices so we have probably laid in the same chair! I am sorry to hear you have had so many miscarriages and fingers crossed for a happy birth.

If you are going to the AHP for english reasons then don't bother. Barely any staff speak english. I only went there because I was seeing Dr Mcg for fertility issues and when I did become pregnant it seemed natural to stay with her. And she is an absolutely fanastic gyno/obs. I know lots of friends who have used AHP and although they do not rave about the hospital itself they do not complain either. I think it is rather expensive for the service you get to be honest. The staff in the echography dept are really rude as well. Had dd3 at necker, and although I had her there because she needed an op at birth there were lots of women who gave birth there without an child medical reason. And to be honest the rooms were just as nice, the nurses and midwives were fantastic. In fact considering Necker was free and AHP a fortune I couldn't tell the difference. Anyway so the whole point of this is do not expect great things and luxury at AHP because it will not be alot different elsewhere.

Giving birth in france is very medicalised and the only person I know who has managed a natural birth with her own trained midwife/doula gave birth at a hosptial in Nanterre. I can give you details if you need them. Also have you heard of Message? They are an english speaking organisation in and around Paris and they have lots of supports systems and advice for troubled pregnancies.

God that was a bit of a marathon write up for me!

And back to the HG thing - am really surprised that you were not offered to go on a waiting list at least. I know that i have never got a place immediately, especially for babies, but I would have thought they would put you on a list. I probably have a very suburban outlook though as sure things different in Paris.

Well - I also popped to a private hg last week to get a feel too and I just had this not nice feeling about it. Unlike the halte guarderies you country folks describe I really felt that at this place there was a lack of love and care.

In contrast the state one looked just lovely. The town I live in is, I suppose, a bit 'up and coming' and a good place for families. When my dd was born Naive me went to the pmi thinking there would be mums and tots groups, a drop in centre, toy library etc. When I arrived the ladies said "This isn't a place for you". I think I get it now - our PMI and halte guarderies really are only for families in need.

Anyway - I have decided I will keep dd with me next academic yr. Continuing to do what we do! At the moment she has a babysitter Wednesdays when I am at work so she is getting to be a little Anglo-Saxon member of a French family once a week for her culutral balance. I also take her to a class in French at Gymboree once a week. This is a special little learning club for babies where Mums stay too. it is good fun and has a school like feel about it. She has a teacher, there are learning objectives and set tasks to do but there is also the freedom for creativity that little ones need. I would recommend it to anyone with babies or toddlers! We might join a music class I have heard of to ring the changes a bit - but I have decided to be zen about it! Why fix what isn't broken?

Thanks for all your advice and actually most of all for being on my side! It felt very reassuring.

Thanks for your support. I might just take you up on your offers Anna and T-4-2 if I?m ever in need. Thank you.

Farfaraway ? I met Dr McGinnis in the wee hours of the night one time in the AHP emergency as she was on call ? she was very good. Did your friends have their babies at the AHP since they opened the new maternity unit? The only other hospital experience I?ve had is St Antoine?s which is very grim, so in comparison ? the AHP is worth it! I think that was an especially bad example of how awful public hospitals can be ? but it also helps justify going to such an expensive non-secu hospital and I don?t think the mutuelle will be much assistance either (yet to work that one out). But we are happy at the AHP, feel relaxed and confident about giving birth there and my ob has been the best I?ve ever had ? and I?ve seen a few.

I?ve had some tests at the AHP echography dept and they weren?t overwhelming me with their charm. So far I?ve avoided going to them during my pregnancy, instead seeing an independent specialist echographer ob/gyn recommended by my doctor. He has been terrific and I?ve been seeing him since five minutes after I found out I was pregas at every two weeks (because of my history). However if I have my baby at AHP ? as I probably will as I want my doctor there to deliver ? they?d now prefer me to have the scans at the AHP.

I keep meaning to look up Message ? I?ll do that now ? thanks!

On a different topic? first day of the sales today!! I came back empty handed looking for bed linen and le creuset, however my friend got herself a beautiful D&G coat for 148euros at Galeries! Impressive sale shopping!

My stepsons were born at the Hôpital de Neuilly and, according to my partner, it was all fine and lovely, if pretty medicalised.

teafortwo - the Bébé Gym classes at the Gymnase de Reims (Porte de Champerret) and also at a location in Neuilly are very popular with mothers I know - lots of foreign mothers, so you get to make friends

Hi there, sorry to but in to your thread but I am a part time liver in France, in the vendee during school holidays since there is more to do and its cheaper.

my question is can I pick up a pay as you go french phone from a super market and where do I find the best provider. My one from the UK costs a fortune when I am out there and there should be a cheaper way

slalomsuki - hi - I am afraid I have no idea about this

I have one with SFR and only paid around 40 euros for the phone. Only thing I do not like is the time restriction on how long you have to use your money. Top up with coupon or carte bancaire.