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Last update: September 19, 2024
Navigating pregnancy and childbirth in France was a great adventure! Here are some things that surprised me about my pregnancy experience as an American abroad.
✨ Note: This was my first pregnancy, so I cannot make direct comparisons of first -hand between France and the United States in this domain. However, there were still enough things that caught my attention based on my knowledge of the American system and the experiences I heard second hand. I would love to intervene with your relevant experiences in the comments section!
Paid paral license
Coming from the United States, the free time paid seems to me a luxury, although it is a well -established right in France. The permission paid for both parents is available while giving birth or opening ahild. In most cases, maternity leave in France, 16 weeks and paternity license are 28 days.
Even people on their own, like Myelf, have the right to take a free time to welcome a new addition to their family.
💶 Note: Pagured free time does not necessarily mean receiving a complete salary while it does not work. In general, the government gives a percentage. Your employer can sacrifice it to top it off, but you are not obliged to do it!
Extensive prenatal and postnatal care
My list of prenatal and postnatal quotes was length. Of course, there were all the appointments that I would expect, such as blood and urine tests, ultrasound, monthly records and birth and upbringing classes. Some things that I did not expect included a dental exam, a monthly toxoplasmosis detection, prenatal and postnatal interviews (with both parents) and postpartum home visits.
O Private note is postpartum pelvic health care. It is a standard practice that sessions are prescribed for perineal reeducation. (DU Périnée Réeducación). This essential pelvic floor therapy consists of supervised Kegel exercises by a midwife or physiotherapist (Kinésithérapape).
A preventive measure, pelvic floor therapy helps prevent and address incontinence, the prolapse of pelvic organs and sexual relations of the duration of problems. Many women in France are often prescribed additionally postpartum abdominal reeducation with a physiotherapist for similar reasons.
Among the moms who joked about it, I had always heard that it was “normal” to urinate when you sneeze or cough after having a baby. In my opinion, I had imagined that it was something you should expect to have to live … maybe it is not.
Great medical care refunds
Medical examinations and mandatory consultations, including childbirth and parenting classes, are completely covered by the National French Health Program (L’Assurance Malieie).
All other expenses related to pregnancy, such as laboratory work and ultrasound, are covered at 70% until the end of the fifth month. In general, since the beginning of the sixth months, totally medical expenses (relationship with pregnancy or not) are completely covered.
It should be noted that the coverage is limited to the base rates established by L’Assurance Malieie, But it is relatively easy to find practitioners who adhere to these rates.
Between the State Sponsored by the State and my private recharge insurance (Mutuelle), I barely paid for the relationship between pregnancy. I was quite surprised to obtain compression socks under recipe at no cost But he was more surprised that he could execute hospital degree milk without paying anything out of his pocket.
Recharge health insurance is not requested in France, and some might consider it unnecessary expense if they do not visit the doctor so often. However, I think it is worth it for pregnancy, postpartum care and medical attention topped in children. If you need recharge insurance, I recommend that you communicate with FAB French Insurance. They will find affordable options based on your specific situation.
Low cost hospital stay
Costs related to childbirth may vary according to whether it gives birth in a public or private maternity hospital. In general, he thought, the stay will be much cheaper at any Parisian hotel (of good reputation)!
By the way, by the way, I mean him as the hospital, but maternity rooms in France are typically independent buildings. They are often separated from the main hospital with their own entrance.
To be honest, the only thing I saw a price on my stay in the hospital was the cost of a single and private room, invoiced € 70 per night. This luxury was not covered by Social Security at all, but I was completely covered by me Mutuel. Since I gave birth in a public hospital, I am quite sure that everything else related to my delivery was completely covered by the National Health Plan. In any case, all tasks were taken care of because I never got any child or invoice!
Our only pocket expense was the stay during Jonathan’s night in my room. His stay was billed at € 34.65/night for a bed and € 2.13 for each breakfast. I could also have received lunch and dinner at cost.
I shudder at thinking how my hospital’s final bill would look. Not to mention that the stress of navigating by deductibles and network work costs and outside the network.
Hospital stay of 3-5 days on average
In the case of a natural birth (Par Voie Bass) Without complications, the minimum stay is 72 hours (3 days) after giving birth. The minimum stay after a caesarean section (Césarienne) It is typically 96 hours (4 days) after childbirth. If you wish, it is possible to check voluntarily before the minimum stay.
The average stay in the maternity hall in France is between 3 and 5 days. Of course, if the baby is not increasing weight or other complications, it is not unheard of it is advised to remain longer than the minimum. On the other hand, depending on the current capacity of the maternity room, it can be encouraged to leave early to release a bed! Personally, I thought I would stay while leaving me!
I find it interesting that the framed is so “minimal” remains here in France. He encouraged many of my friends who gave birth in the United States to leave within 24-48 hours.
Midwives govern the combat domain
One of the first things he does when confirming his pregnancy is to decide on a health professional to monitor his pregnancy.
Many women in France choose to be monitored by a midwife. Even those who consult a gynecologist for a more complicated or high -risk pregnancy could periodically resort to a midwife (Sage-femme) By advice. They are “wise women” after all.
In the maternity room, a midwife generally accompanies it through childbirth and active work of the duration and special duration. A gynecologist, anesthesiologist, a nurse and others will certainly be available and present in the room to help as necessary. However, it is more than the midwife calling decisions.
PD midwives in France cover a greater scope of services than the typical United States. It is very common to see a midwife for gynecological attention of routine in France.
High epidural rates
As in the United States, natural delivery positions are not promoted or encouraged in a promoted or encouraged here. Only in Paris, there is only a well -known hospital that proposes varosy tools, such as key pools, acupuncture and epidural walking to control pain and discomfort, childbirth delivery (Les Bluets).
According to the world population review, epidural rates in France are at 80%, compared to 67% in the United States. Both are considered high rates. Many maternity hospitals in France only sacrifice regular epidural that requires that it remain in bed and give birth in a gynecological position.
I’m not sure what I expected, but the high epidural rate took me by surprise. Althegh did not force me to have an epidural, it seemed that this was the alleged option through my care, including the required meeting with anesthesiologist.
41 weeks
France calculates pregnancy as a period of 41 weeks from the date of its last period (Date Dernières Règles). In some cases, the given expiration date could simply be nine months from this date. In the United States, the term is counted as 40 weeks.
Babies in France are given a little more time to get out in their own terms, so to spea
