Having a baby in France means receiving a high standard of medical care, but also usually means submitting to an interventionist approach. Home births are rare in France and when in the slightest doubt medical staff (obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives and doctors) tend to favour a Caesarean section over an attempted vaginal delivery. The attitude tends to be that doctors know best and take decisions on behalf of (rather than with) the mother.

In order to claim all your benefits, you must declare your pregnancy before the third month and undergo all subsequent required medical examinations. The first step is going to see your own doctor, who will explain the paperwork and also give you a list of obstetricians and gynaecologists in your area. You can then choose which one you would like to follow the pregnancy and eventually deliver your baby.

Your choice of doctor at this point will also dictate whether you are going to give birth in a public hospital or a private clinic, as not all professionals work in all establishments.
Private clinics can be cleaner and more comfortable than hospitals but are less likely to be equipped to deal with all eventualities and in the event of a problem, will probably have to transfer the baby (but not always the mother) to the nearest fully equipped maternity unit.
Another big difference in France is that when you go into hospital you’re expected to bring everything, including soap and towels. You will probably be given a list by your doctor.
Once you have seen your doctor and s/he has given you a déclaration de grossesse, you send this to the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales or CAF (family benefits office) and they will send you a carnet de maternité.

This acts as a record of your medical history during your pregnancy, allowing all the various people treating you to see what is happening.

This carnet also proves that you have had the various scans and exams necessary to claim all your benefits. As long as you are treated by doctors and in establishments that are conventionné, 100 per cent of your expenses are reimbursed. Top-up insurance, (your mutuelle) should pay the cost of extras like a private room.

At your first appointment you will also be offered ante-natal classes, which can be very useful not only to prepare for the birth, but also to learn birth and baby-related French vocabulary.
There are various benefits available including the Allocation de Jeune Enfant which is means tested but can be payable from the fifth month of pregnancy until the child’s third birthday. There are also one-off benefits paid at the birth of the baby that are designed to off-set the cost of purchases such as prams, high-chairs and chair seats. Amounts paid vary according to each family’s individual situation but a guide is available on the CAF’s website (in French, see box). Child benefit however, is only payable to families with more than one child.
Maternity leave depends on how long you have been working, how many children you have, and how many children you give birth to but is generally sixteen weeks and since March 2007 there is increased flexibility as to how many weeks are taken before/after the birth. Paternity leave is also available for fathers. Work protection legislation is in force, and in theory no employer can refuse maternity leave, sack a pregnant woman, or refuse to let her come back to work after maternity leave. Breast-feeding is not especially encouraged in France, so it is unlikely that you will get vast amounts of help or patience with this in the clinic. Therefore, if you want to breast-feed it may be a good idea to contact a support group like La Leche League or Message before you give birth.

Generally speaking, new mothers in France spend longer in hospital than they do in the UK. Even if there have been no complications it is accepted that the mother will need to rest before taking up the reins of motherhood, and it isn’t uncommon for women to stay in hospital for up to a week after the birth – especially if they already have other children.
Once you are home again, you will get visits from a health visitor and also get ten free physio sessions aimed at regaining your waistline and tightening up those tummy muscles. In order to maintain your rights to benefits, you will also have a medical examination two months after the birth, and your baby will have a series of medical exams to check that all is well.
These are usually offered free at the protection maternelle et infantile (PMI) (local mother and baby) clinic. They will also give your baby the vaccinations and accompanying certificates required by nursery and primary schools.

FACT FILE
• Message (www.messageparis.org) is an association for English speakers who are expecting a baby or who have young children. They are Paris-based but have lists of English-speaking gynaecologists throughout France if you are doubtful about your ability to cope in French, and their site has lots of links

• www.laleche.org lists local groups globally and throughout France who support breast-feeding mothers

• www.caf.fr/catalogueaje/bas.htm is the page which details the various benefits available to pregnant women

• The Mouvement Français pour le planning familial is at www.planning-familial.org or they can be contacted by phone (Tel: 00 33 (0)1 48 07 29 10)

On the other hand…
220,000 interruptions volontaires de grossesse or IVGs (terminations) are carried out every year in France. This accounts for nearly a quarter of all pregnancies. They are available ‘on demand’ until the twelfth week, and parental consent is not required for minors. Waiting lists don’t exist but you need to act quickly. The first step is an appointment with your own doctor to discuss the situation and possible options.

If you are undecided about an unplanned pregnancy, information and advice is available from the family planning clinic. If the objections are mainly financial and practical, you should make this clear as there is a lot of support available for families in France (including from various Catholic charities).

If you would like to talk through your options in English, don't forget you can phone the Samaritans from France, see their site www.samaritans.org.uk or phone 00 44 8457 90 90 90 (number may not work from FT lines).  Also don't forget about www.counsellinginfrance.com

Disclaimer
This dossier article is intended as a general guide only.  For specific information relative to your own situation, please use the contact details in the factfile.  The information given here was correct at the time of publication.  However, if you notice a gremlin causing typos or any other inaccuracies, do please let us know.

Updates
This article was last updated 15 September 2007