HAVING A BABY IN FRANCE
Congratulations! Don’t worry about anything. You will be well looked after, by the gynecologist, the midwives and me!
If you have just found out you are pregnant and are planning on staying here for the duration of your pregnancy and the birth, please get in touch. There will be lots of paperwork to fill out, but once done, there is a range of benefits and allowances available when a child is added to a family (either by natural birth or adoption). These vary depending on the number of children, the income of the parent(s) and other factors.
There is also the fact that your tax status changes, dependant on the number of children you have!
My little boy was born here and I cannot fault the care and attention that you get from everybody concerned.
Maternity
Maternity leave in France, for one baby, is 16 weeks, which is 6 weeks before the birth and 10 weeks after. Unlike in the UK, you cannot choose when you take your leave. If you choose to work right up until the birth, you simply lose your leave.
For mothers to be, expecting their third child or if you are expecting more than one baby ie. Twins, triplets etc. then the leave increases.
On declaring your pregnancy to the French authorities, you will receive a Carnet de Santé Maternité. It consists of 3 parts: Factsheets explaining how your pregnancy will be followed by the health professionals and what to expect. A booklet in which you can make notes to show the health professional following your case and a prenatal health booklet which will be filled in by the health professional at each meeting. The carnet will be addressed to the mother. Only the mother will have access to the information in the booklet. If the father wants to know how the pregnancy is going, he will only be told as much as the doctors’ confidentiality agreement will allow him.
Pregnant and work
You are not obliged by law to tell your employer that you are pregnant. The only stipulation is that they know when you are about to leave for your maternity leave. However, it is generally in your interests to tell your employer as soon as possible as your work contract is protected during your pregnancy.
Whilst pregnant you benefit from a rule which prevents you from working nights. You must be given a job during the day. If there is no job available, then your contract will be suspended until your maternity leave starts.
Care and Hospitals
Here in Chamonix you have the choice of two very good gynecologists who will follow you through your pregnancy and keep you informed of everything you should be doing - or not, as the case may be!
The birth can take place in a hospital or at home. Note that there are very few midwives who will attend a home birth due to the strict regulations concerning safety of the mother and baby. To my knowledge, there is only 1 who covers most of the Haute Savoie!
There is very little difference in France between a private or a public hospital. Since the closure of the maternity unit in Chamonix, you will go to the maternity unit at the hospital in Sallanches.
Unless you state otherwise you will be given a room to yourself with en-suite facilities. The nurses and mid-wives are on hand to answer any problem which may arise. You will stay in hospital for 5 days after the birth.
A word of warning: that the idea of a birthing plan is alien to the french!
Registering the birth
The birth needs to be registered at the Mairie within 3 days and is obligatory for any child. Registration is free. If you are married at the time of the birth, the registration will be done automatically by the hospital, if not, you will need to do it yourself.
Nationality
The child will not automatically become a French citizen.
Any child born to at least one parent who is a French national has automatic French nationality (whether born in France or abroad).
A child born in France, where neither parent is French may receive French nationality (on request) at age 18 years if they are resident in France.
A child who has lived in France for at least five years from the age 11 onwards may receive French nationality (on request) at age 18 years.
How I can help
Since the addition of our son to our family, our priorities have changed! I am very aware of the needs of expat mothers to have some kind of support system and reliable child care. Whether you want to register for the crèche or you're looking for a baby sitter or you want to know what benefits are to be had, just ask.
Pregnant and need help filling in the forms?
Want to register your child for crèche?
Want to enrol your child in school?
Want to know your rights?
Looking for a child minder?
Want to contact CAF (family benefits) or the Sécurité Sociale?
Unlike the UK system where everything is free, the French system requires contributions and with a health system second to none, it's always worth while ensuring that you're fully covered.
Let me help you through this minefield:
Want to register for a Carte Vitale?
Need to find the best 'Mutuelle'?
Need to find a doctor?
Have received a bill but you're not sure what for?
Pregnant and not sure what the formalities are?
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Communiquer 74: Sarah Barnes Tel: 06.45.85.64.95 Email: communiquer74@gmail.com
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website should be regarded as a guideline only. I try and update the information as often as possible but it is possible that certain information has been missed. I would love to be the font of all knowledge but unfortunately I am not! All situations are different and the information contained here may not be applicable to all cases. Please get in touch if you would like me to check any information in relation to your personal situation. My role is to be your voice, to ask the questions you would like asking and those that I know you should be asking. During the course of my work I have gained knowledge of lots of different aspects of French administration and can generally advise you on what is important and what isn't. Dealing with the French system on a daily basis means that I can help you do things far faster and can assist you through the minefield.
The factsheets may be printed for personal reference, but may not be published,copied or re-used for any other purpose without permission.
