Pregnancy and Childbirth in France

After another long hiatus, I am back to write about my experience with pregnancy and childbirth in France. 

Due to a medical scare in Jan 2025 (to be discussed in a separate post), we decided to try to get pregnant. We successfully conceived in April 2025 and here's how the journey went! 

Declaring the pregnancy

Once I tested positive for pregnancy (I used the simple pregnancy test strips), I notified my gynecologue medicale. A healthcare professional (gynaecologist/midwife) should be informed by the end of the third trimester so they can declare your pregnancy to CPAM as well as provide a letter that you can furnish to your employer. 

Monthly check-ups

My gynae then provided me with an ordonnance for the following:

1) Blood and urine tests - monthly at the laboratory

2) Ultrasound scans - 1 per trimester, with an echographist

3) Trisomy test - at the laboratory

4) Vaccination, such as COVID, flu, bronchiolitis. This ensures some protection is transmitted to the fetus.

5) Supplements such as folic acid (this should begin before the pregnancy), iron, etc. 

6) Glucose test

The check-ups continued until the 6th month, whereby the check-up will be performed at the hospital of your choice. I was referred to an obstetrician but it wasn't necessary as midwives are capable to perform the check up as well as monitor the birth, unless surgical intervention is required. 

Maternity leave 

CPAM pays for the maternity leave and the duration depends on the number of children in your household. As it was my first child, I was entitled to 6 weeks prenatal + 10 weeks postnatal leave. However, I moved 3 weeks to postnatal instead as I was confident I can still work without harm to myself nor the baby. This was done by getting a letter from the obstetrician and attaching it to a letter requesting for this change to the CPAM. 

Prenatal courses

I was entitled to prenatal courses administered by a midwife to discuss labor, childbirth and post-birth. Typically there would be 6 sessions and in a group, but since we were more comfortable in English, the midwife condensed the content to 3 sessions and 1-to-1 fashion. 

Benefits for Pregnant Mummies

Some benefits for pregnant mummies:

• Free dental check
• Priority seats on public transportation
• Priority lane at the airport

Childbirth

On D-Day, we checked into the hospital but since the vitals were good and I was not dilated, I went back home. I returned on day 2 and day 4 after D-Day; baby was not ready so I went home again. We checked in on day 5 to be induced and it took almost 20 hours before pushing commenced. I went through the full gamut of induction methods: balloon catheter, rupture of the water bag, prostaglandin in oral form and finally oxytocin by drip. 

I was fortunate to have an uncomplicated natural birth. I felt contractions at 3cm dilation and opted for epidural as I feared I would not have enough energy to push later. 

Post-birth

We stayed in the hospital for the minimum 3 nights covered by CPAM (the duration would be 4 nights for C-section births). During our stay, food was provided and midwives came to check on the baby ie weight, jaundice, etc. There was a workshop on how to care for the baby at home such as feeding, bathing. After the midwives were satisfied with the baby's weight gain, we were allowed to go home. 

1 week after birth we were paid a visit by the midwife to check on the weight. Since then we've had monthly check-ups with the pediatrician, following the vaccination schedule and tracking the baby's growth. 

CPAM also covers the following for mummies:

Postnatal interview - to assess postnatal depression, if any

Abdominal and perineal reeducation - these sessions with the physiotherapist/midwife are helpful to re-strengthen the muscles that were stretched out during pregnancy/birth. 

Conclusion

In general, I was satisfied by the healthcare system in France for my pregnancy; it is no wonder that France has the highest fertility rate in the EU. The financial coverage provided by CPAM was good; in total I paid less than 300EU for my hospital stay. 

Hopefully this information will be useful to others in the future :)