Depending on where you live, having a home birth in France may not be an option. Insurance costs are too high for midwives to deliver babies from the homes, so few are available nationwide. In some cities, you may find a midwife (sage femme) who is uninsured that is willing to do this but I would not count on it. We are moving up north to Caen soon to be near family for the … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2011
Switching Private Health Insurance
Even though France has social insurance, having private insurance helps a great deal - especially when you are pregnant! I actually fell and broke my finger within a week of finding out I was pregnant, so we have surely been getting our money's worth. However, our current provider does not connect directly with social insurance for processing claims. This means that every … [Read more...]
Affordable Daycare in France for Children Over 3 Months Old
Yes, that is right! Single mothers or families with both working parents can rejoice, as there is such a thing as affordable daycare in France. The cost of daycare (crèche) is usually subsidized by the mairie and calculated based on your net income. Children must be at least months old, which is usually when the paid maternity leave ends. … [Read more...]
What is a Baby Shower? In France, Women Go Without!
One of the cherished traditions in the USA that I was very much looking forward to is having a baby shower. I started imagining it in my mind not long after finding out I was pregnant. But to my dismay, I found out that baby showers are nearly unheard of in France. Instead, friends and family provide expectant parents with hand-me-downs during the pregnancy so that they are … [Read more...]