After not seeing one of my friends for a month around the holidays, the first thing she said to me was that I was glowing. Even though my period was due to arrive soon, I had a strange feeling about her comment. I ran to the pharmacy to grab a test and later got my big fat positive. Me and my husband quickly scheduled an appointment with our doctor to confirm the pregnancy with a blood test.
The positive blood test led us to our first woman’s doctor appointment. At this appointment, the doctor gave us a note to go for an ultrasound to confirm that all was okay at my 7th week, then after this point we should have declared our pregnancy with the government. However, our doctor did things differently and waited until I was well into my 2nd trimester before giving us the paperwork. I recommend that you discuss with your doctor from the beginning that you would like to declare your pregnancy early on to get the administrative paperwork out of the way.
The rule in France is that you are required to declare your pregnancy within the first 14 weeks. The first ultrasound confirms the baby is okay and helps pinpoint how far along you are in the pregnancy. Afterwards, you are to fill out some paperwork and send it promptly to CAM (Caisse d’Assurance Maladie) and CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Famiales). The sooner the better, as you will receive a Carnet de Santé Maternité, which is a book to keep record of all your tests and progress and helps to make sure that you will be covered and receive all benefits.
The French are very strict here when it comes to their French mammas! You are allotted one ultrasound per trimester for a total of 3 ultrasounds, plus the additional ultrasound in the beginning to confirm your pregnancy. Of course, you can get more if the doctor thinks it is medically necessary. The administration also requires mammas to see their woman’s doctor 7 times throughout the pregnancy. Failure to do so can result in being declined coverage! You are covered 100% through their social security (well, if you are on their social security), but you must stick to their requirements.
Not all requirements are bad… if you are employed in France then you are REQUIRED to take at least an 8 week maternity leave! Poor mammas, right?
Image Credit: reflektastudios on fotalia.com
Immorruic says
what I was looking for, thanks
sarah says
thanks all i really want to know is how to get the administrative papper faster bcos am 3month old already.
French Mamma says
Hi Sarah, you should talk to your doctor. If my memory serves me correctly, I think my doctor is the one that gave us the paper to send to the administration. There is not really a fast way of doing it – you just need the doctor to confirm your pregnancy and send it out asap.