How to choose her maternity?
Provided that pregnancy does not present any particular risk and that it is not geographically isolated, it is (a little) easier than in the past to be an actress during our birth.
For you, as for your child, it is essential to choose the right maternity.
Learn about the different places of delivery
Maternities are not the only places where it is possible to give birth. Since 2016, expectant mothers can also be followed in birthing centers by liberal midwives. Reserved for mothers-to-be with a normal pregnancy, these establishments are attached to traditional maternity wards. Home birth also remains a possibility if the pregnancy does not present any foreseeable complications.
When to register for maternity in France?
"If you do not follow your usual gynecologist, it is better to go about it in the first trimester because the places are expensive, especially in the big cities and even more so in alternative clinics", details the specialist.
Be aware that to register you will be asked for your first ultrasound or at least the blood result of your pregnancy test. However, even if it is very strongly advised to register because you will be expected there and therefore much less stressed, no maternity hospital has the right to refuse you on the day of your delivery. From a legal standpoint, this would be considered failure to assist a person in danger. In some regions such as Ile-de-France, you have to think about it as soon as you announce the pregnancy. You can also visit several maternities if you wish to ensure the comfort of the premises. But a very comfortable maternity ward with spacious rooms should not be your only criterion of choice.
What is the length of stay in maternity in France?
It will last for 6 days if a caesarean has been performed.
Ask your maternity ward, as the duration varies according to the establishments.
Find out about the prices
The price of a delivery varies according to the choice of establishment: if it is public, the costs are covered at 100 % by Medicare. Parents only have to pay for comfort costs, namely television or telephone. In a private maternity ward, things may be different as gynecologists and anesthesiologists are likely to charge over fees, and establishment of hotel fees and additional services.
Les cliniques privées se divisent en deux types d’établissements :
- Les cliniques conventionnées Cette convention est liée à des critères de qualité médicale. Les frais d'accouchement (honoraires d'accouchement, péridurale) et les frais de séjour, dans la limite de 12 jours sauf les frais pour confort personnel (chambre particulière, télévision...) sont pris en charge à 100 % et sont remboursés directement à l'établissement par votre caisse d'Assurance Maladie. Aucune participation aux frais ne vous sera en principe demandée, excepté les éventuels dépassements d'honoraires et les frais pour confort personnel. Ces derniers peuvent éventuellement être pris en charge par votre complémentaire santé, si le contrat que vous avez souscrit le prévoit. Pensez à vous renseigner auprès d'elle.
À noter que le forfait hospitalier est intégralement pris en charge du 1er jour du sixième mois de grossesse jusqu'au 12e jour après l'accouchement. Par ailleurs, les frais de transport à l'hôpital ou à la clinique, en ambulance ou autre moyen de transport, peuvent être pris en charge sur prescription médicale.
- Non-conventioned clinics Delivery and accommodation costs, within the limit of 12 days except for the costs for personal comfort (private room, television, etc.) are also reimbursed at 100% on the basis and within the limits of the Health Insurance rates. But be aware that the prices charged there are often higher.
Result: costs remaining at your expense (excess fees, costs for personal comfort) can therefore be very high. In addition, you will have to pay the costs in advance.
Check:
- To find out if the clinic you have chosen is approved or not, contact your health insurance fund.
- Ask your complementary health insurance about coverage for excess fees and costs for personal comfort (private room, television, etc.).
- If you don't do not have complementary health insurance, the Health Insurance can allow you to benefit from complementary universal health coverage (CMUC) or help for complementary health insurance if you meet certain criteria (to find out, click here)
All births in private clinics or hospitals must give rise to an estimate.
Type 1, 2 or 3 maternity wards: each level has its specificity There are just over 500 maternity wards in France.
Among these, the establishments listed level 1 are the most numerous.
- Level 1 maternities accommodate pregnancies “normal”, those which do not seem to present any particular risk. That is, the vast majority of pregnant women. Their mission is to detect possible risks during pregnancy in order to guide future mothers towards more suitable maternity units. Their equipment allows them to deal with all scenarios and deal with unforeseen difficult deliveries. In close relationship with a level 2 or level 3 maternity unit, they must, if necessary, ensure the transfer of the young mother and her child to a structure better able to deal with the problems that have arisen during of childbirth.
- Level 2 maternity wards have a neonatal medicine department or neonatal intensive care, either on site or nearby. Thanks to this feature, they are able to ensure the follow-up and delivery of a normal pregnancy when the mother-to-be wishes, but also to take care of more complicated pregnancies (in the event of gestational diabetes or hypertension For example). They can especially accommodate premature babies aged 33 weeks and over requiring care, but not heavy respiratory care. In the event of a serious problem identified during childbirth, they carry out, as soon as possible, the transfer to the nearest type 3 maternity hospital with which they work in close liaison.
- Level 3 maternity wards have an individualized intensive care unit or a pediatric and maternal intensive care unit. They are specially authorized to monitor high-risk pregnancies (severe hypertension, multiple pregnancies, etc.) and accommodate premature babies under 32 weeks. Babies who will need intensive monitoring, even heavy care, such as resuscitation. These maternities are in a network with level 1 and 2 establishments and provide them with assistance when making an important decision. However, they can accommodate any mother-to-be who wishes, even if her pregnancy is progressing normally, especially if she lives nearby.
The levels do not necessarily prejudge the quality of the establishments and the expertise of their staff. They essentially depend on existing medical infrastructures in pediatrics and neonatal resuscitation. In other words, they only take into account the presence of the teams and the equipment necessary to provide intensive care to newborns suffering from serious health problems (malformations, distress, etc.) or prematurity of less than 32 weeks.
Furthermore, in all regions, the different types of maternity unit work in a network to optimize the quality of care offered to expectant mothers and babies. For example, a medical team may decide to hospitalize a mother-to-be in a type 2 or 3 maternity ward who seems to be due to give birth prematurely before 33 weeks. But, if after 35 weeks, everything is back to normal, this future mother will be able to return home and give birth to her child, in the long term, in the maternity ward of her choice.
If, instead of giving birth as planned in a type 2 or 3 maternity unit, you find yourself in an emergency in the labor room of a level 1 unit, there is no need to panic. The obstetric block is substantially the same everywhere, the medical teams have identical skills. All maternities are able to carry out difficult deliveries, vaginally or by cesarean section, in the presence of a midwifery gynecologist or to perform specific obstetrical maneuvers. All of them also have a resuscitator anesthetist, a pediatrician and several midwives in their team.
The mother-to-be will therefore benefit from the assistance of a complete quality medical team and will be transferred as soon as possible with her newborn to the level 2 or 3 maternity unit, better able to provide them with the necessary care.
Questions to ask about listening that you will benefit from
- Can I choose my birthing position?
- Is there a special room for the duration of labour?
- Is the labor room does it have a bathtub?
- Who will see me on the day of delivery?
- What is the episiotomy rate at the establishment?
- Can I refuse to resort to it?
- Is someone present to help with the first steps to take?
- Who will care for the baby during the stay at the maternity ward?
- Could- I give them?
- Is a psychologist attached to the establishment?
- In the event of early discharge, is home monitoring planned?
Questions to ask about the comfort of the establishment
- What types of childbirth preparations does the establishment offer?
- Who gives these courses and when do they start?
- Are the rooms all individual?
- Will I have a bathroom in my room?
- Where will the baby crib be placed by compared to my bed?
- How many children are accommodated in the nursery?
- Is it possible to leave my baby there the night after delivery?
- Will the father be able to attend the birth?
- Will he be able to stay with me the night after the birth?
- What are the the visiting hours?
- Will my children be able to come and see the baby?
- What are the comforts in the rooms (TV, telephone, etc.)?
If you have decided to breastfeed your baby, find out if the maternity ward has midwives specifically trained to help with breastfeeding. Are they available enough to give you the time and support you need?
Finally, don't hesitate to play curious and go around to ask your friends for advice. Keep in mind that it is sometimes difficult to be able to enroll late in very popular maternity hospitals. Also, from the second week your period is late, sign up, even if you have to cancel if you change your mind...
