I've had 2 babies in France. As an American, the biggest daze was never getting a hospital bill.

This as-told-to composition is according to a conversation alongside Kristen Seitz. It has been edited for dimension and clarity.

At 25, I was working in Texas at an oil and gas company, emotion akin this wasn't the existence I wanted. I decided I'd discontinue my job and instruct English in Europe for a few years, preparedness to come back formerly I'd had my fill.

My archetypal Christmas in Europe, I was instruction at a academy in Poland and was welcomed to expend the holiday alongside a colleague's family. It was there that I met a French man who would rotate into my husband.

We had 2 kids in France

Since the meeting, we've moved around, living in Poland and Canada, and since 2019, in France. We wanted to resolve near my husband's family, and it was easier to get wed in France than anyplace alternatively we had lived.

Both of us knew we wanted children, and I established out I was expecting our firstborn in 2023.

The entire procedure of having a baby frightened me since of what I had heard from family and allies in the US. I'd heard fear stories concerning affording gestation and birth, being pushed by doctors to have C-sections, and taking Pitocin. I was nervous it power be the identical in France.

I quickly discovered how incorrect I was.

I had a caregiver throughout my pregnancy

As shortly as I established out I was pregnant at six weeks, I used an app to discover a caregiver (sage femme in French) and contacted her. She would be my caregiver throughout the pregnancy.

I'd sojourn her formerly a duration at the agency to conversation concerning item and everything: how I was feeling, what I was concerned about, and any questions or concerns I had. She was so heated and reassuring all period we met, putting all of my worries to rest.

Not having my family or much of a assistance scheme at the time, it was a huge alleviation to have person another than my hubby to conversation to concerning how the baby and I were doing.

Anytime I needed her in between these meetings, she was accessible complete text.

I loved having midwifery support throughout my pregnancy. Midwives current are focused on the mother and the baby, and that comes throughout noisy and apparent through their care.

In addition, there were workshops I could attend. I went to seven, covering birthing positions, preparing the residence for a baby, breathing techniques, and how to compose a commencement plan. There were additionally one or two sessions for partners to attend, anywhere they could study how to assistance a female through pregnancy, birth, and the first days of parenthood.

I felt as prepared as I perchance could be going into labor and motherhood.

I had a personal hospital area that disbursal me nothing

I had made a commencement plan, specifically noting that, as French was my second language, I wanted any decisions made to be explained to me in full, alongside many of detail.

When it came period to provision birth, I was ushered into a personal area alongside a personal washroom to start. This is anywhere I would delay until I was prepared to deliver.

When I got to concerning seven centimeters, we moved into a birthing room, alongside a ball, a bath, a mat, and a shower. In the area alongside us was a midwife, a midwifery intern, and a labor and shipment nurse.

On lone one juncture did they ask if I wanted an epidural — they never pushed me to do item I felt uncomfortable with. At eight centimeters, I requested an epidural.

The midwives stepped up to assistance and advance me as I pushed and gave birth. Everyone was so positive, welcoming my small boy into the earth alongside joy.

While I was in the hospital, the midwives gave me area in my area to regain solitary alongside my baby, alongside person lone occasionally coming in to inspect on us. We slept a lot, and I had food brought to me at all mealtime.

I texted my caregiver during I was motionless in the hospital to let her cognize whenever I'd attain home. Less than 24 hours following I arrived at my house, she came for a visit, and afterward again the next day. She was checking on me, the baby, and our home — making certain we had everything we needed.

I had 4 months of parental leave

For six weeks postpartum, I went to perineal improvement classes to assistance heal my pelvic flat and rebuild strength. Babies were welcome.

Not lone was healthcare incredible, but I additionally had four months of paid maternity depart and was stated fair complete $1,100 by the province as a kind of financial gift.

The attention I had throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum was exceptional in France. I received the identical assistance whenever I had my second child.

The biggest difference in the attention I received in France compared to what I would've received in the US was that everything was liberated in France.

The caregiver support, perinatal classes, hospital stay, birth, and postnatal improvement — I didn't pay for any of it.

For me, the biggest astonishment wasn't fair how supported I felt — it was realizing that having that flat of attention didn't arrive alongside a invoice hanging complete my head.