It’s been a great experience going through pregnancy in France and learning how different things can be for medical care.

Normally, your first prenatal appointment is at 12 weeks here vs. 8 weeks in the US.  This is when the doctor confirms your pregnancy and you are given a document to provide to the insurance company.

Not all, but most doctors, do an ultrasound at every appointment.  My doctor even does a 3d ultrasound each time, so I’ve been able to see our little boy’s face every time which is so nice!

Prenatal appointments are only once  a month throughout your pregnancy, whereas in the US they become every 2 weeks once you are 28 weeks pregnant and then your last month they are every week.

In the US, you have to give a urine sample at your prenatal appointment and there are maybe 2-3 times you have to give a blood sample.  This is done at your doctor during your appointment.  Here, I have to give a urine sample and blood sample every month and this is done at a lab at a separate time/place from my prenatal appointment.  The urine sample also needs to be before I eat, so each time I go for my lab appointment, they give me a cup to bring home for my next appointment….that way I can do my urine sample at home when I wake up, eat my breakfast and then go to the lab later for my blood sample.

For this pregnancy, I didn’t have to do the dreaded glucose test to check for gestational diabetes.  The doctor asked if any of my immediate family has diabetes and I said no (he didn’t count my grandmother who has it because it is due to her age) and because I’m not overweight he said I didn’t need to do the test.  In the US you have to do this test during each pregnancy.

Midwife services are available to all pregnant women and are eligible for reimbursement which makes it very affordable.  This includes birthing classes, prenatal yoga, exercise classes in the public pool and anything else that may be necessary/helpful such as acupuncture.

Another thing that is different in France is towards the end of your pregnancy you meet with an anesthesiologist to discuss your medical history, and then they give you a prescription to get more blood work done at the lab.  You have to have a card with your blood type on it that they attach to your paperwork, and if you don’t have this card they will request to have some made for you at the lab.

In the US, starting around your 38 week appointment the doctor will typically check to see if you have dilated.  In France, you meet with a midwife where they monitor your blood pressure, baby’s heartbeat and check to see if you are having contractions.  They may monitor you for anywhere from 2o minutes to 45 minutes.

Recently, doctors here will prescribe compression stockings for all pregnant women to wear starting in the 6th month of pregnancy until the end.  I was told this is to help prevent any clotting or spider veins.  Luckily I haven’t had to do that, I can’t imagine wearing those every day….especially during the summer!

I’ve also been told the doctors here are more open to VBAC births, and that they will deliver breech babies (whereas in the US a breech baby is delivered via c section).