The right questions to choose motherhood

Where will I give birth?

As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, you must register for a maternity hospital. How do you find the one that will best meet your expectations? Overview of the main questions to ask yourself.

Should you choose a maternity clinic near your home?

No law requires future mothers to register in a specific maternity ward. Moms are completely free to choose the maternity ward that best meets their expectations. Give birth near home? This avoids long trips by car during monthly consultations or to get to birth preparation sessions. When the first signs of childbirth present themselves, it’s also less stressful to know motherhood is around the corner. If you live in a large city, register early as some maternity hospitals have long waiting lists.

Clinic or hospital, what’s the difference?

The hospital is aimed at mothers who feel reassured in a very medical environment, with a team present 24 hours a day. The other side of the coin: the welcome is often less personalized and the environment less pleasant than in a clinic. If your pregnancy is going normally, a midwife will follow you. You may also have to get used to seeing different faces each time..

The clinic, on the contrary, offers the advantage of a small structure, with friendly rooms and a staff more attentive to mothers. If you prefer to meet your gynecologist at each consultation, this option will certainly suit you better.

Who will deliver the birth?

In public establishments, midwives give birth to mothers and take care of the baby’s very first care. If a complication arises, they immediately call the obstetrician who is on call on site. In private clinics, the midwife on call welcomes the mother-to-be and monitors the work. When the baby is released, it is your obstetrician gynecologist who intervenes.

Are the rooms individual and equipped with shower?

The single rooms are often very comfortable, with private bathrooms, a corner for changing the baby and an extra bed for the father. It almost feels like a hotel! Many mothers obviously approve of it. It allows the young mother to rest and fully enjoy moments of intimacy with her baby. Two caveats, however: if you are giving birth during a busy period, there may be no more available, and in hospitals, they are reserved primarily for mothers who have undergone a cesarean section.

Will dad be able to stay and sleep with me in the maternity ward?

Dads often find it difficult to leave their small families when the time comes for the end of visits. If the mother is in a single room, an extra bed is sometimes made available to her. In double rooms, for privacy reasons, this will unfortunately not be possible.

Could I have the person of my choice near me during the birth?

Moms who give birth need to share this event. Often, it is the future dad who attends the childbirth, but it happens that he is not there and that a friend, a sister or the future grandmother comes to replace him. Maternities do not generally make any objection but often only admit one person to the mother. Remember to ask the question when registering.

Are the obstetrician and the anesthesiologist still on site in the maternity ward?

Not necessarily. It depends on the number of annual deliveries of the maternity ward. From 1 deliveries per year, pediatricians, obstetrician gynecologists and anesthesiologists are on call, night and day. Below 500 births, they are on call at home, ready to intervene.

Does the preparation for childbirth take place on site?

Childbirth preparation courses are mostly organized by midwives in maternity wards. They have the advantage of getting to know the locals or visiting the birthing rooms, but often have a large number of participants. For those who want a more personalized preparation, liberal midwives are trained in more specific techniques such as sophrology, yoga, swimming pool preparation or haptonomy. As the number of places is limited, expectant mothers are advised to register quickly.

What will it really have to pay?

Public or private, maternity hospitals are approved, so childbirth costs are covered 100% by Social Security.

The little extras, such as a single room, television, telephone or daddy’s meals are your responsibility in all types of establishment (hospital or clinic). Check with your mutual to find out exactly what it reimburses. Some private maternities do not provide diapers or baby toiletries. To avoid unpleasant surprises, consider interviewing them before giving birth. If you opt for a clinic not approved by Social Security, the costs are very high and entirely at your expense (childbirth, doctors’ fees, hospitality, etc.).

Can we discuss the delivery modalities?

If a medical act such as cesarean section or the use of forceps is difficult to negotiate, establishing a birth plan specifying your wishes or refusals is becoming an increasingly common practice. Some maternities are more “open” than others and offer new mothers the option of choosing their birthing position, using a balloon during contractions or not having continuous monitoring. Likewise, when the baby is well, some care such as bathing, nasal suctioning, or height and weight measurements can wait. Talk to the midwives. On the other hand, in an emergency situation, the baby’s health is paramount and specific actions must be carried out immediately.

Are there more natural delivery rooms with a bathtub?

The bath is relaxing and allows expectant mothers to relax when the contractions become painful. In addition, hot water promotes expansion. Some maternities are equipped with a bathtub.

Are there any specific breastfeeding tips?

Breastfeeding her baby, nothing more natural! But getting started is not always easy and breastfeeding on demand requires high availability. Many maternity hospitals have teams specifically trained in breastfeeding. Some even benefit from the “Baby-friendly hospital” label which guarantees that everything will be done to make breastfeeding a success.

In the event of pregnancy complications, should we change maternity?

Private or public, maternity hospitals are organized in a network to ensure the greatest safety for mothers and their babies. In the event of complications during pregnancy or childbirth, the mother is transferred to the most suitable establishment. If your maternity hospital is type 1, the transfer is automatic, it is the doctors who take care of it.