Expat Advice: Having a Baby in Viroflay
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
Viroflay
How recently did you give birth in the country that you are reporting on?
18 months ago
Describe your experience giving birth there. What type of facility did you go to? What (if any) type of pain management did you use? How long did you stay in the hospital? Was it a positive experience? Etc...
I had an unassisted home birth after following midwife-based care throughout the pregnancy. It was a very positive experience. I planned to use a birthing pool to ease the pain, but the hot water ran out that day so I did not use it during the contractions, only at the end for the birth itself. Leading up to the birth I had a heating pad on my lower back and used visualisation and breathing to focus myself and some homeopathy recommended by the midwife. I wrote in my journal between contractions and used a birthing ball.
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How did you choose your doctor, midwife or other type of medical professional?
I chose an independent midwife recommended to me via the Message Mother Support group in Paris. She is French but knows about many different birthing cultures. I had given birth in Holland and England before this baby in France and I liked the culture of home births in both those countries. I also chose a doula recommended by my midwife. Both doula and midwife were supportive of me giving birth unattended by them when the day came and were happy to come afterwards to share in the joy.
If you were to have another child in this country, would you do anything differently in terms of preparation and/or the delivery?
I would plan on another unassisted home birth but I would try to spend even more time beforehand making time for focusing on the prenancy, doing yoga and making time for meditation (and may look into a hypnobirthing class).
If a friend of yours living in the same country were expecting, what advice would you give her?
Realise that there are many choices available -- the whole range available worldwide is available in France.
More Expat Advice about Having a Baby in France
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