Having a baby in France: the admin, in English
Every official step of having a baby in France, in plain English, each one checked against an official source and dated. 21 steps, from declare your pregnancy to check what the baby needs to stay legally.
- Declare your pregnancy (déclaration de grossesse) usually between week 6 and week 14 of the pregnancy
- First prenatal consultation (première consultation prénatale) usually between week 6 and week 13 of the pregnancy
- Register with the Assurance Maladie, and get your number usually between week 7 and week 12 of the pregnancy
- Acknowledge the baby before the birth (reconnaissance anticipée) from around week 10 of the pregnancy until the birth
- First ultrasound (échographie de datation) usually between week 11 and week 14 of the pregnancy
- Early prenatal interview (entretien prénatal précoce) usually between week 14 and week 18 of the pregnancy
- Monthly prenatal consultations (consultations prénatales mensuelles) from around week 14 of the pregnancy until the birth
- Start looking for childcare (mode de garde) usually between week 14 and week 20 of the pregnancy
- Second ultrasound (échographie morphologique) usually between week 20 and week 23 of the pregnancy
- Birth grant (prime à la naissance) usually between week 26 and week 28 of the pregnancy
- Arrange your maternity leave (congé maternité) usually between week 28 and week 32 of the pregnancy
- Third ultrasound (échographie du troisième trimestre) usually between week 30 and week 33 of the pregnancy
- Declare the birth at the mairie (déclaration de naissance) within 5 days of the birth
- Declare the birth to the Assurance Maladie (déclaration de son enfant) within 2 weeks of the birth
- Partner's leave (congé paternité et d'accueil de l'enfant) within 6 months of the birth
- Supplementary birth leave (congé supplémentaire de naissance) within 9 months of the birth
- Get your carte Vitale, and check the baby is on it between 7 days and 6 weeks after the birth
- Check the CAF knows the baby has arrived between 7 days and 8 weeks after the birth
- Get the baby a passport from your own country between 7 days and 3 months after the birth
- Claim help with childcare costs (CMG) between 4 weeks and 6 months after the birth
- Check what the baby needs to stay legally (titre de séjour, DCEM) between 4 weeks and 6 months after the birth
Start from where you are
- What to do, week by week every step in the order it happens, by trimester and after the birth
- Pregnant in France: the first things to do 4 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Pregnancy scans and appointments in France 6 steps, each with its own verified answer
- What pregnancy care actually costs you in France 5 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Maternity benefits in France: leave, pay and what to claim 5 steps, each with its own verified answer
- After your baby is born in France: what to do 5 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Having a baby in France when you are not married 2 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Having a baby in France when neither of you is French 3 steps, each with its own verified answer
Before any of it
- French pregnancy and baby words, in English 16 words you will meet, explained
- The deadlines that actually matter the 8 with a real consequence for missing them
- What it costs to have a baby in France what the whole list comes to, new and second-hand
- What to buy for a baby in France all 23 things, priced, and which are fine second-hand
- French help with childcare costs (CMG) what each route costs, and who pays for it
Get these dated from your own due date