Prenatal Care & Childbirth

When giving birth at a public maternity hospital, you cannot have your own OB-GYN present. If everything goes smoothly, the midwives will support you during labor and help you deliver your baby. The on-call OB-GYN will only intervene in the event of complications (such as the use of instruments) or an emergency C-section. In a private maternity hospital, the process is different—find out how here.

Today, most public maternity hospitals offer “natural” rooms if you’d like to have a natural birth. There, you’ll have access to a bathtub to relax in, ropes or fabrics for support, a birthing ball, and other accessories. Whether you’re in a private or public facility, you can dim the lights and listen to your favorite playlist.

Medical Staff & Facilities

The main advantage of giving birth at a public maternity hospital or university hospital is safety. This safety is ensured by specialized facilities (intensive care units, neonatal units for extremely premature infants, etc.), state-of-the-art technology (pregnancy and maternal complications, fetal medicine, pregnancy termination, etc.), and a multidisciplinary team of doctors, midwives, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk (obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple pregnancy, infectious disease, preterm labor, etc.), you must give birth at the hospital.

Insurance Coverage

Supplemental health insurance is not mandatory; LAMAL (basic insurance) will generally cover the costs associated with childbirth, medical care, and your stay in a shared room. Be sure to check with your insurer as soon as possible to find out your coverage details and what you’re entitled to.

Birth Plan

Don’t forget to prepare a birth plan to give to the midwifery team, in which you’ll outline all your wishes for the big day. Examples: I would like a natural birth, without an epidural, using the self-hypnosis techniques I learned during my childbirth classes; I’d like to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby for as long as possible; I do not wish to breastfeed; I’d like the umbilical cord to be cut as late as possible; ideally, I’d like to give birth in water, etc.