A few questions answered

Hello, hello friends!

I thought I'd write a non-crafty post to answer a few questions some of you have asked lately.

First - because a pictureless post can feel like something is missing - here's a bump update, from a little over a week ago (there's also a couple of silly pictures at the bottom of the post).

I was 35 weeks along in this picture; I'm currently 8 months pregnant. 

I am wearing my first version of Simplicity 3678, which I made 4 years ago. I've really enjoyed wearing it as a maternity dress, and since it's old (and the fabric cost something like 2 euro), I won't mind much if it doesn't snap back into shape later.

The big change from this picture is that the baby dropped a couple of days ago (boy have I been feeling it!), and the bump is now sitting lower. ;)

Now for the promised Q & A:

Regarding maternity leave: employed women in France are allowed 6 weeks of maternity leave before their due date (which is 1 week later than everywhere else in the world - see paragraph just below), and 10 weeks after the birth. The leave is longer though if you're having twins or if this is your third child (or beyond).

10 years ago an eleven-day paternity leave was also implemented, which I find is wonderful.

Due date: Term in France is estimated at 41 weeks. Since so many babies are born after 40 weeks, this was decided so that women didn't get overly frustrated or stressed out when they got past the symbolic 40-week mark. Of course this also means they'll induce you one week past your due date, not two, as in other countries!

I realized this when I was browsing English-speaking pregnancy websites and they kept giving me a due date 1 week earlier than in France. My "due date" is Feb. 25 everywhere except in France, where it's March 4. What I like about this is how much it shows that this is all to be taken with a pinch of salt. I am currently 36 weeks and a half pregnant, and the baby may come any time after 37 weeks and will be considered full term. Yay!

Hospital and what to bring: There are basically 2 systems in France. One is more public (hospital) than the other (clinic). Where I live, and because Montpellier has the most important hospital in the whole county and therefore caters to patients from a radius of about 100 kms, you are only allowed to go to the public hospital if you are having a high risk pregnancy. Happily that is not my case!

Were I in a public hospital, most if not all of the stuff would indeed be provided for the baby. I have friends who basically only had to bring the going home outfit for the baby. Not so much in my case. I have to bring absolutely everything, including diapers, and even towels for the baby and for me!

The big upside to being in a clinic, however, is that, being smaller than a hospital, it is much less anonymous and it feels much more... humane. (Note: I have absolutely nothing against hospitals, far from it. I work in the public service myself, by choice, and two of my siblings are doctors in hospitals). I take birth classes with midwives who work there, who may well be present on the day of the birth, and who've been able to tell me lots about the way everything would go in this particular clinic (and how respectful they are of your wishes). My gynaecologist will also probably be the one to deliver my baby, if he's not on duty in another clinic. I feel like I'm in known territory. That is immensely comforting!

So, all in all, I really don't mind having to pack everything for the two of us. Not to mention we'll actually be three: the father can stay every night provided there's enough room. How wonderful is that?

Also, the clinic is a 10-minute walk from our place. Who knows - I may even manage to walk over there on the big day (although that will of course all depend on how it really happens then!). As one of the midwives said, it could only help speed up the process ;)

I hope I didn't forget to address a question.

And now for a bit of silliness.
As it turns out, P'tite Mignonne is the perfect candidate to practise babywearing. 

(excuse my appearance - I was just out of bed and had only gotten dressed - hadn't even brushed my hair yet!)

She's a little heavier than a newborn, but not by much, she'll let me do anything to her, and once she's secured in the sling, she basically just stays there and purrs forever.

I just hope she won't mind when we get to carry and snuggle the baby. We've vowed to be extra attentive and cuddly with her once the baby's here, but honestly, her response to the baby's arrival is one of my biggest concerns - I know she won't be aggressive as she is fantastic around little ones, but I really hope she won't feel left out and withdraw in on herself. 

At least right now she's not freaked out by my bump and by the heartbeats and thumps she must be hearing (the baby still kicks around a lot and even Seb can hear actual thumps when he listens to my belly!). In fact it's been quite the opposite - she has been insanely cuddly with me. Here's to hoping she stays that way!