Top 10 Reasons to Give Birth at the American Hospital in Paris
Today I've pinched a guest post from Alison at An American Mommy in Paris.
I'm currently reading her book "Paris with Kids" which is a compilations of little stories about her five year stay in Paris while her husband worked for the U.S. embassy.
I have decided that I wouldn't survive in Paris because I can't walk in heels. I have no idea what women with Fred Flintstone, flat feet do there – perhaps they are sent to the forests to search for truffles.
One of her stories also covers a French birthday party for three-year olds where I would have been arrested for trying to liberate a bunch of children like something out of a fucked up Madeline book.
So here's a little amuse bouche about the Top Ten Reasons to Give Birth at the American Hospital in Paris. This place sounds incredible and I would actually consider getting pregnant again if I thought I could give birth there, but I have a feeling they would banish me and my flat feet to some alley where businessmen piss (Also covered in the book.) Un bon moment.
Top Ten Reasons to Give Birth at the American Hospital in Paris
10. You are guaranteed a spacious, private room.
9. No one will kick you out mere hours after giving birth. You can stay as long as you'd like. Really.
8. A one to one nurses to newborn ratio is maintaned at all times.
7. They moisturize your baby's skin with the most amazing smelling cream ever invented.
6. They are very liberal with the drugs during labor. No need to wait until you are 4 cm dialated for pain relief. All you have to do is ask once for pain relief and you'll get it.
5. Every room comes equipped with satellite TV and WiFi.
4. You can order a bottle of champagne sent to your room. It will be delivered by a guy wearing a tuxedo.
3. Three gourmet meals are delivered daily. A sample menu: crab salad on green apple gelée, free range chicken with taragon sauce and pommes dauphinoise, bread, cheese and of course, mini pastries for dessert. I loved the food so much, I even took a picture of it.
2. Wine served with every meal, of course.
1. A hairdresser and make-up artist on call to prep the you for your first photos after the birth of your bébé.
30 Comments
Reader Comments (30)
In France, moms also have longer maternity leaves and are treated with more respect than they are here. I agree with you about moving there for my next child. The bread, cheese, and pastries are all I care about.
*swoon*
I lamented the French while in Paris, bbuuttttt, they may have started to redeem themselves. They had me a one-to-one.
Goddamn! I thought that the hospital where I gave birth was awesome... It's not. It's shitty. Heading for Paris on the next pregnancy. Plus, babies are delivered by midwives in France, not by doctors who think pregnancy is a condition...
By number four I was so excited I was panting
I've been informed that 38weeks is too late to relocate. I guess I can live with that though, I'll just bug someone to bring me mini pastries and of course...wine.
If I can get wine, I'm there. Wow! Time to learn some French!
Well, if Manda says 38 weeks is too late to relocate then I suppose 39 weeks is too. Bummer. It sounds fabulous...
Oui!! Oui!! Oui!! Sil vous plait!!!
Wine. Enough said.
Don't tease me like that. Is there really a place like that? I might see about reversing my tubal ligation if I could have a baby in Paris.
I admit, this was appealing enough it almost made me think that I would rather be in a hospital for birth than at home.
I LOVE Paris. The people were great on my visits and I never wore heels. I'd love to deliver there but remember....if we all fly to Paris we ruin our kiddos chance at the Presidency. Ha!
What a shame I didn't know about this before I got too preggers to fly!
You had me at Champagne. By wine with every meal, I was desperately seeking available apartments in Paris.
I'm sure my crappy health insurance will cover this...
O ... M ... G ... Sign me up!
I was sold with Paris ... but wow ... The maternity ward at our newly renovated hospital doesn't hold a candle to this ... not even a teeny tiny flame!!
HELLZ yeah... send me to Paris! I can do without the wine but I'm a glutton for pastries! And room service. I wonder if they serve sparkling grape juice??? YUM...
Do you have to pay for this?? Seriously. Is this honestly true? Champagne delivered by a dude in a tuxedo??
If only I had been able to get my EU passport before I got a mortgage, got pregnant, etc. Timing is everything. Maybe for the next one.
Oh wowww...I think I need to convince hubby we should move to Paris before we have baby #2! Definitely sounds like my kind of hospital!!
I have to discuss these wonderful things to my wife when I got home. I've never knew it until I read this. Well. it's time to plan the hospital for the delivery honey. We're going to Paris!
Wow, that is amazing. I've always loved Paris, and this just makes me love it that much more.
And I thought that my free standing birth center was incredible! Sure I could do whatever I wanted while I was there, but there was no one serving me delicious cheese and wine, damn it!
Sure wish I was young again to have a go-around at that. Amazing! Champagne! Food! Wine!
I am sure many of us American Mama readers (quite unfortunately) cannot relate to numbers 1-10; however, if there was ever a justifiable reason to get pregnant for experimentation purposes- I would and I would have that special little addition in that very place. The closest birthing option to this would be home. . .
Can an Australian have a baby in an American hospial in Paris?
Not sure I'd want to leave hospital - ever.