Checking into the Clinique

We have to check in at the Clinique St Roch by 1730hrs today. We're taken into the office in the reception area where we hand over a copy of my ID, an attestation from the CPAM and a copy of my mutuelle. We requested a few months ago a shared room (I like to chat to another mum when I'm in hospital) and a telephone line - I'm not bothered about having a TV rental. I'm allocated my room number. The lady declared us very easy, as 99pc of people want single rooms and there aren't enough to go around.... The phone line rental is Euro4 a day... plus cost of calls.

Then we are taken to the birthing room, where I have a urine test, a blood test, a visit from the anesthetist and at least 5 forms filled out by the mid-wife.The baby is monitored during all of this.

I'm given a bottle of antiseptic soap and some gauze strips (to wash myself all over tonight and then again tomorrow morning. I have to be up and showered tomorrow by 7.30am. (at this point I become rather confused as she tells me to use the gauze strips to wash myself as my own flannel will become yellow if I use it... at this point I'm worried I'm going to turn yellow all over and does she really mean I have to wash my hair in this stuff?)

Into the room and unpacked by 9pm - and they let me have some dinner.. which I didn't check until too late and then I realise they've given me fish - yuck - so I just eat the veg and pud and then feel absolutely famished all night - especially as I'm very pregnant and feel like I could eat a horse at any moment.

I'm sharing a room with a lady who had her baby boy by c-section that morning.. she's having problems with breast feeding and she's getting lots of help. All for tonight.

Final Lab Visit

Today is our final visit (we hope) to the lab for 6 (yes 6!) vials of blood to be taken out of my arm ... a kind of smear test for Strep B and a urine test.

Test results take a little longer - I have to go back Saturday to get them.

The smear test is to avoid the infection that babies can get when in the birth canal during birth.

Next appointment is Monday to find out if we need a c-section or not now.

Test Results

I finally get myself around to the lab to pick up the diabetes results - all is well - my blood count is a little low (normal, heck I'm pregnant - but otherwise very well.

Diabetes test

Off to the laboratory in my village for my tests today - no food allowed before the tests.

I take along my little bottle of urine - and then do a blood test straight away... I'm then given a drink that looks somewhere between Lucozade and Red Bull - and doesn't taste that great either... I'm then told to rest in the lab waiting room for 2 hours and I'm given another blood test. All I can say is bleuh....

Results to come in the post.

My next gyne appointment - 19 weeks

Just a normal check up. All is well - he says I've only gained 2 kilos - I think his scales are broke!

I come away with a prescription to go to the lab. for a diabetes test (more on that later) and a toxoplasmosis test.

I also get a prescription for my 2nd and big scan to be taken at the end May / Beg June, I have to go to an expert scanning chappy (the same guy that did the scan when I had my amnio) ..... a bit of paper for me to book an appointment to have a check up for an epidural for the end of August.... and a bit of paper to book me into the clinique... phew!

Euro45 and I'm back home smartish as we are moving home today - I wouldn't have booked a gyne appointment for today normally, but the doctor was off sick on Monday and I got my appointment changed...

Declaration de Grossesse

I went back to the GP today - with my blood test results in hand - I want to get my paperwork in order so that the Caisse Maladie (CPAM) and CAF (child benefit people) are all informed.

This paper needs to be completed and sent off before the 14 week of pregnancy.

I read on www.magicmaman.fr that the maternity leave minimum in France is 6 weeks before the birth and 10 weeks after - all of which is paid as your full salary, from the social security instead of from your company.

I also nip into the Laboratoire to check on what I need to do for my next blood tests as I am not immune to Toxoplasmosis - I have to be tested each month for this. I'm given a little bottle for the urine test (no eating before) and have to do a blood test too, which I can eat before...

Just to confirm it

I go to our GP today to get a real test done. I'm given a prescription and told to go to the laboratoire d'analysis next door (very handy) straight away as I don't have to have 'starved' myself before this test.

I'm tested for everything from AIDS, to Hep. C, Hep B, & toxoplasmosis. I hand over my Carte Vitale and don't have to pay anything - the laboratoire will do all the claiming of monies directly from the CPAM and my mutuelle

3 years ago when I had this test it was €190.00
Visit to the GP €22.00