Just Found Out You’re Pregnant in France? Start Here

So you’re late and not in the sense of a very important date. You think you might be pregnant. What do you do? Who do you see? Do you need to immediately change your diet? There’s no need to panic. You are in the right place, and it is not as complicated as it might feel in this moment.

This post covers the essential first steps for being pregnant in France, the things to do before you tell anyone else. It is also the starting point for the complete Pregnant in France series, which takes you through everything from your first appointment to maternity leave, one post at a time.

The good news: France is an excellent country to be pregnant in. Between your sage-femme, your Ameli account, and the CAF, you will be closely accompanied from very early on. The system is structured, generous, and thorough. You just need to know how to navigate it.

 Step 1: Take an At-Home Pregnancy Test

One of the first things your médecin traitant or sage-femme will ask you is whether you have taken an at-home test. So before you even book your first appointment, head to your local pharmacie and pick one up.

There are several brands and types available. Keep it simple. I went with a two-pack of ClearBlue. If you have any questions about the options, ask your pharmacist, they are there to guide you and will point you in the right direction without judgement.

Take the test in the morning. This is when your betaHCG levels will be at their highest, which is the hormone the test detects. It typically appears in urine about ten days after fertilisation. 

If you have doubts: Schedule an appointment with your médecin traitant. They will likely prescribe a blood test (prise de sang) to check your betaHCG levels more precisely. Blood tests are more accurate than urine tests, particularly early in a pregnancy.

A note on betaHCG levels: At the start of a pregnancy, betaHCG doubles approximately every 3–4 days. If your doctor prescribes repeat blood tests to monitor your levels, this is why, the pattern of increase confirms that the pregnancy is developing as expected.

Step 2: Find Your Local PMI

Before your first official appointment, it is worth knowing where your local PMI is. The Centre de Protection Maternelle et Infantile is a free public health resource open to everyone with children up to the age of six. It is an excellent starting point if you feel completely lost about where to begin. 

At your PMI you can have your pregnancy followed (suivi de grossesse), attend post-birth consultations and newborn check-ups, and join group workshops where you can ask questions and get advice from health professionals and other parents. It is particularly useful if you do not yet have a midwife or gynaecologist.

How to find it: Search for your nearest PMI through your département’s website or through service-public.fr. If you are in Île-de-France, your mairie can also direct you.

Step 3: Book Your First Appointment

Once you have a positive test, book an appointment with your médecin, sage-femme, or gynécologue as soon as possible. The appointment I booked at my doctor’s office was called retard de règle / début de grossesse, which is exactly what to ask for if you are not sure how to describe it.

At this appointment your doctor or midwife will typically do an échographie (ultrasound) to confirm the presence of an embryo and check that the pregnancy is intrauterine. You will also likely receive an ordonnance for betaHCG blood tests to be repeated within four days to confirm the levels are rising correctly.

This is also the appointment where, if your doctor or midwife agrees the timing is right, the déclaration de grossesse process begins. This is the most important administrative step of your entire pregnancy, it unlocks 100% healthcare coverage from the sixth month, your prime de naissance from the CAF, and your maternity leave dates. 

Step 4: Start Your Prenatal Vitamins and Folic Acid

One of the simplest things you can do immediately is start taking your compléments alimentaires grossesse, prenatal vitamins. You do not need a prescription for these. They are available directly at your pharmacie.

Acide folique (folic acid)

Folic acid, also known as vitamine B9 or folate, is the most important supplement to take in early pregnancy, ideally before conception and through at least the first trimester. It supports the development of the neural tube, which becomes the baby’s brain and spinal cord, and significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Folic acid is available without a prescription (sans ordonnance) at your pharmacie. Your doctor or midwife may prescribe it for you if they wish, but you can also buy it directly. The standard dose recommended is 0.4mg per day. If you have a personal or family history of neural tube defects, ask your doctor about a higher dose.

If you have just found out you are pregnant and have not been taking folic acid, start now. It is never too late to begin.

Prenatal vitamins

Prenatal vitamins in France are not reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie because they are classified as a food supplement rather than a medicine. However they are widely available and relatively affordable. Ask your pharmacist or midwife for a recommendation based on your specific needs.

I took Effik Gynéfam Supra Grossesse Capsules, which my doctor recommended. There are several other good options, talk to your pharmacist and they can show you what is available.

What to Expect During Your Pregnancy in France

Once your pregnancy is declared, you will be closely accompanied through a structured system of mandatory appointments, tests, and support. Here is the overview: 

•   7 mandatory prenatal medical visits (suivi de grossesse)
•   3 required ultrasounds: one per trimester, plus additional scans if recommended
•   Monthly blood tests including regular toxoplasmosis monitoring
•   The entretien prénatal précoce: an informal early prenatal interview with your midwife, usually around the 4th month
•   A prenatal check-up covering diet, vaccinations, and your plan for a safe pregnancy
•   7 birth preparation classes with a midwife, covered 100% by the Assurance Maladie
•   A dental check-up, recommended from the 4th month through to 6 months after birth
•   A postpartum check-up at 6–8 weeks and mandatory périnée rééducation sessions

Did you know: Your partner is entitled to attend up to three prenatal medical appointments covered at 100% by the Assurance Maladie. They can also have a full health check-up covered by the Sécurité Sociale during your pregnancy. Ask your healthcare provider.

The Complete Pregnant in France Series

This post is your starting point. Each post in the series covers one part of the pregnancy journey in France in detail. Here is the full series in order:

Step 1: Essential First Steps — You are here.

Step 2: Declaring Your Pregnancy in France — The déclaration de grossesse — the most important administrative step that unlocks all your benefits.

Step 3: Your First Trimester Appointment — What to expect at the premier examen prénatal, including the first ultrasound and the bilan initial.

Step 4: The Entretien Prénatal Précoce — The early prenatal interview — what it is, when it happens, and why it is different from anything in the US 

Step 5: Due Date in France — How France calculates your due date, what semaines d’aménorrhée means, and how it compares to the US system.

Step 6: Childbirth Preparation Classes — Everything about the 7 sessions covered 100% by Assurance Maladie — what they cover and how to find a sage-femme near you. 

Step 7: Congé Maternité Explained — How maternity leave works in France, what you are entitled to, and how to claim it.

Step 8: Miscarriage in France — A personal account of going through a miscarriage in France — the medical process, your three options, and the new rights introduced in 2024.

French Pregnancy Vocabulary

Here is a reference glossary of the French terms you will encounter throughout your pregnancy. Bookmark this section — you will come back to it.

Accouchement: childbirth, referring to the whole act of labour and delivery.

Aménorrhée: absence of menstrual period. Used to count pregnancy weeks in France (semaines d’aménorrhée / SA) from the first day of your last period.

Aminocèntèse: amniocentesis, the removal of amniotic fluid for chromosomal testing.

Anémie: anaemia, low red blood cell levels. Common in pregnancy, causing fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

Clarté nucale: nuchal translucency, measured at the first trimester ultrasound to screen for chromosomal abnormalities including Down syndrome.

Constipation: constipation. Extremely common in pregnancy and worth tracking from early on.

Date prévue d’accouchement (DPA): estimated due date.

Déclaration de grossesse: the official pregnancy declaration made to CAF and Assurance Maladie, triggering all your pregnancy benefits and coverage.

Diabète gestationnel: gestational diabetes, tested between weeks 24 and 28.

Diagnostic prénatal: prenatal diagnosis, used to detect congenital conditions under specific circumstances.

Échographie: ultrasound, can be internal or external.

Entretien prénatal précoce (EPP): the early prenatal interview held around the 4th month, focused on your birth project and specific needs.

Fausse couche: miscarriage.

Fuites urinaires: bladder weakness, common during pregnancy.

Grossesse extra-utérine: ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilised egg implants outside the uterus.

Haptonomie: a method of emotional and physical bonding between parents and baby during pregnancy, usually starting around the 4th month.

Hémorroides: hemorrhoids, common in pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if concerned.

Hypertension: high blood pressure, typically appearing after 20 weeks and usually resolving after birth.

Maternité: maternity unit or maternity hospital where you will give birth.

Pélimétrie: pelvimetry, measuring the pelvis diameter, typically when the baby is presenting breech.

Périnée: perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus. Rééducation du périnée refers to the mandatory pelvic floor physiotherapy sessions after birth.

Poche des eaux: amniotic sac.

Prééclampsie: preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure condition that can develop after 20 weeks.

Rétention d’eau: edema, fluid retention in the extremities, common from around the 5th month.

Sage-femme: midwife. In France, sage-femmes complete a rigorous 5-year qualification and can follow your entire pregnancy independently.

Siège: breech presentation, when the baby is positioned feet or bottom first.

Termes / SA (semaines d’aménorrhée): the week count used in France, measured from the first day of your last period.

Toxoplasmose: toxoplasmosis, an infection to monitor during pregnancy, transmitted through undercooked meat or cat faeces. Tested monthly if you are not immune.

Trisomie 21: Down syndrome, screened for via nuchal translucency ultrasound and blood test in the first trimester.

Vergetures: stretch marks.