I was born in La Muette hospital in the 16eme arrondissement - still a good hospital, since Mrs. Sarkozy gave birth there recently.

15 years ago, an English acquaintance was treated at the American Hospital and thought the food was awful - they gave her a hot-dog after a lengthy procedure.

In France, women have to register at hospitals or maternitys to give birth. Most register months and months in advance, like as soon as they find out they are pregnant b/c the good ones fill up fast.

If you are not registered you can always go to a public hospital. Don't reccommend this.

When I lived in Paris I did not know any French women who gave birth at the American Hospital. It was all expats. But this may be the best choice for you. Just remember, you are still in France and you will have to advocate for yourself. the doctors will probably speak some English, but the nurse and staff almost surely won't.

Don't be afraid of confronting the nurses, or sage-femmes, with respect of of course. The French enjoy a good confrontation. You will have to be VERY clear about breast feeding and the like. Stand your ground.

You might also reach out to the American Embassy in Paris. Embassies always keep a list of doctors - often docs who trained in the US or have other ties to the Embassy. They can also tell you what hospital they use for when diplomats or their wives deliver in Paris.

I gave birth to my older daughter at a different hospital in paris. American Hospital is very nice, but not a great place to give birth for two reasons. One, they keep the babies in a nursery down the hall -- meaning they have no in-room nursery. Two, there is no NICU or really any kind of services for babies who may need help, so your baby will be transferred to another hospital if need be.

Also, the American Hospital is American IN NAME ONLY. The nurses and doctors do not necessarily speak English and there is nothing "American" about the service.

Let me know if I can be of any other help

I broke my wrist in Italy and the nurses were so incredibly nice. They made me stay there 3 days and it was heaven. French hospitals are quite good nice inside. I've never had to stay in one though.

Anonymous wrote:I was hospitalized there a couple decades ago. Not for maternity. Nursing staff is NOT NICE.

DECADES AGO!? I bet those same stuck frenchies are still working there.

OP here. Thanks to the PP who suggested contacting the American Women's Club in Paris. Good idea.

If anyone has had a recent experience at the hospital, I'd love to hear about it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was hospitalized there a couple decades ago. Not for maternity. Nursing staff is NOT NICE.

Can you be more specific?

Long waits for any response to any request. A lot of rolling of the eyes and other behavior that indicate that you are a prima donna if you make any request of nursing staff at all. For instance, I received a food tray that had a roach in my food. It was an entree that was a stew type of dish; you couldn't just eat around it. I rang the nurse and asked that a new tray be ordered for me. The nurse proceeded to remove the insect from the stew with her fingers and then said to me with a taunting voice: Here is your new tray. I repeated my request for a fresh plate of food. She started laughing, ran into the hallway, called out in French "Gather round girls, you won't believe this one" and related the obviously to-her bizarre tale of the spoiled American who didn't want to eat bug stew.

OP, you might try to connect with some of the women at the American Women's Club in Paris. They could probably give you more recent advice on delivering there.

Another pp here. I got morning after pills there a couple of decades ago. They were not nice at all. If anything I am sure their attitudes towards Americans is worse now.

I'd take rude staff if I could deliver in Paris. Sigh....

Anonymous wrote:I was hospitalized there a couple decades ago. Not for maternity. Nursing staff is NOT NICE.

Can you be more specific?

perhaps the staff may have changed over since the PP was there? I am sure that after "a couple of decades" every hospital has seen some staffing change.

I was hospitalized there a couple decades ago. Not for maternity. Nursing staff is NOT NICE.

I may need to be in Paris the months around the time I'm due. Just wondering if anyone has given birth at the American Hospital in Paris? Good/bad experiences? Important things to know about giving birth there? TIA