Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Mila

                           Mila 

Our friend's first baby, a few hours old… Bonjour Mila! Oh there is nothing like the beauty of a newborn baby.

Note: The day before her birth, her parents started to move into their new home…. boxes galore! Needless to say for those who ask, "If there is anything I can do?" There is … one box at a time.

Everyone is well and a bit sleepy. Fortunately, the health care system in France requires and offers that a woman who has given birth stay at the hospital with her baby for a few days. It assures rest and time for observation. When I gave birth to our first child I stayed in the French hospital for a week since I had a cesarean. Midwives, as well as doctors are there to guide you. The French health care system also offers ten days of vacation to the Father so that he might be available to the Mother and child.

Comments

27 responses to “Mila”

  1. Julie Ann

    Wonderful news on a grey Monday morning.
    Bonjour Mila – may God Bless and keep her always.
    The French system sounds a good deal better than the English one Corey !
    Peace, Julie x

    Reply
  2. poppy fields

    Bonjour Mila and welcome to this world 🙂

    Reply
  3. Debbie

    The French system sounds much better than the American one.

    Reply
  4. Jeanne

    Babies are bits of stardust handblown from God’s own hands.
    Love and hugs
    Oh how beauiful

    Reply
  5. pauline

    Welcome, Mila!

    Reply
  6. hayseed

    My first baby was born a day after we had moved in to a new house, boxes everywhere! In Canada they pretty much let you leave the hospital after two days. My mother-in -law tells me that when she had her babies, they kept her in for about ten days! (And no days off for the father, unless it’s part of the maternity leave here).

    Reply
  7. Beverly

    I LOVE babies! What a beautiful child!
    Have I ever mentioned that Steven wants to move to France?…not for the romance…or the food…nor the beautiful scenery…but for the health care system!

    Reply
  8. Jill Flory

    Beautiful Baby! I love the newborn stage, but by the time I felt good enough to REALLY enjoy my babies they were already a month old or more!
    French Health Care sounds good, how expensive is it?
    I just had a very minor surgery done a couple months ago at a well known hospital. I was there 1/2 a day, outpatient surgery, and they billed my insurance 19,400! Outrageous!! I still can’t believe it.
    If I lived a little closer I’d love to come help unpack all those boxes for your friends!
    God Bless,
    Jill

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  9. Miss Sandy

    Blessings to the new family! There is nothing like the arrival of a new little person!

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  10. Dee

    How beautiful the baby is!

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  11. nancy

    oh what a beautiful miracle!!!!
    xxnancy

    Reply
  12. Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    What a beautiful baby. I love their little tiny mouths.
    – Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

    Reply
  13. Beachy

    There’s something so completely innocent and beautiful about a newborn babe!

    Reply
  14. JanePoet ~ JP/deb

    First, what a lovely little soul who has entered the world! Congratulations to her parents, friends and family. Second, how lovely that the French health system doesn’t push women out the door the moment they’ve given birth (the pendulum has swung too far here in America) …
    Finally, it’s wonderful getting caught up on your posts and photos. I hope the cold has run it’s course. I’m glad that it didn’t keep you down whilst entertaining and enjoying time with your cousins. I love that awesome pic of French Husband running to you in the middle of the street – vive l’amour!
    xx,
    JP/deb

    Reply
  15. stljoie

    Ahh…for such health care. I am having a major operation next month and the insurance agency has approved me for one day! I know it can be extended at least another day due to pain but still.

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  16. Kris

    Oh how darling!! I just love those wee little hats that newborns wear. Hello Mila. “May the spirit of God live within you”.
    Kris
    p.s. How is your cold?

    Reply
  17. Franca Bollo

    Universal Health Care … it’s a beautiful thing (like Mila) … paid for by the people for the people … through taxes. I’m with Joe Biden when he said paying taxes is patriotic.
    Sorry to get political on your very non-political site but like many Americans in these days before November 4th issues such as health care are at the forefront of my thoughts. The opportunity for change is so close at hand. And that change has its best chance under Barack Obama.
    Colin Powell said this about Obama when he endorsed his candidacy for president, “I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into, onto the world stage.”
    A there’s the tie-in! Let’s welcome two new generations, the aforementioned candidate and Mila!

    Reply
  18. Tia Muminguz

    Well said, Franca! As every French citizen knows, you must pay for what you get. Is Phillipe the proud pere?

    Reply
  19. Denese

    Mila’s a beauty! Thank you for introducing us to her. She is and you are lucky to be in France.
    Such a great health care system there. But, it’s not just health care that makes it great, it’s income redistribution, education (free) and a host of other policies that give citizens (children through elders) the right to be healthy and happy.
    If you want to know more about our broken system in the US and what it does to children, go to a New RWJ Report: New State-by-State Report Finds Shortfalls in Children’s Health Tied to Parents’ Income and Education:
    http://www.commissiononhealth.org/Documents/ChildrensHealth_Chartbook.pdf
    Wish us luck here in the next election. We’ll need it:
    Denese

    Reply
  20. deirdre

    Mila’s a very pretty baby – her parents must be so happy and proud.

    Reply
  21. Melly

    What a gorgeous child! And I love her name. Mila! I had a dear friend by that name.
    Blessed is she to have been born in a country where health care is a right and not a privilege. As the mother of a now adult woman who was born with a very rare condition, I could tell you horror stories.
    In the US unfortunately health care is a privilege. More and more people will find that out as they lose jobs/benefits. My heart aches when I hear politicians speaking of “family values”…..where are they?
    Mila, may you live a blessed life!

    Reply
  22. Steph

    Awwww cute!! Here in New Zealand you’ve got about 6 hours to get out of the hospital because they probably need the bed for someone else. Back when I was born in 1979 my mum stayed in for 10 days though.

    Reply
  23. collette

    Beautiful baby. ya for French papas having time off. So important.

    Reply
  24. Hasmin

    SO SWEET! 🙂

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  25. Suzanne

    Toute bonheur pour Mila!
    Happiness.
    Hug*

    Reply
  26. naomi

    Oh, she’s beautiful. I had a tiny baby dream just last night. Thank you for sharing her with us. I miss the newborns – I do not miss the newborn exhaustion.

    Reply
  27. Catalina

    Oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh!
    soooo beautiful! a baby is so magical!

    Reply

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