Midwives in Grenoble

[NSD919]

Hello All:

I moved to Grenoble about 9 months ago and recently found out I was preganant. I will be staying here with my fiance, who is French, for the next one or two years which means I will be delivering my baby in France. I know that I would like a natural water birth either in a birthing center or at home. From the sparse research I have gathered it seems as if the French medical society is not very fond of natural births. I just met with my OB/GYN and she basically would not even discuss having a natural birth with me.

Is there anyone out there who knows of any good midwives or birthing centers? My French is VERY limited so I would prefer one with some knowledge of English. Also, is there a support group for women who want to breastfeed in the area?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

[IsaFrench]

doctors are usually very unlikely to be supportive (I know, I got badly told off when I mentionned just the idea of a home birth & I switched to midwifery care so that I could have more options for my birth) = you don't HAVE TO go to a doctor, especially if there are no complications (possible complications that a midwife would foresee in all likelyhood and SHE would send you to a doctor if your pregnancy didn't fall within the normal range until the end, a midwife would NOT want to have a problem legally so would make sure you would get the best care possible and would tell you what would be realistic to expect or not ...)
a french midwife is totally allowed to do all of the pre-birth care that you would need for a non complicated birth

here 's what i found (in French)
some LLL leaders speak some english even if they don't mention it ... or may well have english speakers coming regularly to their meetings who could help you
+ it's worth going to any shop mentionned below and see if they have a bulletin board ("des petites annonces")

Isère (38)

Animatrices LLL :

- Véronique, 04 76 05 93 99.
- Carine, 04 76 40 45 69, email.
- Charlotte, 09 54 32 12 36.
- Pauline, email.

Autres associations de soutien à l'allaitement :

- Allo j'allaite : Grenoble - 04 76 62 02 83.
- La Voie Lactée : Ecoute téléphonique et réunions à Echirolles et à Voiron - 04 56 05 00 14 - email - site web.
- Les Marraines de lait : Mettre en relation une future maman et une mère ayant allaité ses enfants - 04 76 33 30 81.

Autres associations :

- Bien Naître et grandir : Promotion de l'accouchement à domicile - email.
- Drôles de mamans : Promotion de la méthode Reynes - email - site web.

Boutiques :

- Mon petit öko : produits bio - 6 rue Brocherie 38000 Grenoble - 04 76 01 99 53 - email - site web.
- Wigwam kids : couches lavables, vêtements anti-UV, chaussons souples - 28 rue du pont Charvet 38360 Sassenage - email - site web.
- Fil Médical : Revendeur de produits Medela - 50 rue de Stalingrad 38000 Grenoble - 04 76 86 41 17.
- Gribouille : Chaussons souples Robeez - rue de Sault 38000 Grenoble.

Mamans-relais :

- Ecofamille : Carine - email.
- Laudamay : Farah - email.
- Baby'o : Florence - email.
- Sweet Lili et Cosycotton : Magali - email.
- Ethangelie : Claire - email.
- Le Monde de Bébé : Edith - email.
- Lili Nappy ( couches lavables) et Couche Nature (fournitures pour coudre ses propres couches) : Claire - email.

I found all that on this website
http://lelienlacte.com/wiki/ressources-en-rhones-alpes