Beginning of pregnancy to the 3rd month
The pregnancy declaration must be carried out before the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy (i.e. up to 14 weeks). It is carried out during the first prenatal examination confirmed by a general practitioner, a midwife, or a gynaecologist. This professional can then forward the declaration to the CPAM and CAF, with your agreement. You can also send the three-part form yourself that the healthcare professional will have given you: the pink slip to be sent to the CPAM, and the two blue slips to the CAF.
This declaration opens the right to coverage of medical costs related to maternity and to the payment of the Birth Bonus by the CAF in the 7th month, subject to resource conditions.
It is recommended that you contact your complementary health insurance to check the specific cover provided during pregnancy.
If you don’t have one, you can run a simulation to see if you could benefit from the CSS (Complementary Solidarity Health Insurance) free or at reduced cost (click here to simulate your rights).
It is essential to update your Vitale card to ensure proper reimbursement of medical expenses. This update can be done at a multi-service kiosk in pharmacies, in certain healthcare facilities, or at the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) reception desks, by following the on-screen instructions. At pharmacies, the pharmacist can perform the update for you.
It is not mandatory to inform your employer as soon as you find out about your pregnancy, but it must be done before the birth otherwise the absence will be considered unjustified and there will be no maternity leave. The information can be given in writing or verbally with a medical certificate confirming the pregnancy. This allows you to benefit from rights such as protection against dismissal, increased medical monitoring, job adjustments (for example in the event of risk or night work), and authorisations for absence for mandatory medical examinations. In this case, there will be no impact on your salary, and you will receive a daily allowance during your maternity leave.
In the public sector, a reduction in working hours from the third month of pregnancy is provided on presentation of a medical certificate.
In the private sector, it is important to look at the collective agreement to see if it provides a reduction in working hours. To look for the collective agreement that applies to you, you can click here.
Your CPAM will send you a specific maternity booklet with the benefits you are entitled to during your pregnancy. To benefit from these benefits, you must detach the corresponding sheets from the maternity booklet, fill them in, and send them to the CPAM.
4th & 5th month
From the 4th month of pregnancy until the baby’s 6th month, the expectant mother can benefit from MT’ Dents.
During the 5th month, you must update your file with the CAF.
6th month
It’s essential to update your Carte Vitale to ensure proper reimbursement of medical expenses. This update can be done at a multi-service kiosk in pharmacies, in certain healthcare facilities, or at CPAM reception desks, by following the on-screen instructions. At pharmacies, the pharmacist can perform the update for you.
7th & 8th month
Childbirth preparation is accompanied by medical monitoring of the pregnancy, carried out by a doctor or midwife, the costs of which are fully covered. They generally begin around the 7th month of pregnancy. For more information on childbirth preparation sessions, click here.
The PN is paid in a single payment during the 7th month of pregnancy. It depends on the household’s resources, which determine eligibility based on the limits in force. To receive it, you must also have declared your pregnancy to the CAF and CPAM.
To benefit from maternity leave (prenatal and postnatal periods), the employee must notify her employer at least one month in advance by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. This letter must state the reason for the absence and the expected start and end dates of the leave. Its duration depends on the number of dependent children and the nature of the pregnancy (single or multiple). Collective agreements may provide for different durations. This leave cannot be refused by the employer.
Under certain conditions, it is possible to receive a daily compensation for the entire duration of maternity leave.
Click here to see the daily allowances on the Ameli health insurance website.
9th month
If the future parents are not married, filiation is not automatic and therefore, the spouse can make an advance recognition of paternity at a town hall. Proof of identity and proof of address of less than 3 months must be presented. A copy of the certificate will then be issued, which must be presented when declaring the birth.