Aude, who arrived from France seven months pregnant : “Becoming a mom in Montreal, well supported”
“I arrived in Montreal seven months pregnant, in a country I didn't know yet.
Becoming a mom for the first time, in the middle of winter, far from everything familiar and from my family…
I wanted to live that moment with confidence and be well prepared, with my partner. Here's our story, from Edouard's arrival through to Theodore.
My story
Arriving in Montreal seven months pregnant
I'm French, and I set down my bags in Quebec with an already round belly: seven months pregnant. Medically, everything came together quickly, follow-up care at CLSC, then care at the Jewish General Hospital for the birth. And that was already very good.
But something was missing that medicine doesn't provide: a presence. Someone to explain how a birth unfolds in Quebec, to help me get to know this first baby who was coming, to give my partner a real place. With no family within thousands of kilometres, I didn't want to approach the big day with a knot in my stomach. I wanted to go in confident, surrounded, ready.
Preparing together, at home
My partner wanted to be involved, but neither of us knew where to start: it was all new. We chose the private in-home prenatal classes, and I think it was one of the best decisions of our pregnancy.
Émilie came to our home, into our living room, for three sessions. Each time she left, we felt a little lighter.
Together we built our birth plan, practised the positions, worked on the breathing.
And above all, she prepared us for everything you don't picture: the room buzzing with people, the pace suddenly picking up, the decisions to make in a few seconds. When the day came, nothing caught us off guard , and that's priceless.
My husband and I loved the childbirth preparation workshop. Emilie takes the time to explain and to practise the positions with us, and she even emails a summary at the end of the session. My husband reread it a few days before the birth so he'd have it all in mind, and it was very useful on the big day. Thanks to the workshop, my physiological birth went in the best possible conditions. I recommend it 100%
Thank you very much Aude and congratulations to you both on the birth of Théodore.
The big day at the Jewish General Hospital
When the day came, everything we had learned during the preparation became instinctive.
When the day came, everything went very fast, much faster than I imagined. I had prepared myself for a long ordeal, and I had a quick birth, and everything went wonderfully well.
That's when the preparation really made sense. My partner knew what to do. He answered the team's questions, followed the birth plan we had written together, and brought me back to my breathing when everything sped up.
He wasn't a spectator at his son's birth. He was there, with me, through every contraction. And at the end of that moment, so intense, so overwhelming, we laid Édouard on my chest. I will never forget that moment.
After the birth: breastfeeding support
With little family nearby, I chose to surround myself with good support. I wanted a hand with breastfeeding, and I was able to count on postnatal support. A real relief in those first days.
A significant bonus: it was all reimbursed by insurance, under the naturopathy category. A big plus when you arrive in a new country.
A second baby, this time at a birth centre
That first experience was so positive it gave me real confidence. For my second child, I felt ready to give birth at a birth centre.
We still did another group preparation workshop - shorter, very practical - to get back into it before the arrival of Théodore.
Because you train your whole life to practise a profession, but never to give birth and become parents. So we take that help, and we don't regret it.
Aude
French, settled in Outremont · mom of two
Aude arrived from France seven months pregnant and settled in Outremont. She became a mom for the first time in Montreal, then a second time, making each birth a prepared, supported project alongside her partner. Her journey speaks to every family living the adventure of parenthood far from everything familiar.
We thank Aude for her testimonial, and welcome again to Édouard and Théodore !
Émilie, Ysé Naissance Photo credit, Aude: Sophie CampionThe services Aude and her partner used
Private in-home prenatal classes
Complete preparation in your home, at your own pace, so you can approach the birth with confidence and fully involve the co-parent.
ExploreBreastfeeding support
Concrete support in the first days, from the first feeds to the small doubts, with no judgment.
ExploreGroup prenatal workshop
A concrete, dynamic workshop, shorter, to review positions and breathing: ideal when preparing for a second birth.
ExploreGood to know: all of these services qualify for an insurance receipt under the naturopathy category. Several group plans cover childbirth preparation and postnatal support in that category, so it's worth checking with your insurer.