Preparing for a baby’s arrival involves making choices among dozens of items: equipment, medical follow-up, administrative procedures, and organizing leave. Some of these items have a timeline constrained by law or the physiology of pregnancy.
Others depend on personal choices, with costs and timing varying greatly from one household to another. This article compares the major preparation steps trimester by trimester, incorporating recent regulatory changes that will affect parents in 2026.
Additional Birth Leave 2026: What Changes for Postpartum Preparation
As of July 1, 2026, an additional birth leave will be added to existing provisions (maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption). This leave is available to each parent for children born or whose birth was expected from January 1, 2026.
Its duration is one to two months. The compensation reaches approximately 70% of net salary in the first month and 60% in the second. This data changes the household’s financial planning: the second parent can now stay with the newborn well beyond the standard paternity leave.
| Provision | Beneficiary | Indicative Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity Leave (existing) | Mother | Daily allowances from Social Security |
| Paternity Leave (existing) | Second parent | Daily allowances from Social Security |
| Additional Birth Leave (2026) | Each parent | ~70% net (month 1), ~60% net (month 2) |
The practical consequence: the mother’s return to work is no longer the only parameter to anticipate. The couple can spread parental presence over a longer period, easing the urgent search for childcare in the first weeks. Anticipating this leave as early as the second trimester allows for notifying the employer and organizing the professional handover without rush.
Families looking to compare the necessary equipment and accessories for this extended period at home can find comprehensive lists on 123babyboom.com, where products are categorized by infant age.
Pregnancy and Labor Law: Often Overlooked Protections
A pregnant employee has no legal obligation to disclose her pregnancy to her employer, neither at hiring nor during the execution of the contract. This legal point, although clear in the Labor Code, remains a source of confusion.
The employer cannot dismiss an employee due to her pregnancy. Protection against dismissal applies as soon as the pregnancy is medically confirmed, even if the employer has not been informed. In case of dispute, the date of the medical certificate is authoritative.
Workplace Adjustments and Authorized Absences
The law provides for authorized absences for mandatory medical examinations related to pregnancy follow-up. The partner also benefits from authorized absences to accompany the expectant mother to three of these examinations.
- Absences for mandatory prenatal examinations are paid and cannot be deducted from paid leave.
- A workplace adjustment can be requested based on the occupational physician’s advice if working conditions pose a risk to the pregnancy.
- The employee can request a reduction in daily working hours starting at a certain stage of pregnancy, according to applicable collective agreements.
Knowing these rights from the first trimester allows for planning medical appointments without stress related to professional organization. Declaring one’s pregnancy to the employer remains a choice, not an obligation.
Baby Registry and Equipment: Balancing Necessities and Superfluous Items
The lists of equipment circulating online often exceed one hundred items. The sorting relies on a simple question: will this item be used in the first four weeks?
Bedding and Room Safety Equipment
The crib, a firm mattress of appropriate dimensions, and a sleeping bag form the foundation. The room temperature should remain between 18 and 20 °C. A room thermometer is sufficient to check this parameter, without investing in a complex monitoring system.
The smoke detector, mandatory in French homes, must be checked before the baby’s arrival. Accessible electrical outlets can be secured with covers costing a few euros.
Clothing for the First Weeks
Newborns grow quickly. Planning for five to seven bodysuits in newborn size and the same in one-month size covers most needs. Organic cotton materials reduce the risk of irritation on skin that has never been exposed to textiles.
Buying second-hand clothes, washed at high temperatures, reduces the budget without compromising comfort. It’s better to have a few well-fitting clothes than a wardrobe full of ill-fitting sizes.
Medical Follow-Up Trimester by Trimester: Appointments Not to Postpone
The prenatal follow-up calendar includes fixed deadlines related to examinations whose results can only be interpreted at specific stages of pregnancy. Postponing them, even by a few weeks, can complicate screening.
The first ultrasound, performed around the end of the first trimester, allows for dating the pregnancy and measuring the nuchal translucency. The second, known as the morphological ultrasound, takes place in the second trimester to check organ development. The third, in the third trimester, evaluates the baby’s position and the amount of amniotic fluid.
Between these ultrasounds, mandatory prenatal consultations punctuate the pregnancy. They are fully covered by Health Insurance. Planning them as soon as pregnancy is confirmed avoids waiting times that can lengthen in areas with few healthcare professionals.
Preparation for Childbirth
Childbirth preparation sessions (classical, sophrology, haptonomy, swimming) are covered by Health Insurance. Scheduling them as early as the second trimester guarantees a spot, especially in maternity wards with high demand.
Preparation is not limited to the mother. The second parent participating in the sessions gains a better understanding of the childbirth process and the actions to take in the delivery room.
The new additional birth leave, combined with existing protections in labor law, offers a more flexible framework for organizing the first months with a newborn. Staying attentive to the medical calendar and limiting purchases to items actually used in the first weeks allows focusing energy on what matters: a calm environment, regular follow-up, and available time to welcome the child.
