Monthly Archives: January 2009

The paper chase

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wall_of_forms

OK, let’s talk formalities (Belgians are famous for these). Here are the steps you need to take if you are employed (self-employed, not working or unemployed have different regimes… I’m going to limit this to my own situation).

Telling your employer you’re pregnant

By Belgian law, you must tell your employer you are pregnant at least 8 weeks before your due date. Ideally, this should be done by registered letter, but any other means by which you get a proof of receipt is fine (e-mail, fax, etc.). Once you do this, you are protected against being fired for being pregnant, you are allowed time off for your appointments, etc., so it’s always a good idea to do this as soon as possible.

The “Mutualité”

This would be the equivalent of Social Security. Everyone who works in Belgium (or who’s spouse/partner does) must be registered at a mutualité for health insurance, etc. This comes out of your paycheck each month, but if you would like additional coverage you can subscribe to an additional top-up insurance. Things differ from one company to  the other, so you may be entitled to more or less depending on the one you choose. However, the basic coverage is the same in all of them.

The mutalité will be paying your maternity leave, so you must let them know you are pregnant and that you had the child. Some of the also pay a one-off childbirth allowance. I’m registered with Euromut, so will be receiving an extra €350 from them once little sprout is born. This allowance is not attributed by law, so it is entirely up to each company if and how much they pay. This is different from the allocation de naissance that you are entitled to by law.

Before the baby is born, you should send the mutualité a medical certificate indicating your due date. They should then give you a form to fill out la feuille de renseignements indemnités that should be filled out by you and your employer so they can calculate how much you’re entitled to.

Once baby is born, you must send them an original birth registration certificate (copies not accepted) as soon as possible (this should be given to you at the maternity if they are qualified to register babies there, or from the commune where your baby is born and registered), along with the feuille de renseignements indemnités. Based on this, they will calculate the maternity leave you are entitled to and will register your baby as your dependant.

At the end of your maternity leave, you must send the mutualité a certificate stating you are returning to work within 8 days of doing so. This certificate is a postcard that is handed to you by the mutualité and that should be filled out by your employer.

If you decide to stay home after ML, then you must say so in writing and send a certificate from ONEM (National Employment Office http://www.rva.be/Default.htm) stating you are taking parental leave or pausing your carreer.

The Commune

You must register your child at the commune where the birth took place (many maternities now have this service available in-house) within 14 days of the birth. This must be done by one of the parents or someone who assisted the birth. The person registering must take along:

  • His/her identification card (or birth certificate if you do not have one) as well as the mother’s
  • The original of the birth certificate
  • and a marriage certificate if the parents are married

They will then give you 2 birth registration certificates: one for the mutualité and the other for the caisse d’allocations. If you had your baby in a different commune than the one you live in, they should send all paperwork to yours directly and you will then be invited to pick up your child’s identification documents there.

Caisse d’allocations familiales

You are also entitled to two additional allowances: a one-off birth allowance (currently € 1.129,95/first child or € 850,15/following children); and a monthly family allowance (amount depends on your revenues). Now this gets interesting… I really can’t explain the logic of it, but if both parents are employed the father must ask his human ressources department or, if there is none, directly to the caisse d’allocations his employer works with. The mother can’t. Even though she will be the one receiving the allowances. I really can’t understand it, but that’s how it is!

So, around the 6th month of pregnancy, you can ask for the allocation de naissance, in which case it will be deposited in your account during the 7th month. This I DO think makes sense. Plus, you’re entitled to that amount even if something goes wrong with the pregnancy, as long as it has lasted more than 180 days.

What you have to do (or your husband) is ask for the forms for allocation de naissance and for allocations familiales, fill them out and send them in. In some cases, you can even get them in English.

For the allocations familiales, you must wait until the birth, and then send in the form, along with the birth registration certificate. You will receive your first monthly payment the month after birth.

And basically that’s it. Unless you are taking parental leave, which I’ll explain in a later post, when I actually know what I’ll have to do ;) !!!

Some websites where you can find additional info are:

http://www.euromut.be/jsp/fiche.jsp?id=6310&origin=Euromut

http://www.euromut.be/jsp/video.jsp?idF=554

http://www.kids.partena.be/Content/Default.asp?PageID=17

http://www.rva.be/Default.htm

Related posts:

  1. Creches & Co.
  2. Maternity tour @ Clinique St-Michel
  3. Back to work!
  4. And… we have a “crèche”!!!!

Nursery – Take II

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Now that I’ve actually been looking around more, I’ve had some changes of heart regarding the nursery: The Stokke Sleepi bed seemed like an excellent idea, but at around €900 it’s quite pricey. Plus, now that I’ve actually seem one like, I sort of fell out of love with it. Another change is the rocking chair. i went to Ikea and sat in it and realised it’s not too comfy for my size (maybe I’m just too small for it?). Since I really hate the look of the gliders sold at maternity stores (plus they’re freakin’ expensive), so we’re most likely going with the Ikea Poang chair which is really comfy and cheap too! I’ll probably be making different covers for it, but that will be a longer-term project.

poang

poang-footstool

As for the furniture, we want something that will grow with sprout, at least until he’s around 7yrs old, so we’ll probably not go with white. Now, I love white in a baby’s room, but not so much for a toddler. Here are some of the rooms we’ve loved:

block-oakblock-walnut

This is an Oak and Walnut version of the “Block” room from Kidsmill (a Dutch company). It is solid and semi-solid wood, with all natural paints. The crib transforms into an infant bed, so it would grow with sprout. I also think it is neutral looking, so easy to personalise and not get sick of. We both prefer the Walnut version, but are uncertain if it would be too dark for a kid’s room.

Another one we like from the same company is “Kubus” in white oak.

kubus-white-oak

This one has more or less the same characteristics as the previous ones, with the added bonus that you could add on furniture to it, such as night table, desk, teen bed, shelves, etc.

They all seem really well made and long-lasting, which I think is difficult to find nowadays when everything seems to be “disposable”. I love that it’s all natural materials and it is much less expensive than the stokke ensemble.

For the colour scheme, I personally like blues, greens, browns and whites. I’m thinking of making the bedding and other textiles myself and avoid the over-cutesy or over-muted baby sets. Plus, we don’t want bumpers because they pose a risk for cot death and most/all baby sets include them.

Some fabrics I like:

trees1

blue-fabricsmm-disco-dot-blue

paula-press-rain-dotpaula-press-cobblestone

Of course, we’ll only be getting the crib for now because we have still to find a house and therefore a nursery… But it’s still nice to think about these things :)

Related posts:

  1. Nursery – Take 1
  2. Sprout has a room!!!
  3. 3rd trimester today!!
  4. Our new Ferrari and other updates

3rd trimester today!!

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I’m 26 weeks pregnant today, which means that (at least according to Baby Centre) I’m now in my 3rd trimester. However, my What to Expect book says the 3rd trimester doesn’t start until week 28… Anyway you look at it, I’m now circa 6 months pregnant and getting close to the big day. Which means I should be getting prepared…

So, I finally got my “Baby essentials” list together and plan on hitting the shops on Friday Saturday. You can see the list I came up with here. Items in Green are things I need for when baby arrives, Yellow is for things I’ll be needing shortly after (about a month), Blue is for things I’ll only need later on and Peach is for things I’m not sure I’m getting yet. I have the names of everything in English and French and will be checking prices, brands, etc. Maybe this could be useful for other expat moms-to-be in Brussels. I don’t really have any nursery furniture on there yet since we still don’t have a house and therefore don’t know the size of the room. I might add that on later though.

Here’s a pic of the stroller we’ve decided to get:

loola-up

I have to thank my sister who is buying it for us!!! We still haven’t decided on a colour yet, so any suggestions are welcome! You can find the colourways here.

Related posts:

  1. Our new Ferrari and other updates
  2. The paper chase
  3. My bags are packed
  4. Pregnancy library

Pregnancy library

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Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been reading up on the matter. Besides the many blogs and forums I’ve been visiting, I’ve also managed to build up a pregnancy library at home! These are the books I’ve been reading:

what-to-expect What to Expect when you’re expecting

by Sandee E. Hathaway, Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff

This was the very first pregnancy book I bought and I quite like it. It has a lot of useful information in a Q&A format and it’s divided up my months (at the beginning of each month it says from which week until which it goes, e.g. 6th month, weeks 24 to 28). It is very useful for reference, but maybe not so much if you get obsessed or paranoid with possible complications (fortunately not my case) because it does describe just about everything that can go wrong. It also has a chapter for dads-to-be (which R has not even looked at yet!) and other useful info. I definitely recommend it for reference.

cuidados-naturaisCuidados Naturais na Gravidez

by Zita West (a Portuguese translation of Natural Pregnancy)

I have Claudia to thank for this book and the next! :) This book also gives useful information on the various stages of pregnancy, but is more focused on a natural approach, meaning alternative therapies, nutritional information, etc. It’s very interesting and backed with practical and useful tips. It is not bible size like what to expect, so it is easier to consult. I love the natural approach to pregnancy symptoms (and pregnancy in general) and I think it gives a very good introduction to alternative therapies that can be used, such as homeopathic remedies, massages, osteopathy and hypnotherapy.

agenda-da-gravida

Agenda da Grávida

Impala Edições

This book was lent to me by Claudia and I believe it was the main one she used during her pregnancy last year. It is a week by week guide to pregnancy, with a calendar section each week that you can fill out with your own notes. What I love the best is that Claudia has filled out some of her stuff and since we are due for around the same time (with 2 yrs difference), it is interesting to see we have been going through much of the same. Personally, I don’t think I would actually buy this because most of this information is available on-line (in English-speaking sites mostly) and can be received through newsletters. However, I have been reading every week because it is very easy and the information is very useful. I think this would be especially useful for those who have a more limited access to Internet or that would like information in Portuguese.

hypnobirthingHypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method

By Marie Mongan

I bought this in December and have been slowly reading through. This isn’t one of those books that focuses on what is happening during your pregnancy, but mostly on labour preparation. Now, don’t get put off by the title! I have heard many people swear by this method and it really does seem to help with labour if, like me, you plan to do it as natural as possible and (hopefully) without an epidural.

The Book promises “pain free” delivery, but to be honest… I don’t believe in that! Not entirely. I think the basis for this method is very interesting and it’s excellent to help you overcome the fear of birthing most women have (and that many times is what leds to more stressful and painful deliveries). That said, I think you have to filter through what is said and take bits and pieces from it. I’m all for natural, but I think sometimes the book can go a bit over board with some demands, etc. That said, I’ve found it very useful so far, but can only comment further once I finish it (and after the birt, of course!). It comes with a cd with a relaxation track and a brth visualisation track. I’ve been using the relaxation cd before bed, which I’m not sure is a good idea because I think I’ve only been able to hear the full track once or twice. Although I do suppose that means it works ;) I will definitely be writing more on this later on.

attendre-bebe

Attendre bebe… autrement

by de Piraud-Rouet Catherine, Sampers-Gendre Emmanuelle

I only came across this one recently and I had a real debate with myself on whether or not it was worth spending more money on yet another pregnancy book. But I flicked through it and thought this is really for me. It’s in french and is more about the situation in France. However, things are similar in Belgium (to an extent) and there is some (sparse) info on Belgium as well.

This would have been my bible had I bought it earlier on. It has a lot of info on “alternative” birthing methods, natural pregnancy, birthing plans, etc. However, the information is given to you in a very matter-of-fact way, not excluding the more medicalised solutions and it even has a part on c-sections. It also has an example of a birth story in various settings: c-section, medicalised, hospital but less medicalised, home birth, etc. I really like this book and since it’s in french, it does help to get more familiar with the lingo. It’s just too bad I didn’t find this earlier… I think it would have made a great difference.

babybelgium

Besides these books, I also have a booklet by the Brussels Childbirth Trust entitled “Having your baby in Belgium“.I definitely recommend getting  hold on this if you are an expat in Belgium (Brussels in particular).

For more information you can go here or here. These links tell you where you can get it as well. This booklet really gives you an insight on what you can expect and what to do/where to find help.

I also recommend the Pregnancy in Belgium evenings hosted by the BCT in Brussels.

I’ve also been going through a booklet given to me at the maternity called Baby Boom. I believe it is linked to a baby expo and it has way too much advertising in it. It does have some useful Belgian info though.

Every now and then I buy a French magazine called Neuf Mois. This is mostly to keep my magazine addiction going ;) . Actually, it has useful articles and good product reviews.

Related posts:

  1. Maternity tour @ Clinique St-Michel
  2. BCT Antenatal classes
  3. My bags are packed
  4. Littlest Sprout’s birth story

Happy New Year

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The New Year has started off really cold here in Brussels. It’s -10°C as I write and yesterday I woke up to this:

s1033540

It was still dark outside at 8am. Everything is still white today… well, sort of white! Snow in the city gets sloppy very fast.

2008 was a great year and seems to have gone by really fast… I can’t believe 2009 is here already and we’ll soon have a new addition to the family! In (probably) less than four more months our little sprout will be here. I’m really excited and have finally made a list of what I think we’ll need.

We’ll have to hit the stores soon to figure out where we’re going to by things and if we’re going to have a baby list or not at any store. As with everything else, I’m really keen on buying environmentally friendly and healthy products for little sprout, but choice still seems to be limited. I’m thinking of getting some things on-line, such as cloth nappies. I know most people say they’re a hassle, etc but I really want to give them a try. Now I just have to figure out what kind, brand, size and how many!!!

Here are some I’ve been considering:

They are the Imse Vimse all-in-one, Bambino Mio,  Tots Bots and Bumgenious all-in-one. They have to be really simple to use and (practically) leak-free so that I can convince my dear husband and daycare to use them as well. If anyone has any opinion on these (or others), all advice is welcome! I’ll let you know which I chose and where I got them once I make up my mind. i may actually get one of each and see what works best once sprout is here and use Eco-friendly disposables such as these for the first few days.

In other news, I’ve been making more maternity clothes to help fill out my wardrobe. Here another skirt and my bump at 24 weeks:

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And a pair of pants at 25 weeks:

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I always look so unnatural in pictures! And what’s with my hair? I swear it doesn’t look like this live :) New Year’s resolution: learn how to take and pose for pictures!

Related posts:

  1. 3rd trimester today!!
  2. Our new Ferrari and other updates
  3. Belly pic
  4. A new school year