The early prenatal interview (entretien prénatal précoce) has been mandatory in France since May 2020, yet in 2024 it still reached only 62 % of pregnant women. That is the finding of Santé publique France (the French national public health agency) in its press kit on perinatal health, published in July 2026. Free of charge and involving no physical examination, it is there to help you prepare for the pregnancy and your baby’s arrival.
This article sets out what the official sources say: what the interview is for, when to ask for it, who carries it out, and why uptake is still incomplete.
What is the early prenatal interview?
It is a dedicated listening session, on your own or as a couple, focused on the pregnancy and the time after the birth. According to the information leaflet distributed by the CAF (the French family allowance fund), it lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour, it is confidential and it involves no physical examination.
The Assurance Maladie (French national health insurance), in its page on antenatal preparation updated on 2 June 2026, describes what it covers. It is a chance to take stock of your birth plan, your questions, any difficulties and the support you may need. Those difficulties may be medical, social or psychological.
In practice, several topics come up often:
- how you are experiencing the pregnancy and the emotions that come with it;
- your birth plan: place of birth, type of delivery, breastfeeding;
- how the couple and the family are preparing for the baby’s arrival;
- living conditions, work, housing, support from those around you;
- the resources available close to home.
At the end of the interview, personalised pregnancy support may be offered. The professional can also refer you to a specialist doctor, a psychologist or a social worker.
When should you have the early prenatal interview?
It is recommended from the 4th month of pregnancy. The official leaflet states that it can be carried out at any time once the pregnancy has been declared. The Assurance Maladie adds that it is never too late to ask for it.
Having it early has a practical advantage. Any needs identified during the interview then have time to be addressed before the birth: antenatal preparation, psychological support, social assistance.
With which professional, and where?
The interview is carried out by a midwife, a GP, a medical gynaecologist or an obstetrician. The professional must have specific training for this interview. It can take place in a private practice, at a maternal and child health centre (PMI) or at a maternity unit.
If the professional following your pregnancy does not offer it, they will refer you to a colleague. The leaflet is clear: the interview should be offered to you, and if it is not, you should ask for it.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The interview is covered 100 % by the Assurance Maladie, with no prescription needed, once the pregnancy has been declared. Mothers-to-be without health cover can be seen by a midwife or a PMI doctor.
The seven sessions of preparation for birth and parenthood are also covered 100 %. They are separate from the interview, which often comes before them.
62 % in 2024: uptake still incomplete
Santé publique France sets out the findings in its July 2026 press kit. The early prenatal and postnatal interviews have been mandatory since 2020 and 2022 respectively. Even so, they are struggling to reach everyone.
- The early prenatal interview reached 62 % of women in 2024.
- The early postnatal interview, scheduled between the 4th and 8th week after the birth, reached only 25 %.
In other words, nearly four women in ten did not receive an interview that is both mandatory and free. The reasons are not detailed in the press kit. Lack of awareness of the scheme, a shortage of trained professionals or the interview simply not being offered are plausible explanations, but they remain hypotheses.
Marked differences between regions
Uptake varies depending on where women live. According to Santé publique France, the interviews are more often carried out among women living in south-western mainland France and on Réunion. They are less common in Île-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire and French Guiana, for example.
The press kit does not publish region-by-region rates in the section on the interviews. These differences add to other regional inequalities observed in perinatal health, such as those in the caesarean section rate.
Why this interview matters: prevention and mental health
The same press kit lists the interview among prevention levers that are still under-used. It cites other indicators of the same kind:
- in 2021, only 27.2 % of women were taking folic acid before their pregnancy;
- only 15.7 % received prevention advice about cytomegalovirus, covered in our article on CMV screening during pregnancy;
- smoking during pregnancy remains common, as shown in our article on smoking and pregnancy.
Mental health is the other major issue. According to the 2021 National Perinatal Survey cited by Santé publique France, nearly 17 % of women had symptoms of depression two months after giving birth. More than 27 % had symptoms of anxiety.
The press kit also notes that 73 % of women who reported psychological difficulties during pregnancy had not received any mental health care. An early listening session can help spot these difficulties. Our article on perinatal mental health lists the resources available, and the one on baby blues and postnatal depression helps you recognise the warning signs.
How to prepare for the interview
The Assurance Maladie advises preparing your points in advance. A few simple questions help make sure nothing is forgotten:
- How am I coping with this pregnancy, physically and emotionally?
- What worries me about the birth or the first few weeks?
- Who will be able to help me at home after the birth?
- Do I have any constraints around work, housing or budget?
- What information am I missing about breastfeeding, leave or childcare?
The interview is not an examination and there are no right answers. It is a moment to be listened to, so that your care can be adapted to your family’s real situation.
What Santé publique France recommends
The agency calls for existing measures to be strengthened: prevention, analysis of the rise in infant mortality, and raising awareness of the risks linked to maternal age. It points out that the first 1,000 days, from conception to the child’s second birthday, are decisive for lifelong health. Our article on the first 1,000 days explains why.
Other figures from the same report are covered in our article on premature birth in France and in the one on maternal mortality, which also discusses the early postnatal interview.
Sources
- Santé publique France, “Santé périnatale : 10 années d'évolutions contrastées”, press kit, July 2026.
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), “Préparation à la naissance et à la parentalité”, page updated on 2 June 2026.
- Caisse d'allocations familiales, “L'entretien prénatal précoce : un rendez-vous incontournable de votre grossesse”, information leaflet (undated).
