Lifestyle
I tested it for you: Maison Gynécée, the home of women and maternity
On the occasion of the arrival of her second child, Jessica visited a place that was sorely lacking for expectant mothers (but not only!). Designed by women for women, Maison Gynécée accompanies women through each of life's major milestones, such as pregnancy.
The dizzying world of motherhood
Currently pregnant with my second baby at the age of 34, I have to admit that I discovered my femininity in the truest sense of the word - or rather, received it head-on - during my first pregnancy. And at the time of that first pregnancy in 2018, Maison Gynécée didn't yet exist... Too bad for me, who was completely lost in the vast world of maternity ! I still didn't have many pregnant friends around me, and at the time my own mother gave birth, epidurals didn't exist... In short, I had no idea where to turn for information in tune with the times.
"I discovered my femininity in the truest sense of the word - or rather, I received it head-on - during my first pregnancy. "
Admittedly, I had some excellent podcasts at my disposal to keep me informed (like the Louves or Bliss Stories podcasts, which are brilliant). But, while I loved listening to these testimonials out of curiosity before I got pregnant, during my pregnancy, these stories of childbirth, each crazier than the last, ended up being rather anxiety-provoking. You might say "knowledge is power", but knowing how to protect yourself from anxiety is, in my opinion, just as important.
Learning to welcome all upheavals
Even though I was 31 when I got pregnant for the first time, I realized that my femininity was completely unknown to me. I was painfully aware that I didn't know my body that well and my femininity. And this lack of knowledge came back to me like a boomerang during my post-partum period, culminating in the super baby blues!
It was then that I realized thatbefore becoming a mother, you must first embrace your status as a woman.. And that it was urgent to explore our femininity in order to better understand and apprehend the torrent of upheavals (both in our bodies and in our heads) that we go through during pregnancy. Beyond the anatomy lessons we all took in high school, I'm talking about the incredible energy and power that is our femininity! I find that there's still a silence and a modesty around pregnancy that makes it difficult to access the knowledge we need to feel serene. And I'm not even talking about the outdated assertion that it's "normal" to suffer when you're a woman!
"There's still a silence and a modesty around pregnancy. "
When you feel you're missing out
I'm one of those women who need a fairly medical follow-up to feel confident. So from the 5th month of pregnancy, I was followed by my obstetrician-gynecologist (who would be able to follow me right up to the day of delivery). I was also seeing a midwife, but things didn't work out so well. In the end, my relationship with her was very "factual". My 1st pregnancy went off without a hitch from a medical point of view and I consider myself extremely lucky for that. But I felt that I was "missing out" on this state of upheaval that I was experiencing in my head and in my body. I felt I was missing something a little different, something more holistic and less cold.
How I discovered Gynécée
It was during the 1st confinement that I discovered Gynécée. I remember sending a message to co-founder Salomé, simply to say THANK YOU for having thought of creating such a place. We're hearing more and more about "birth centers", these alternative alternative places where you can be looked after throughout your pregnancy (and even give birth if you're looking for a less medical approach). Much more than a birth center, Maison Gynécée is a privileged place for women who are pregnant (or not), or who wish to have a child (or not): this place, teeming with experts accompanies women from puberty through menopause to motherhood, offering individual consultations and group courses, as well as workshops, talks, massages...
My experience at Gynécée
What a relief it was I was able to be monitored in a holistic way, and not just medically. ! To better cope with the upheavals my body was going through, I was accompanied by a naturopath and a dietician (two different but complementary approaches to nutrition), as well as an osteopath, a facialist and a draining massage practitioner. And that's just the beginning! Finally, in addition to the individual sessions, I attended workshops with other moms (via Zoom Covid, of course), on breastfeeding and other very interesting subjects, to prepare myself for the arrival of my baby. If you're feeling anxious about giving birth, you can also take a sophrology course to help you get rid of your deep-seated fears and approach the moment in a more serene way.
Finally, there's no need for nostalgia afterwards, as Gynécée will also support me in the aftermath, helping me to cope better with the post-partum period and the return to work, thanks to a number of specialists on the subject of parenthood (life coach, parenting coach...). Finally, Gynécée even offers workshops for teenagers and young women, notably on the subject of contraception and the menopause. I think it's brilliant!
More information...
Gynécée La Maison de la Femme, is located at 62 rue blanche in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, and is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
List of workshops and registration here.
contact@gynecee.paris
Tel: +33 (0)9 84 41 55 06).
Did you enjoy this post? Discover our selection of baby care products right here as well as our skincare tips for expectant mothers right here ! And we take this opportunity to wish all the happiness in the world to Jessica, who has given birth to her second little wonder in the meantime :)
