Socialized, universal health care and Michelle Obama's nice purple shirt

I've been hopelessly neglecting my blog and my blog reading, as anyone who still comes this way can see. But I have good reason.

The other morning as I watched the news during a flash of motivation to do some morning exercies (seeing as I don't have time for anything at the moment), I saw a warm and happy vision on the TV : Both houses of Congress aplauding Obama as he came to give his speech. There was a lovely pan onto Michelle who looked beautiful in deep purple. I was brought to tears as I half-heartedly did my squats.

Euronews mentioned that he spoke of socialized healthcare which really hit home. After my recent visit "home", I realized that health care (and vacations of course!) is the main issue that would keep me from living in the US unless I were independently wealthy.

During our three weeks in the US, we were all sick with sore (probably strep) throats but didn't dare go to the doctor. As soon as I was back, we went to the my kissy family doctor (who used the tu form with me by the way!) because it costs me nothing.

Which brings me to the state of pregnancy in France. When Amy over at Chtilins and Cambembert was pregnant with her 2nd one, she kept a running total of how much she paid or, in reality didn't pay since she actually made money being pregnant with the money the government gives you when you're pregnant. I wanted to do the same, but then realized, well I have nothing to report because I'm covered 100% until a couple months after the baby's birth. (Did you catch that or do I have to spell it out?) . At 4 months, I have had 2 ultrasounds, 3 blood tests, a test for markers of possible birth defects. And the only out of pocket expense I've had is 11€ for a pregnancy test. That's a damn cheap pregnancy so far.

There is a downside to all this as I'm sure you imagine. My regular doctor will follow me only until the 4th month at which point I will be followed at the hospital where I'm going to give birth. I have chosen a public hospital which means that I won't necessarily see the same mid-wife throughout the pregnancy (it's different at private clinics). And I don't know who will be there when I actually give birth. But if my experiences giving birth to Suzanne are any indication, it doesn't matter because everything went well...once I got past the fact that complete unknowns were doing intimate things to me.

So I say, go Obama! Go socialized health care! Go baby 2!