Basic Maternity and Pregnancy info

Hi all,

A expat friend very new to Brussels came to me yesterday and asked me about maternity and pregnancy in Brussels. I don't have kids, but have lots of friends with kids so thinking she might have thought I knew something, but I don’t really. She will be a working mom and the husband works so I think they’re trying to plan their options.

I gave her the BCT website, but its apparently down.

Maybe someone of you can answer some basics I can relay?

How long is Maternity leave? How much has to be taken before or can be taken before the baby?
Paternal leave – 10 days I’ve read
Parental leave – p to three months can be used with maternity to extend or like 1 month a year or 1 day off a week for 15 months – I have read
How much is the birth payment from the state?
How much does the mutuelle pay you to sign the kid up?
Any other benefits the mutuelle gives?
Does anyone know about these ‘nurses’ who come and check on you at home?
Choice of hospital and doctor is free
She has CM mutuelle plus full DKV – Am I correct she shouldn’t have to pay hardly anything herself with the full DKV?

I also gave her this site. Any other sites she should check out? She doesn’t know French yet.

Thanks