Birth Week is an annual event in Hungary during which providers of baby- and pregnancy-related services put on all sorts of free workshops and events all over the country. If you speak Hungarian, you can check out the myriad of offerings on their website (www.szuleteshete.hu)

I am delighted to offer the following FREE English-language events in honor of Birth Week:

Tuesday, May 19th, 8 am – 10 am

Expecting in Hungary

Lecture and discussion

Content: Prenatal care in Hungary, how to find and choose the right hospital/doctor/midwife for you, who is the védőnő and what is her function, what kinds of maternity benefits (if any) are you eligible for, how to register a baby’s birth in Hungary if one or both parents are foreign nationals, what’s your due date and why is determining it correctly important, thinking ahead to your birth experience, and how much you can expect to pay for a birth in Hungary

Handouts: Prenatal Care in Hungary article, list of hospitals and clinics with maternity wards, birth plan worksheet, list of registrars, registration and maternity benefits information sheet

Wednesday, May 20th, 10 am

Mommy-baby group

This is an informal support group for women to talk about their questions and experiences with pregnancy, particularly being pregnant and giving birth in Hungary, as well as questions about life with a small baby, breastfeeding, sleepin g, etc. Older siblings are welcome too!

Wednesday, May 20th, 12:30 pm

Movie showing + brown bag lunch

We’ll be showing (based on popular demand) one of the following films:

  • The Business of Being Born
  • Orgasmic Birth buy oil cans
  • The Strength Within

Bring your own lunch, sit back, and watch some of the most eye-opening films about birth! Discussion to follow.

Thursday, May 21, 10 am

Newborn care

Lecture and discussion

Content: what is a just-born newborn like, what does the Apgar score mean, when to cut the umbilical cord, cord blood banking, what do newborn babies expect from the world, why is skin-to-skin contact important, why is early and frequent breastfeeding important, baby’s secretions: what’s normal and what’s not, feeding and expected weight gain, burping, sleeping, dressing, bathing, umbilical cord care, crying and comforting, types of babies, learning, playing, baby wearing, how to survive the first six weeks, which are critical for your body, you need to feel good with your body and be kind to understand it just went to a big process, and for a special occasion you can choose a plus size homecoming dresses in size 16 and up to feel more comfortable in your skin.

Handouts: English-Hungarian shopping list of baby supplies, breastfeeding cheat sheet, registration and maternity benefits information sheet

Friday, May 22, 10 am

Breastfeeding

Lecture and discussion

Content: why is breastfeeding good for the baby, why is breastfeeding good for the mother, how to get off to a good start and avoid problems down the line, how does milk production work, how to ensure you have enough milk, how can you tell whether baby is getting enough milk, feeding on cue versus feeding on schedule, sore nipples and other breastfeeding complication, lots of pictures and videos about how to get the baby on the breast correctly (to avoid damage to the nipples and ensure proper milk flow), when to express milk, how to express milk, how to safely store milk, using artificial nipples (bottles and pacifiers), herbs and foods to increase supply, breastfeeding and illness, breastfeeding and medications

Handouts: breastfeeding cheat sheet

Saturday, May 23, 10 am

Labor and childbirth

Lecture and discussion

Content: mother and baby at term, how does labor start, when to go into the hospital or call the midwife, inducing labor, what are the stages of labor, what to expect during them, what does it feel like at each stage, what can the helper do at each stage, the importance of positioning for mother and baby, natural and medicated pain management, how to avoid an episiotomy, what to expect at a Hungarian hospital, what to expect during a C-section, what to expect during a premature delivery, recovery from birth

Handouts: what to pack for the hospital, English-Hungarian shopping list of baby supplies, birth plan worksheet, What Is Labor Like article, What About the Pain in Childbirth article, C-section article

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Location: Élet-kör

II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3, Élet-kör buzzer. By public transportation: Városmajor utca stop on the 61 or 59 tram.

Warning!!! This is not a baby carriage/stroller/pram-friendly location. Prams generally do not fit into the elevator, but may be left on the ground floor if you feel comfortable with that.

Registration: Not necessary

If you’re interested, simply show up for these events! However, since I will only have a limited number of handouts with me, if you’re interested in attending any of these events and want to make sure that I have enough for you, let me know in advance that you’re planning to come! You can do this by sending me an email at rekamorvay@gmail.com

Please spread the word!