1. Expecting in Hungary. Sunday April 25, 2010 2 pm to 6 pm

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, what hospital routines you can expect in Hungary, what pediatric routines (including vaccinations) you can expect in Hungary

Handouts: list of English-speaking obstetricians in Budapest, list of hospitals and clinics with maternity wards, birth plan worksheet, list of registrars, registration and maternity benefits information sheet.

2. Labor and childbirth. Sunday May 2, 2010 2 pm to 6 pm

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 each stage, 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, how to prepare for the immediate postpartum period

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

TIME and LOCATION CHANGE!!!

3. Newborn Care. Sunday May 9th, 2010 2 pm to 6 pm

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

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

Location for this one class: XI. Vak Bottyán utca 3. 3rd floor #1. Press 60 or Békés on the intercom to be let in. Map.

4. Breastfeeding. Sunday May 16, 2010 2 pm to 6 pm

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

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Fees and organization

Private classes: HUF 10 000 per occasion

Group classes: HUF 5000 per couple for groups

Location: Életkör, II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3 (Életkör buzzer)

Please RSVP so I know how many handouts to bring! And feel free to forward this email to anybody you think may be interested.

Birth Prep classes will be held again in April. Sign up now to reserve your place! Scheduling is still flexible, weekday, evening or weekend timeslots available!

1. Expecting in Hungary

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: list of English-speaking obstetricians in Budapest, list of hospitals and clinics with maternity wards, birth plan worksheet, list of registrars, registration and maternity benefits information sheet.

2. Labor and childbirth

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

3. Breath and Touch

Content: Practice different labor positions for maximizing comfort and efficiency, try relaxation and massage techniques for loosening muscles during labor, discuss and try various breathing patterns and their usability during labor. This is a very hands-on, practical workshop where we TRY everything. Wear loose and comfortable clothing!

4. Newborn care

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

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

5. Breastfeeding

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

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Fees and organization

Private classes: HUF 10 000 per occasion

Group classes: HUF 5000 per couple for groups

If you are interested in a group class, please register your interest, and I will start figuring out a schedule that fits everyone once there are at least 2  couples. Smaller groups are also possible, but I then ask that you split the HUF 10 000 fee that I charge for a private class among you.

Location: Életkör, II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3 (Életkör buzzer)

Wearing your baby on your back is the single most comfortable, practical and versatile way to wear your baby. From newborns to toddlers, this type of carry is truly universal! Learn how to do it and free your hands! The class includes tips on hip wearing as well.

Our instructor is Eszter Szakállas, a certified babywearing instructor.

The class costs HUF 3500.

When: Wednesday, March 10th, 12 pm to 2 pm

Where: II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3, Életkör buzzer.  (Map)

By public transportation: Városmajor utca stop on the 61 tram.

Parking: Free (but usually unavailable) on Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor, meter parking on surrounding streets.

PLEASE NOTE:

• The location is NOT stroller (pram, buggy, baby carriage, whatever) friendly! Sadly, most strollers will not fit into the elevator. If you have a bike lock with you, you can lock your stroller within the building on the ground floor, but I would highly recommend bringing your baby in a carrier or wrap instead of a stroller.
• You MUST keep pressing the Életkör button CONTINUOUSLY until the door buzzes to let you in, otherwise we cannot open it for you from upstairs.

To read more about the benefits of extended breastfeeding, click on the link to read my previous post on the subject.

Introducing Birth Movie Nights! Once a month, we will get together to watch and discuss documentaries about birth.

Are you pregnant? Or someone with a birth experience you’d like to understand more fully? Or interested in what birthlooks like in other cultures, other places? Or are you wondering how someone could possibly choose to give birth at home / in a hospital? Or are you simply a birthjunkie? Then these movie nights are for you! Once a month, we’ll choose a film to watch, and discuss afterwards.

Next time:

When: January 26th, 2010, from 6 pm to 9 pm

Where: Életkör (II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor No. 3, Életkör buzzer) Map

Title of the film: The Business of Being Born (click for a trailer)

Donation: We ask for HUF 1000 contribution per person for the space.

Please RSVP. Seating is limited.

Miscarriage, losing a baby can be a very sad, frightening and lonely experience, exacerbated by being in a foreign country.

You are not alone!

The purpose of this group is to bring together women who have lost a baby, to provide support, information and guidance during this difficult time.

When:  Next group will be on December 8th, from 7 pm to 9 pm

Where: II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3, Életkör buzzer.  (Map)

By public transportation: Városmajor utca stop on the 61 or 59 tram.

Parking: Free on Trombitás utca, behind the Körszálló (circular hotel).

Hosted by: Réka Morvay, psychologist, doula and childbirth educator.

Cost: HUF 1000 / person

PLEASE NOTE:

Breastfeeding class November 18th, 10 am to 12 pm (DURING the regular mommy-baby group timeslot)

Where: Életkör, II. Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 43/b, 3rd floor #3. Keep pressing the Életkör buzzer downstairs to open the door! (Map)

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

Please register your interest so I know how many handouts to take!

Labor pain: What’s the point?

Someone recently asked me during one of my prenatal classes what the point of labor pain was.

I admit I was stumped. I was all prepared with tons of info about what labor pain feels like, what pain management techniques – both natural and medical – there exist for reducing it, how it is generated and how it can be interrupted, why interventions intervene, but somehow I was not prepared for this question of “what’s the use?” I mean, there must be some point to going through labor, otherwise we wouldn’t work this way.

So I looked it up. I read the conflicting theories about its evolutionary purpose and whether there is still a valid reason for experiencing it when we don’t necessarily have to.

Read the rest of the Labor Pain article at the link.

C-section rates in Hungary

According to the Hungarian Health Insurance Supervisory Authority, the rate of C-sections in Hungary in 2006 was 28.9% across the country, though the rate varied widely between individual hospitals. The highest C-section rate of nearly 47% was recorded in the little town of Csorna, while the lowest C-section rate of a bit less than 16% was recorded in Tapolca.

Generally speaking, surgical births were more common in university teaching hospitals and lowest in small town hospitals.

However, a straight comparison between these institutions is not fair, since complicated cases tend to be transferred out of small town hospitals to the large tertiary hospitals that specialize in perinatal pathology. Unfortunately, no research is available that controls for this difference, and only looks at the outcomes of low-risk pregnancies in different hospitals.

What the WHO recommends and why

The WHO (World Health Organization) recently updated its recommendations regarding the rate of surgical deliveries. These recommendations unequivocally state that C-section rates below 5% and over 15% put women’s lives at risk. Why? Because apparently when the number of C-sections rise above 10-15%, the rise in the number of maternal deaths is not balanced by a corresponding decrease in fetal death. What that means is that when C-section rates go above 15%, women start dying unnecessarily due to a procedure that was meant to save their babies’ lives, but didn’t.

C-section rates are on the rise all over the world, so Hungary is not unique in this. Nonetheless, our current C-section rate of about 30% means that at least half of them were performed unnecessarily.

What you can do

It has long been known that the hospital and caregiver you choose play a large role in the outcome of your birth. Yes, apparently, if you have a low-risk pregnancy, the biggest factor determining whether you will receive a cesarean section or an episiotomy is where you choose to give birth, not necessarily whether you need one.

With that in mind, you can do the following things to decrease your chances of receiving an unnecessary C-section:

• Look through the list of various Hungarian hospitals’ C-section rates, and see where your doctor’s institution ranks. Don’t be afraid to change institutions.
• Ask your doctor about his or her C-section rate (though do keep in mind that if your doctor specializes in high risk pregnancies, this number can be higher than average). Hungarian doctors are not used to being questioned this way, and some may actually be offended. However, unless women participate in their own care and ask these questions, maternity care will never reflect women’s real needs and desires. Don’t be afraid to change caregivers.
• Get educated about labor and birth. Attend childbirth classes or read books.
• Let labor begin on its own. Inductions automatically increase your chances of a C-section by 30%.
• Move around in labor. This helps the baby achieve optimal positioning and helps avoid stalled labor, which is often diagnosed as “failure to progress” and is indication for a C-section.
• Bring support. Research has shown that having a continuous support person with you decreases the chances of receiving a C-section. This can be your partner, a family member, a friend or a professional doula.
• Use medications and interventions wisely in order to avoid the so-called cascade of interventions where one step leads to another down a slippery slope towards a surgical birth that could have been avoided.

The current Hungarian C-section rate means that a pregnant woman (that means YOU) has a 1 in 3 chance of having a surgical birth in an average Hungarian hospital. If you want to improve your chances, it is time to do something about it.