Doula services
Are you looking for a doula in Budapest?
I am a birth doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding counselor. I offer English-language support services during pregnancy, childbirth, and in childbed. I can assist you with questions about the Hungarian health care system, questions about your pregnancy and related issues or problems, I can support you during birth and help you communicate with the Hungarian staff, and offer baby care and breastfeeding support after your baby is born. You may choose from any combination of these services. All of my services are available on a sliding scale for those for whom finances are a problem.
During pregnancy
A series of lectures about (1) the Hungarian health care system and how to get the most out of it, (2) labor and childbirth, what to expect and how to have the best experience, (3) relaxation and breathing techniques during labor to help labor move along and manage the pain, (4) newborn care, what are newborns like and how to care for them, and (5) breastfeeding, practical tips on how to start off right and avoid problems down the line. Each topic is an interactive lecture including a number of useful handouts such as an English-Hungarian shopping list, birth plan, list of English-speaking obstetricians, and lots more! Click here for more detailed information. You can attend publicly scheduled classes, or have the lectures in the comfort of your own home.
Cost: HUF 8000 / occasion / couple OR HUF 20 000 for private classes in your home. See upcoming class schedule.
Translation and “localization” service
Need help figuring out who’s who in the Hungarian health care system? Need to find a védőnő or a pediatrician in your district for your baby who speaks English? Need help figuring out whether you qualify for any of the generous maternity benefits the Hungarian state offers? Need help filling out the paperwork or figuring out where to turn them in? I can help you with all of that. Contact me for more information.
Cost: HUF 5000 / hour
Are you feeling isolated expecting your child in a foreign country? Join the mommy-baby support group, which is also open to pregnant women, and get comfort and companionship from other English-speaking moms who’ve either been there and done all that already, or who are just expecting their babies, too. This is a completely informal group where we sit around, sip tea, and chat about anything that comes up. Babies and older siblings are of course welcome, too! Click here for times and location.
Cost: This group is free!
Private meetings
I also offer private meetings if there’s anything you’d like to discuss that’s not covered above. Contact me for more information.
Cost: HUF 5000 / hour
During birth
Labor support
I will support you during labor. This means being on call 24 hours a day from week 37 of your pregnancy until you give birth. I will accompany you during labor, whether you choose to go to a hospital or have a home birth, provide non-pharmacological pain management ideas and techniques. I can translate and advocate for you with members of the medical community. I will support the choices you and your partner make concerning the birth. I can also offer breastfeeding information and support immediately after birth. Labor support includes at least 2 visits prior to your birth when we can get to know each other, and two post-partum visits. One of the pre-birth occasions should be an opportunity for me to meet the other people who will be present at your birth, including your partner and your doctor.
Cost: HUF 50 000
After birth
Postpartum visits
I can provide postpartum support by visiting you both in the hospital or at home to provide any kind of assistance you may need, including practical tips on how to dress, bathe, hold, carry, calm or feed the baby.
Cost: HUF 5000 / occasion for doula clients, otherwise HUF 5000 / hour
Breastfeeding support
If you have any problems or concerns about breastfeeding, I can offer on-site support and solutions. Need help with a baby who can’t latch well? Do you have sore nipples? Does your baby refuse the breast? Do you want to increase your supply? Is your baby crying on the breast? We can work together to find solutions that fit your individual situation. Contact me for more information.
Cost: HUF 5000 / occasion for doula clients, otherwise HUF 5000 / hour
Baby-wearing classes
Would you like to wear your baby? Do you wonder which carrier is safe? Do you get frustrated trying to tie your wrap or sling? Would you like to learn new carrying positions that distribute the baby’s weight better? Would you like to try out different types of carriers to see which one fits your needs the best? Then this class is for you! Contact me for more information.
Cost: Public /group classes cost HUF 3000 / person, private / in-home classes cost 10 000 / occasion.
Do you feel cooped up at home and overwhelmed by your new baby? Join other moms just like you to chat, share experiences, trade stories, get tips and advice. Older siblings are welcome, too! Click here for times and location.
Cost: This group is free!
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What is a Doula?
Doula is a Greek word meaning “in service of.” Today, the word doula refers to a woman who is experienced in childbirth, who supports the laboring woman by providing continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
A doula does…
~ Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
~ Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
~ Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for birth.
~ Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor, providing continuity or care.
~ Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers.
~ Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the mother’s memory of her birth experience.
~ Provides the following dimensions to the mother and her partner during the uncertainty of
labor, birth and early postpartum:
- Emotional support – encouragement, reassurance and continuous presence.
- Informational support – instructions, explanations and guidance if requested.
- Physical support – comfort and coping measures, such as massage, hand holding, warm/cool compresses and ice chips.
- Advocacy - interpretations of the mother’s and her partner’s birth plan and wishes to the medical providers.
A doula does not…
~ Take place of the father, midwife or doctor.
~ Perform any clinical or medical tasks.
~ Make decisions for the mother and her partner.
~ Give medical advice.
~ Speak for the laboring woman or her partner.
Benefits of a doula
Decreases:
~ Cesarean birth by 45%
~ Length of labor by 25%
~ Oxytocin use by 50%
~ Mother’s request for medication by 31%
~ Need for forceps by 34%
~ Requests for epidurals by 10 – 60%
~ Medical interventions, anxiety and tension, neonatal problems, and postpartum depression
Increases:
~ Positive feelings about labor
~ Acceptance of the baby
~ Self-esteem and feelings of control
~ Success in breastfeeding
