questions about giving birth in Hungary

[Jill Tabatabaei]

Sziasztok!

Hi there!  So excited to find this group.  I am researching birthing options in Hungary.  I am pregnant with my 4th baby and due in October.  We will most likely be moving to Budapest in June for my husband's work.  I lived in Hungary about 11 years ago for 14 months--6 of those in Budapest (2002-2003) and had one experience with health care--a chest x-ray which was kind of awful.  The hospital was outdated and I was offered no hospital gown or privacy of any kind for the x-ray.  Needless to say, I am very nervous about hospitals in Budapest when it comes to delivering a baby.  

I would have for sure considered delivering at Telki, but from what I understand they no longer accept Obstetric patients or provide birthing services.  We are willing to pay more for an updated facility and the best care possible.  I speak Hungarian at a decent level (even though it has obviously slipped a lot over the last 10 years!), so I could still communicate with nurses or doctors who don't speak English all that well.  What do you recommend?  I am not necessarily seeking to have a non-medicated birth.  I have given birth both ways and I'm still trying to decide what I will do this time.  Ideally it would be great to start out natural but then have the option for medicated birth if that's what I decided I wanted to do.    I do not want to have a home birth.  Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated.  Koszonom szepen!

Nagyon orolok annak, hogy viszamehetek Magyarorszagra!  Gyonoru szep orszag es nagyon szeretem.  Remelem, hogy jobban beszelhetek magyarul amikor viszajovok.  

[Julia Kovacs]

Dear Jill!

Örülünk a levelednek. Milyen szépen tudsz magyarul! 

Hopefully second time round you will rediscover Hungary again as a place where you can have great private healthcare options among other things. 11 years is a long time!

Telki is now closed down completely. 

However, for private clinic I am aware of two options: Maternity Clinic and Robert Karoly Clinic.

I have given birth at Maternity in February (it was amazing), know most doctors there, while a good family friend of ours is the founding owner and chief at Robert Karoly so I guess I know a lot about both in terms of their staff which is kind of the most important bit (the facilities are great for both as these are private clinics). I do not think that either place will be a problem in terms of natural or medicated birth- however if you make up your mind I can help you with that, too- some midwives and doctors are great for natural and some are excellent with C-sections or epidurals. 

There is also a place called Dr. Rose where you can give birth too but I have not heard anyone of the medical profession recommend it. 

Have a look at the websites of both institutions and I am happy to help you with any insider info to help you decide :)

Julia 

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[Jill Tabatabaei]

Thank you so much!  I feel relieved to know that there are some options out there!  I will look into both.  I look forward to meeting the group when I arrive!

[Delphine K]

Hello Jill!

I was also quite afraid of Hungarian hospitals before I gave birth, but finally I opted for a public hospital (St Istvan). We heard good reviews from it, and I was very satisfied.
I also had to go to several different hospitals after the birth, because I got very strong pain and finally had to have my gallbladder removed, which also happened in a public hospital.
And well, some were good with good equipment, other maybe not that well equiped...

Delphine

[Réka Morvay]

Hi Jill,

Have you taken a look at the Having A Baby in Hungary book? It has all the info you're asking for! :)

Réka

+36 30 924-4755
Skype: rekamorvay
http://www.rekamorvay.com/
http://www.budapest-moms.com/

[Jill Tabatabaei]

Thanks for your input!  I will look into it.  

Just out of curiosity, what kind of birth did you have if you don't mind me asking?  Did you get an epidural?  Non-medicated?  C-section?

Did you have to be induced?

[Jill Tabatabaei]

Hi Julia,

Looked over both websites yesterday--thanks for the info.  I feel like the facilities look more up to date in Maternity; would you say that is an accurate assessment or not?   It is kind of hard to tell sometimes when browsing a website.  My husband was more impressed with the Robert Karoly website though; I thought the English translation was a bit smoother.  

Question for you (sorry to be so nosey):  What kind of birth did you have?  Was it medicated?  Non-medicated?  C-section?  Did you have to get induced?  It sounds like it went smoothly for you, so if you could tell me what helped make it go smoothly that would be great.  

I have not had to have a C-section with any of my pregnancies, so hopefully I won't need to this time.  

I have noticed that Nitrous Oxide seems to be available here for moms in labor which is GREAT.  It really isn't available in the US, and it is something I've always wanted to try in terms of labor.  I think that is the option I would choose--no epidural but Nitrous as needed.  I did well with my last natural birth until the last 45 minutes of labor.  I kind of turned hysterical there at the end and it would have been helpful to have something to ease the anxiety a bit.  I made it through without having any drugs, but I think something like Nitrous would have helped me calm down just enough to make it through that intense pushing at the end.  I understand that it doesn't take away pain of course.  

Not sure if that information changes any recommendations you have...I guess maybe I'm leaning towards more of a natural birth.

On Monday, March 10, 2014 12:51:47 PM UTC-4, Julia wrote:

[Jill Tabatabaei]

I saw some information on your website--perhaps it was an excerpt?  It  was very helpful--it was all about Pros and Cons of each option (whether to go along with a random luck of the draw, choose a private doc, choose a private clinic, or choose a midwife).  After reading that excerpt, I am pretty convinced that a private clinic is what I want to opt for.  I am willing to pay extra.  The book is something that I need to purchase, right?  If I can't get my questions answered here, I will definitely consider purchasing it.  Thanks.

[Kristin Makszin]

Hi Jill,

I would highly recommend buying the book and attending any of Réka's
classes if you have the time here.
http://www.budapest-moms.com/2013/09/prenatal-classes-starting-september-2013/

Réka is a doula, childbirth educator and lactation consultant. She is
extremely helpful and does not advocate a single approach to
childbirth, but helps mothers to think through the birth that they
want and then advise them on how to achieve that. I am so thankful for
her classes! I can't imagine the birth and early weeks without it.

Best wishes!
Kristin

[nadine....@gmail.com]

Hi Julia, could you please recommend a doctor and a clinic for a C-section /elective/ in Budapest? Whom do you recommend? Sb very experienced pls, and if possible also to speak some English /but the most important things is to be very experienced and very good :-) /. Thank you very much! And do you know what are the prices for a C-section?

[nadine....@gmail.com]

Hi Julia, 

could you please recommend a very good and experienced doctor for a C-section pls?

Thank you!

[Kristy Marcard]

I had my second child at Robert Karoly in November and it was a good experience. I did not have C-section, so I don't know about that, but otherwise it was totally fine. I felt safe, which is I guess what we all want. I have been to Dr Rose for medical advice concerning travel and honestly I would never go back. Last I knew though, it was probably one of the easiest places to get an elective C-section. 

Kristy

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[nadine.mailbox]

Thank you Kristy!