Alternative Birthing in Slovakia
Women in many parts of the world can now choose different methods of child birth - from Hypno-birthing to water births - when some or all of labour is spent in a birthing pool filled with warm water. But In Slovakia such birthing methods are a novelty and many women head across the border to the Czech Republic and Austria to give birth. Now a couple of hospitals are offering alternative deliveries in Slovakia but acceptance is slow...
This is a little Matusko Toth who is .. How old is he now?
"An hour and a half."
Why did you decide to be here?
"Well, one would not otherwise appreciate the performance of women when giving birth."
Why did you decide for this way of delivery?
"I have heard and read about deliveries in water a lot. My two friends gave birth to their children this way. One of them could compare the ordinary delivery with the one in water. She said it helps to reduce the pain so that's why I came here. I can say the hot water is a great relief."
May I ask to whose health we are going to drink these glasses of champagne?
"We are going to drink to little Toth from Nitra who has just been born. And since he was born in water I wish him a really pleasant and happy swim through the sea of life and also a lot of good health."
Cheers, Cheers!
Mr. Caradsky has helped to deliver babies to dozens of women for several decades. As the head doctor of the gynaecological and delivery department of the Topolcany hospital he set up the only clinic in Slovakia where women can deliver their babies in water. The very first water delivery in Slovakia took place here in August 2002. Doctor Tibor Caradsky:
"Nobody in Slovakia had ever tried this experiment before. It was of course a certain risk also because of the fact that no authority wanted to try this initiative."
The lack of interest or courage of individual doctors can be found the main reason why there are only two hospitals offering alternative deliveries to expecting mothers. According to Dr. Caradsky, Slovaks unlike Czechs are still too cautious with trying out novelties. The Banska Stiavnica delivery room with a hi-fi system for music, aromatherapy candles, wall bars, mat and rope is unique in Slovak medical territory. Head gynaecologist of the Banska Stiavnica hospital Marian Spila says the approach of local hospitals to expectant mothers and their deliveries is conservative:
"The proof of that is our delivery chair. We offered it to several departments all over the country but without success. Many of the directors of the hospitals say women don't need anything like that."
Despite the fact that alternative deliveries are common abroad, Slovakia only rarely accepts this novelty. According to both head doctors of the two most known delivery departments, it is a pity. The demographic curve is declining. Although the main reason for that is insufficient economic situation of young families, improved care for expecting mothers and the choice of alternative birth could possibly slightly help the local population to grow.
