Ágnes Geréb
Encyclopedia
Ágnes Geréb is a Hungarian
gynaecologist/midwife, the pioneer of father's participation in deliveries at hospital and homebirth in Hungary. She founded the Napvilág birthing centre. Geréb has helped deliver 3,500 babies at home.
Geréb's license to practice medicine was revoked for 3 years in 2007 as punishment for a 2000 death of a newborn and in 2009 she was charged for manslaughter relating to an earlier home birth when a baby died after a difficult labour.
She was arrested on October 5, 2010, in Budapest, after being accused of negligent malpractice. She faces a long prison sentence. Her lawyer, Andrea Pelle, claims that the protocols of the trial were falsified. The arrest sparked outrage among home birth activists worldwide. On 23 November 2010, the British Royal College of Midwifes condemned Gereb's detention. On 21 December 2010, Gereb was freed from prison and placed under house arrest. On March 23, 2011, she received a 2-year minimum security prison sentence.
, Hungary, Geréb graduated from the University of Szeged
as a Doctor of Medicine, in 1977. She finished special training in Obstetrics
, (1982). In 1986 she obtained a B.Sc. in Psychology at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
. In 1990 she participated in a 6 month training in professional practice of home births in a birth centre of Livermore
. Since 2005 Geréb is a certified midwife (University of Debrecen
). In 2010 she obtained a B.Sc. in Midwifery from the Semmelweis University
, Faculty of Health Sciences (Budapest).
Between 1977–1994 worked at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, at the Obstetirics and Gynaecology Department of the University of Szeged, as an obstetrician. Since 1994 she is a staff member of Daylight Birth Centre. In 1989 she started independent midwife practice. She founded the first and the second Birth Centres in Hungary as places for non-hospital deliveries.
In 1977 she started smuggling fathers into labour rooms without permission, as a punishment she was banned from practice for six months. Years later the head of the clinic declared proudly that his institute was the first to allow fathers into the labour room.
In 1997, Geréb was elected an Ashoka Fellow
.
She founded the Hungarian Alternatal Foundation (1992), co-founded the ENCA (European Network of Childbirth Associations) (1993) and the Association of Independent Midwives (2008). Since 1996, she participates in La Leche League International
's acitivities.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
gynaecologist/midwife, the pioneer of father's participation in deliveries at hospital and homebirth in Hungary. She founded the Napvilág birthing centre. Geréb has helped deliver 3,500 babies at home.
Geréb's license to practice medicine was revoked for 3 years in 2007 as punishment for a 2000 death of a newborn and in 2009 she was charged for manslaughter relating to an earlier home birth when a baby died after a difficult labour.
She was arrested on October 5, 2010, in Budapest, after being accused of negligent malpractice. She faces a long prison sentence. Her lawyer, Andrea Pelle, claims that the protocols of the trial were falsified. The arrest sparked outrage among home birth activists worldwide. On 23 November 2010, the British Royal College of Midwifes condemned Gereb's detention. On 21 December 2010, Gereb was freed from prison and placed under house arrest. On March 23, 2011, she received a 2-year minimum security prison sentence.
Biography
Born in SzegedSzeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
, Hungary, Geréb graduated from the University of Szeged
University of Szeged
The University of Szeged is one of Hungary's most distinguished universities, and is among the most prominent higher education institutions in Central Europe...
as a Doctor of Medicine, in 1977. She finished special training in Obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
, (1982). In 1986 she obtained a B.Sc. in Psychology at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. In 1990 she participated in a 6 month training in professional practice of home births in a birth centre of Livermore
Livermore
Livermore may refer to:In places in the US:*Livermore, California**Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy lab in Livermore, California**Livermore Valley AVA, California wine region in Alameda County*Livermore, Colorado...
. Since 2005 Geréb is a certified midwife (University of Debrecen
University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen is a university located in Debrecen, Hungary. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in Hungary .-History:...
). In 2010 she obtained a B.Sc. in Midwifery from the Semmelweis University
Semmelweis University
Founded in 1769, Semmelweis University is the oldest medical school in Hungary. The faculty became an independent medical school after the Second World War and developed into a university teaching medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, health management as well as physical education and...
, Faculty of Health Sciences (Budapest).
Between 1977–1994 worked at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, at the Obstetirics and Gynaecology Department of the University of Szeged, as an obstetrician. Since 1994 she is a staff member of Daylight Birth Centre. In 1989 she started independent midwife practice. She founded the first and the second Birth Centres in Hungary as places for non-hospital deliveries.
In 1977 she started smuggling fathers into labour rooms without permission, as a punishment she was banned from practice for six months. Years later the head of the clinic declared proudly that his institute was the first to allow fathers into the labour room.
In 1997, Geréb was elected an Ashoka Fellow
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, VA, supporting the field of social entrepreneurship. Ashoka was founded by Bill Drayton in 1981 to identify and support leading social entrepreneurs through a Social Venture Capital approach with the goal of...
.
She founded the Hungarian Alternatal Foundation (1992), co-founded the ENCA (European Network of Childbirth Associations) (1993) and the Association of Independent Midwives (2008). Since 1996, she participates in La Leche League International
La Leche League International
La Leche League International is an international nonprofit organization that distributes information on and promotes breastfeeding...
's acitivities.
Achievements and aims
- Her first aim was to train independent midwives who could attend homebirths without her presence and this has already been achieved.
- From 1993: leading one week long Information Weeks with fellow midwives on pregnancy, birth and childbearing. Birth professionals and helpers around birth give lectures and lead group consultations such as midwives, health visitors, lactation consultants, psychologists
- As a part of the work of Alternatal Foundation giving lectures regularly and inviting international professionals to Hungary.
- Raising awareness about the concept of doulaDoulaA Doula is someone who provides non-medical support to women and their families during labour and childbirth, and also the postpartum period. The term can also be used to describe other supportive roles for other life events such as abortion, death and more....
, holding doula trainings, which led to the foundation of MODULE (Association of Doulas in Hungary) which trains hospital doulas. - Around 15 doulas work with Daylight Birth Center by the independent midwives.
- The general approach to the birth experience has changed over the years. Mothers who have given birth at home have helped to make this change by passing on their views. Therefore the level of women’s demand has been raised and the hospitals were forced to make changes – though sometimes only of cosmetic type. In the overall though this has helped in moving towards humanising hospital births in Hungary.