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SAMAS: Training professionals, empowering parents

Building the first National Perinatal Education Network in Romania

Since 2013, SAMAS has been active in the field of prevention and health education. Our work is dedicated to healthcare professionals and parents alike. We train professionals from Healthcare and Education, to help parents make the best decisions for their children’s health, and we run programs aiming to prevent infant mortality and to reduce the risk of childhood obesity.

OUR ACTIVITY

The two main programs of the SAMAS Association are: Perinatal Education for parents in the first 1000 days of children and Healthy Start (Sănătos de mic) – the national nutritional education program for preschoolers.

Through the Perinatal Education program, we have developed a community of 2,459 specialists from among midwives, doctors, medical and community nurses, who provide information about nutrition and proper care of babies to expectant mothers and first-time parents throughout the country.

Through the activity of SAMAS perinatal educators, we contributed to the increase of the exclusive breastfeeding rate, from 12.6% in 2011 to 29.8% in 2016.

In 2018, SAMAS was the first organization to introduce in Romania the Baby Box concept (Cutia Bebelușului), first developed in Finland more than a century ago and to adapt it to local realities. The program aims to prevent infant moratality and to support mothers to breastfeed and take care of their child, while also providing essentials items for baby and mother.

Cutia Bebelușului SAMAS was first offered on June 1st 2019, to 70 newborns. In September 2023, OMV Petrom Foundation joined the program developed by the SAMAS Association, financing the Baby Box. 5300 of mothers and their babies are supported through this program.

Healthy start (Sănătos de mic) initiated in 2017 together with Danone Romania, continues the mission of the SAMAS Association, through 360 degrees national nutrition education program in kindergartens, aiming to reduce the risk of child obesity and to establish healthy eating habits.

We train kindergarten teachers and medical staff in the healthy nutrition of children, we organise healthy cooking workshops for parents and children, and conferences for parents and we promote the importance of a healthy nutrition amongst stakeholders. 30% of the public kindergartens are enrolled in this program offering free trainings for professionals and activities and resources for parents and children.

SAMAS Association was established in 2015, thanks to the expansion and development of the SAMAS Program, initiated in 2013, by the Crucea Albă Foundation, the Nutricia Foundation and the Red Cross – Sector 6 Branch and supported by Danone Ecosystem.

www.asociatiasamas.ro, www.cursuripentruparinti.ro, www.sanatosdemic.ro

Activity highlights

proiecte

2013 – Launching the SAMAS project in Romania.

2014 – Certificating the first SAMAS perinatal educators and organising the first edition of MATERNOPEDIA, the annual conference on health-related topics for health care workers.

2015 – Receiving the Civil Society Gala Award for best Healthcare National Program.

2016 – Conducting a nation-wide study on breastfeeding and early-life nutrition of babies in Romania.

2017 – Succeeding to introduce the PSA about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding of babies during the first 6 months of life for all TV and radio broadcasters to air several times a day.

– Launching the Healthy Start nutrition education program in kindergartens, aiming to reduce childhood obesity

2018 – Receiving the Public Participation Gala Award for introducing the PSA on breastfeeding

2019 – 70 newborns and their mothers are the first beneficiaries of the Baby Box program, modelled after the Finnish program and Heidi Murkoff, author of the all-times best-selling pregnancy book – What to expect when you are expecting is endorsing our program.

2020 – Initiating a support program for Covid19-positive new mothers who, according to state imposed protocols, are separated from their new-borns and postpone breastfeeding until testing negative for the Covid19 infection

2021 – Launching the blended format online platform cursuri.sanatosdemic.ro, with modules on healthy nutrition for children and families, dedicated to teachers and medical professionals in kindergarten.

– Launching Fiecare pui cu lăpticul lui campagin, aiming to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

2023 –  OMV Petrom Foundation joins the Baby Box program developed by the SAMAS Association. 5300 of mothers and their babies are supported through this program.

 

Our results:

  • 2,459 trained midwives, doctors, nurses and community nurses who provide information on proper nutrition and baby care to expectant parents and first-time parents across the country.
  • 37,929 parents (of which 18,840, in difficult life situations) benefited from the courses and information provided by SAMAS from 2013 until now.
  • 2021 boxes donated so far in the Baby Box program, aimed to reducing infant mortality and supporting vulnerable parents.
  • 776 teachers and medical professionals from kindergartens trained in the healthy nutrition of preschoolers, within the Healthy Start program which enrolled already 379 state kindergartens (30% of the total number at national scale), with 280,912 parents and 56,850 children having been involved in the program).

 

 

The Biannual SAMAS Symposium for Perinatal Education Providers

Every year the SAMAS Association celebrates the courage, dedication and hard-work of SAMAS Perinatal Educators by organization a 2-day Symposium which comprises multiple events:

• an opportunity for further professional progress delivered via a workshop with an international expert speaker
• a guest-speaker from another organization dedicated to a congurent perinatal cause (prematurity for example) intended to create synergies between the SAMAS team of Perinatal Educators and other advocates for related perinatal issues
• the SAMAS Award Ceremony where the most active SAMAS Perinatal Educator in the Network and the public-health decision-makers or influencers who determined beneficial changes are rewarded
• a roundtable with decision-makers in Romanian healthcare intended to animate a debate for improving public healthcare policies in respect to perinatal issues

Thus, it is our great honor and joy to have international expert speakers join us in this event dedicated to personal and professional development, celebration of succes and hard-work, animation of productive debates and initiation of new collaborations.

The updated and insightful perspective of a international expert speaker is essential since Romanian midwives and nurses rarely have the opportunity to tap into international medical resources, studies, updates and events.

The SAMAS Association is determined to provide those opportunities during the yearly SAMAS Symposium since we firmly believe that by investing into the professional and personal development of our national SAMAS Perinatal Educators’ team we will provide better education and support services to parents and babies.

SAMAS services for parents-to-be & new parents


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The SAMAS Center for Perinatal Education has at its core the belief that pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes in the life of a woman, couple or family. Its goal is to maintain health amd well-being throughout the different milestones determined by the arrival of a child. The SAMAS Center for Perinatal Education will help you get to ready for your baby, keep active and settle comfortably into motherhood. Our team will support you throughout the adventure of having a baby.

The SAMAS Center for Perinatal Education offers its services to pregnant women, couples who are expecting a child, young parents and new-born babies. It is coordinated by Swiss Midwife Claudia Bider Heim who started her independent practice Around Birth in Bucharest in January 2008. Claudia Bider Heim focuses her work on promoting physiology and preventing complications because pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period are considered to be natural processes in a woman’s life.

All of the prenatal and postnatal activities are delivered at the foundation’s Center for Maternity Healthcare Services, in an intimate and comfortable setting. Massage, preparation for birth or physical exercise programs take place in a calm space in the centre of Bucharest, while post-natal visits can be organized in your own home.

Preparation for birth

Six sessions of about 1h15mins: two on pregnancy, two on childbirth and one on the post-natal period.

  • The two sessions on pregnancy are about the changes that take place in the woman’s body, foetal development, dietary recommendations, lifestyle, physical activity and prevention recommended during pregnancy.
  • The two sessions on childbirth include the signs announcing labour as well as the right moment to leave for the hospital, different ways of giving birth, respiratory, physical and mental exercises, which help to face fear and pain during labour.
  • The two sessions on the post-natal period describes what happens to the mother and the new born baby in the first days and weeks after birth. It includes the mechanisms and basics of breastfeeding, main baby care and precautions that need to be taken by the new mother.

Physical exercises for pregnancy

These one hour sessions of physical exercises are specially conceived for pregnant women. They are a mixture of Pilates and the Yoga method of Dr Bernadette de Gasquet which activate blood circulation and digestion and help to prevent back pain, fluid retention and excessive weight gain.

Massage for pregnant women/young mothers

An hour massage for the specific needs of pregnant women and young mothers. Recommended essential oils (anti-stretchmarks, relaxing, stimulating), relaxing and soft atmosphere, blissful care.

Post-natal care & home visits

As soon as you come home from the hospital, a midwife will come to your place and show you how to breastfeed, change, bathe and disinfect your baby’s umbilical cord. During one and a half hours, she will take the time to listen to you, to answer your questions, to give you some practical advice and increase your self-confidence.

Baby massage

Come and learn throughout three sessions how to massage your baby, how to develop a tactile relationship with him/her and to understand his/her way of communicating. Promote your baby’s physical, emotional and mental development through massage.

Physical exercises for young mothers

Now that your baby is born, take care of yourself as well as you take care of him/her. Come and practice a few exercises to tone up your abdominal and perineal muscles. This mixture of Pilates and Dr Bernadette de Gasquet’s yoga method is suited for the post-natal period and will help you to get back into shape and to feel well in your body.

Personal program

Pregnant in Bucharest? Unsure regarding decisions on pregnancy, childbirth or baby care? Special needs?
Come and have a quiet chat, ask your questions and tailor your own pregnancy/post-natal program with the help of a professional midwife. We also issue invoices for all the services which are covered by the standard expat medical insurance.

All of the above listed activities can be delivered in English.

If you want more info CLICK HERE TO FILL IN THIS EASY FORM and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Contact

SAMAS Maternity Services by Program SAMAS

Stand by Mums Infografic by Program SAMAS

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