medborger_i_danmark_engelsk.pdf - Ny i Danmark

56FAMILYIn the post-natal wardBirth certificate,naming and baptismThe Danish NationalChurch registers allnewbornsthe baby to the breast soon after it hasbeen born. This is partly because it willmake it easier to get started withbreastfeeding, and partly because rawbreast milk contains nutrients andantibodies essential for the baby’s health.You should tell the midwife if you do notwish to breastfeed your baby.After the delivery, you and your baby willbe moved to a room in the post-natalward*.The staff will help you care for thenewborn baby and advise you on how tobreastfeed, wash and nurse it.When the baby has been born, the parentswill receive a form, which should becompleted and handed in or mailed to theoffice of the parish where the child wasborn.The parish office then issues a birthcertificate. All newborn citizens,regardless of religious persuasion, areregistered by the Danish NationalChurch*, acting for the Danish state.The Danish National Church also registersthe names of all newborn babies.You musttherefore inform the parish office of thechild’s name before the child is six monthsold. The child will then receive a birthcertificate and a name certificate. Thechild may also be named at a baptismceremony performed by a clergyman ofthe Danish National Church or a ministerof religion of another recognised religiouscommunity. In this case, the child gets abirth and name certificate.The certificatewill be needed later, for example inconnection with applying for a passport.You are not allowed to give your childrena first name that could be to theirdisadvance and expose them to teasing byothers. The Danish Ministry ofEcclesiastical Affairs (Kirkeministeriet)has published an official circular listing allthe approved names. The list can bedownloaded from the Ministry’shomepage.You must apply to the Ministryof Ecclesiastical Affairs (via your parishoffice) for permission to give your child aname not included in the circular.Any parent who is or has been asubject of another country is entitled togive his or her child a name that is notapproved in Denmark, provided that it isa common first name in the home countryof one or both of the parents.All pregnant woman are entitled topregnancy and maternity leave for acertain period before and after givingbirth. Similarly, the child’s father may takepaternity leave for a certain period. Thepublic authorities and some privatecompanies have entered into agreementson paid maternity or paternity leave.Parents who do not receive wages orsalaries during their leave may claimmaternity/paternity benefits from themunicipal authority. This also applies toself-employed people who have run theirOnly approved firstnames can be usedMaternity, paternityand parental leave