Every woman is responsible for pregnancy and childbirth. Conditions for women in childbirth differ from country to country. You should study the nuances in more detail if you decide to give birth in Poland, and not in your home country. Pregnancy and childbirth in Poland is the choice of many women. This is facilitated by many factors that we will consider in this article.
What rights does a pregnant woman have in Poland
The Polish government has regulated maternity issues at the legislative level, which creates favorable conditions for combining motherhood and work. It is customary in Polish society to protect and encourage pregnant women.
An employer cannot fire a pregnant employee during pregnancy and parental leave. If the employment contract was terminated in the early stages of pregnancy, when the employer did not know about the situation, the employee must be reinstated in her position after presenting a pregnancy certificate.
During pregnancy, women should not perform heavy, unhealthy work, be in unfavorable conditions (at low / high temperatures, in noisy rooms, etc.). Pregnant women should not work night or overtime.
Also, the employer is prohibited from interfering with the passage of medical examinations - he is obliged to release the expectant mother from work with the retention of wages, when the examinations recommended by the doctor cannot be completed outside of working hours. If the leader does not follow these recommendations, the woman can seek help from the union or the health and safety inspectorate.
A pregnant woman has the right to independently choose a maternity hospital.
Regardless of where she was observed during pregnancy, when it is time for childbirth, the woman in labor chooses the clinic where, in her opinion, the conditions are most favorable.
There is a wide selection of private and public clinics of the European level in Poland. The birth will be free if the woman or husband has NFZ insurance. This policy also covers the costs of tests, ultrasounds, examinations, and more.
Observation by a doctor during pregnancy
Pregnancy support and examination of a woman is carried out in the antenatal clinic. The clinic and the doctor are chosen independently. Every medical institution in Poland regularly holds open days so that expectant mothers can familiarize themselves with the conditions, staff and make the right decision.
In clinics in small towns, prices are lower, and in the capital and big cities, the cost of medical services is much higher. But if you have insurance, you don't have to worry about it and focus on your own comfort and health.
Accounting and analyzes
In order to timely pass tests and do an ultrasound scan, the optimal registration time is up to 12 weeks. Then you need to regularly attend consultations 1-2 times a month.
Turning to a commercial institution without insurance, the patient pays for the services (tests, procedures) according to the price list. After the first examination, you need to pass a number of tests. However, you will not have to stand in lines, since everything is by appointment in Poland.
Many clinics have a website where you can find out the test results and get a comment from a specialist.
In the normal course of pregnancy, ultrasound is done three times: at the 12th, 20th and 30th weeks.
Preparing for childbirth and school for expectant mothers
Great attention is paid to preparation for childbirth in Poland. Every maternity hospital offers free courses for expectant mothers. Classes can be attended by a husband and wife together. The courses will tell you:
- how is childbirth going and how to behave;
- how to prepare mentally and physically for childbirth;
- how to organize the right diet;
- how to care for a newborn;
- how a man can help and much more.
At the consultation there is an opportunity to ask questions of interest, to clarify aspects that were previously unknown.
In Poland, the doctor recommends the time when a woman needs to go on maternity leave. In most countries, maternity leave starts at week 30, but here it can be done earlier.
Choosing a maternity hospital
In Polish maternity hospitals, all insurance supplies for mothers and children are free of charge. You only need to have clothes for yourself and your baby with you. In every, even a small maternity hospital, you will find European service, a comfortable environment, high professionalism of the staff and an attentive attitude towards patients.
Among a wide range of services in the maternity hospital, the help of such specialists is available:
- obstetrician;
- gynecologist;
- nutritionist;
- a psychologist;
- pediatrician;
- rehabilitation therapist;
- a neonatologist.
They will tell you how to properly feed and swaddle. If you are tired, the child will be taken away for a while to allow you to recuperate. Polish doctors are ready for any situation during childbirth. Maternity hospitals are equipped with high-tech modern equipment.
Safe pain relievers are used as needed, but doctors give preference to the natural course of labor. Caesarean section is resorted to as a last resort, if there is no other option.
In Poland, partner childbirth is encouraged. There is also equipment for modern types of childbirth in the water.
The antenatal, delivery and postnatal wards are sterile and comfortable, equipped with everything you need. Obstetricians take care of newborns around the clock, give a woman rest, take care of her health.
If the mother and child are doing well, discharge from the hospital takes place on the fifth day.
It is allowed to choose a maternity hospital according to the place of residence. Explore several options, read reviews, and decide which one works best for you.
How much does childbirth cost in Poland
The price of childbirth in Poland for Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians ranges from 2000-6000 thousand zlotys. For the average resident, this is not cheap, because officially in the countries of the post-Soviet space, medicine is free.
However, giving birth in Poland does not require buying medicines, droppers, diapers, or diapers. All medications are included in the price and provided by the institution. The mom-to-be may not worry about safety and focus entirely on her emotions.
It should be noted that the cost of standard procedures differs in different voivodeships. In small towns and villages, the whole range of services will cost 2000-2500 zlotys.
In large metropolitan areas, the price for childbirth reaches PLN 10,000.
Additional services, procedures and amenities are charged separately.
Women in labor who have NFZ insurance can give birth for free at any maternity hospital, whether public or private.
Maternity leave
Women who work under long-term employment contracts in Poland are entitled to maternity leave of one year. This is not affected by the length of time worked at the workplace.
Pregnant women who have worked officially for more than six months are entitled to unpaid maternity leave for another two years. If they have worked for less than six months, then after a paid decree of one year they must go to work or quit.
Maternity leave begins on the day of the child's birth and is issued on the basis of a birth certificate.
During the decree, 100% of the working salary is paid monthly. The spouse can also go on maternity leave, but the woman is not entitled to payments in this case.
What are the benefits of the NFZ state insurance policy
The presence of the NFZ state insurance policy gives many advantages to the holder. Every officially employed worker in Poland is obliged to pay contributions to the ZUS, which are allocated to social benefits and health insurance. Payments are made by the employer.The insurance covers all family members of the employee, even if they are not employed.
NFZ insurance provides free access to a number of services:
- pregnancy monitoring - receptions, examinations, analyzes;
- school for expectant mothers at the hospital;
- childbirth - medicines, medical supervision;
- vaccinations - BCG (against tuberculosis), against hepatitis B, which are done in the hospital and further mandatory.
That is, everything you need during pregnancy and childbirth is included in the insurance. However, if a woman orders additional amenities or examinations that are not included in the NFZ, they will be charged separately.
Conclusion
If you decide to give birth in Poland, you will receive quality medical care and European service. A good level of equipment and highly qualified personnel, even in small maternity hospitals, will ensure a comfortable stay, the health of mothers and children.
