Childbirth in Poland, in Warsaw

There is not enough modern information on this topic on the Russian-speaking Internet. Except in social media groups. Probably the reason is that Poland is not the most popular country for giving birth among foreigners. But this sometimes happens. Especially when the flow of foreigners from the territories of the former CIS increased. And sometimes they immigrate in an "interesting position."

You are lucky if the pregnancy caught you at the very beginning in Poland, for example, in Warsaw. You will have time to figure everything out: find a good doctor, pass all the necessary tests that are required during childbirth, make insurance, choose a hospital for childbirth.

In general, the scheme for managing pregnancy and childbirth in Poland is as follows:

Insurance

All further actions related to pregnancy depend on it. There is state insurance (for example, NFZ) and private insurance (Medicover, Lux-med, etc.). If you have state insurance (for example, for the work of your husband), then you can choose any doctor in the country to conduct pregnancy, and give birth free of charge in public hospitals. With private insurance, you can use the services of doctors at the corresponding private clinics of the same name and you can give birth there (but for an additional fee under a contract with a doctor or midwife, with a large ward or VIP room, etc.)

Doctor's Choice

You can contact the nearest clinic to your home, it is possible to find a doctor on the recommendation. Sometimes a website with a list of many Polish doctors helps https://www.znanylekarz.pl/ With the help of an interpreter (if you don’t speak Polish), you can get acquainted with the doctor’s profile, find out what language he or she speaks (many speak Polish). English and Russian), to which clinic he is attached and where he is receiving. Yes! It happens that the same doctor works in different clinics. Sometimes you can’t keep up with his schedule, and you need to make an appointment in advance.

Analyzes

A card with tests carried out throughout the pregnancy is a very important document that will be asked before the birth itself. Therefore, if you come to Poland to give birth already at a later date, do not forget the results of your tests! If some analyzes are not enough, according to Polish requirements, they will be forced to do and present. Fortunately, tests can be taken both in the clinics themselves and in laboratories.

Choice of hospital for childbirth

As mentioned above, you can give birth in free public hospitals (“spitals”), or you can also give birth in private ones. Ask what's the difference? Is it worth paying? Probably, the only difference is that in a private clinic, after giving birth, you will be transferred to an individual ward, and not to a general one. After 12 hours of observation in public hospitals, everyone is assigned to wards, where there are 2-3 women in labor. If you prefer individual comfort and give birth in a public hospital, then for an additional fee you will be transferred to the VIP room, if there are places (price PLN 200-500 per night).

In private clinics, they give birth under a contract, which spells out all the conditions for conducting childbirth, being in a ward of a certain type, the number of days spent in the hospital in the postpartum period. Those. In advance, you choose the type of "delivery package" offered by the hospital itself. Naturally, this is agreed with the gynecologist, pediatrician. For example, the cheapest package includes a birth with a midwife, 2-3 days in the hospital after the baby is born, but does not include an epidural, for example. The most expensive package includes absolutely all services and the maximum number of days of stay after childbirth. There is also a "medium package". Prices range from PLN 7,000 to PLN 16,000 (for the period 2016). Usually the cheapest package is not offered to anyone, the hospital staff themselves insure themselves in case “if something goes wrong”.

The level of conditions in private clinics is, of course, high, as in a hotel.

There is no need to negotiate with a public hospital in any way in advance. If the hour "X" has come, then just come with things and documents. And now attention! If there are places, they will accept you. If the hospital is full, the woman in labor will be sent to another hospital. Sometimes it happens! Even in Warsaw itself! Demographics are actively growing in Poland, but the number of hospitals and doctors is not designed for this demographic. In the same Warsaw, there are several public hospitals that are in special demand. You can try to avoid this stress and so in a turbulent period - find a midwife and conclude a contract with her. Childbirth with a midwife costs about PLN 2,000. They are attached to hospitals, their list can be found on the hospital website. Again, this is worth doing in advance - midwives have a lot of work. Thus, you seem to be treated “for free”, but it turns out that it is paid and increase your chances of getting calmly to the chosen hospital. The midwife does not guarantee a place in the hospital, but behind the scenes the probability increases and with it your peace of mind.

Maternity, in general, in public hospitals at a fairly good level, equipped for "home birth" or standard. In case of need, there is a doctor on duty, opera