Foreigners can give birth in Poland regardless of their nationality. If you are covered by NFZ (National Health Fund), pregnancy care and childbirth in a public hospital are generally free of charge.
Private hospitals and clinics are also available for those who prefer private medical care.
🍼 Pregnancy Care
As soon as you learn you are pregnant, you should register with a gynecologist (Ginekolog) or midwife (Położna) in your przychodnia.
During pregnancy you will receive:
- Regular medical check-ups
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Ultrasound examinations
- CTG Monitoring in late pregnancy
- Specialist consultations if needed
🏥 Choosing A Hospital
In Poland you can choose the maternity hospital (porodówka) where you want to give birth.
Many hospitals organize:
- Guided tours
- Online registration
- Birth Preparation classes
- Meetings with midwives
It’s best to register at the maternity hospital in advance. They’ll set an estimated due date and assign you a care team. You’ll need to address legal details: cesarean section (consent/refusal), anesthesia options, any allergies, etc. You’ll also need to specify who is permitted to be present during childbirth: your husband, a friend, and other formalities.
Around the 41st week, prenatal care is transferred from the antenatal clinic to the maternity hospital. The frequency of doctor’s visits depends on the patient’s condition, but on average, they occur every 2–3 days.
🎒 What to Pack for the Hospital Before Giving Birth
Preparing your hospital bag in advance helps make your delivery day much less stressful. Every hospital may have slightly different requirements, so check with your maternity ward before packing.
For the Mother
- Nursing bras and disposable maternity underwear
- 2–3 loose, comfortable T-shirts or nightgowns
- Bathrobe or comfortable tracksuit
- Slippers and shower flip-flops
- Warm socks
- Comfortable clothes for leaving the hospital
Toiletries
- Unscented soap
- 2 towels
- Tissues and paper towels
- Maternity sanitary pads
- Nursing breast pads
Food & Drinks
- Still water
- Light snacks such as cookies, chocolate, apples, or dried fruit
For the Baby
- Newborn disposable diapers
- 4–6 muslin or gauze cloths
- 3 cotton bodysuits
- 2 lightweight hats and 1 warm hat
- 3 sleepsuits or baby pajamas
- Socks
- Baby cream
- Baby wash
- Soft towel
- Baby wipes
- Sterile gauze pads
This is a general packing checklist. You may add personal items based on your needs and the recommendations of your hospital.
The minimum length of stay at the maternity hospital after childbirth is set by law at 50 hours (initial monitoring of the newborn).
📑 Documents Required
- Passport or identity document
- Residence Card or visa
- Pregnancy Medical Record (Karta Ciąży) – you can get it from your gynecologist
- Test Results
- Health Insurance Information
👫🏻 Can Your Partner Be Present?
Yes. Most Polish maternity hospitals allow partner-assisted childbirth (Poród Rodzinny).
🪪 After Birth
Mother and baby are discharged once both are healthy and doctors confirm they are ready to go home. Before leaving, you’ll receive the hospital discharge documents and your baby’s medical record.
Before discharge, medical staff will explain the next steps, which usually include:
- Choosing a pediatric clinic for your baby
- Registering your child with the selected clinic
- Being assigned a pediatrician
- Scheduling home visits from a midwife during the baby’s first weeks of life
After returning home, the next important step is officially registering your child’s birth in Poland.
The child’s birth must be registered within 21 days after the birth card is issued.
Registration takes place at the Civil Registry Office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego) responsible for the place where the child was born.
During registration you choose the child’s first name and receive the birth certificate. If parents do not register the birth within the legal deadline, the registry office will register the child and assign a first name according to the legal procedure.
🇵🇱 Child’s Residence Status
If both parents are foreigners, the child does not automatically receive a Polish residence permit or Polish citizenship simply because they were born in Poland.
After receiving the birth certificate, parents should apply for the child’s legal stay.
❗After birth, children may legally remain in Poland for up to 90 days even if the parents’ visa or residence permit has expired.
💼 Maternity Leave
Employees working under an employment contract may qualify for:
- Maternity Leave
- Parental Leave
- Maternity Benefits Paid By ZUS (How to Receive 800+ for Child)