More information
Description
This project addresses the problem of a lack of institutional support for women during natal and lactation care in Poland. More than half of mothers stop breastfeeding with six weeks of giving birth. The decision to stop breastfeeding is often due to information and support not being part of the care provided by the National Health Fund. As many as 45% of mothers who tell paediatricians that they have insufficient milk are advised to use formula for additional feeding. Mothers who take medication are often advised to stop breastfeeding even when there is no need. Meanwhile, women who breastfeed for a long time are criticised in doctors’ surgeries. This shows that medical personnel not only have out-of-date information on lactation and treating breastfeeding women, but also that they are guided by stereotypes when giving medical advice.Under the project, the Project Promoter will monitor the quality of natal care, in particular care in relation to lactation, based on information from the National Health Fund and women’s postnatal experiences. The monitoring findings will be presented in a report. A number of women will be given legal aid in defending their rights. The Project Promoter will also hold 24 webinars for parents and lectures for medical students on medical topics such as natal care, female patients’ rights, lactation, etc. At the same time, the Project Promoter will conduct an Internet information campaign. It will also petition the Ministry of Health for changes including making specialist lactation advice reimbursable, and true implementation of the Natal Care Standards.Primarily, women - mothers of small children - will benefit. Some measures are intended for a larger portion of the public, such as medical students or personnel. There will be increased public awareness of female patients’ rights to natal and lactation care, including to accurate information and high-quality medical care based on up-to-date scientific information.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the lack of systemic support for women during perinatal and lactation care in Poland. More than half of mothers stop breastfeeding naturally in the first 6 weeks after giving birth. Decisions to stop breastfeeding are often dictated by a lack of knowledge and support within the care guaranteed by the National Health Fund. As many as 45% of mothers who reported the problem of milk shortage to a pediatrician were recommended to be fed with formula. Mothers taking medications are often advised to stop feeding, even when there is no need to do so. In contrast, women who have been breastfeeding for a long time face criticism in doctors'' offices. This means that medical personnel not only lack up-to-date knowledge about lactation and treatment of breastfeeding women, but are guided by stereotypes when giving medical advice.
As part of the project, the Project Promoter conducted monitoring of the quality of perinatal care, particularly lactation care, based on information from the National Health Service and the experiences of women after delivery. As many as 2,504 questionnaires were collected from women who gave birth between 2018 and 2022, with 57 in-depth interviews and 10 interviews with lactation specialists. Thanks to the collected data, problems were identified and possible solutions were proposed. The results of the monitoring are described in the report. Together with the Coalition for Changes in Lactation Care in Poland, which was formed at the project, a petition was submitted to the Ministry of Health on legal changes and the need to take action to improve lactation care. The petition contained 28 demands (recommendations) as a result of two years of work. The Project Promoter also conducted 18 webinars for parents and lectures for medical students on perinatal care, patient rights, lactation, etc. In parallel, the Project Promoter conducted an information campaign on the Internet.
Thanks to the project, the state of lactation care (which is part of perinatal care) was assessed and the problem was publicized. The project primarily benefited women planning pregnancies and mothers of young children. Some of the activities were directed more broadly to the public, including medical students and medical personnel. Public awareness of patients'' rights to perinatal and lactation care, including to reliable information and quality medical care based on current scientific knowledge, was raised.
Continuation of promotional activities related to the publication of the Lactation Care Monitoring Report in Poland for 2018-2022 and the submission of a petition for legal changes and actions to improve lactation care in Poland by the ‘Coalition for Changes in Lactation Care in Poland’ were carried out. 2840 signatures in support of the petition were collected, including: 2797 signatures from individuals, and 43 signatures from organisations/entities on the petition page. Members of the ‘Coalition for changes in lactation care in Poland’ met with representatives of authorities, including Ombudsman, Ombudsman for Patients'' Rights and the Ministry of Health.