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More and more women describe their childbirth as “painful, traumatic or tragic.” The Commissioner for Human Rights intervenes

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This is not a problem for all women giving birth and in all delivery rooms. However, it would seem that there was time to learn this lesson. Unfortunately, pain and a lack of empathy are still experienced by too many women. The Ombudsman intervenes in this matter at the Ministry of Health.

– I am a mother who experienced many violations during childbirth – confesses Mrs. Anna Osmenda-Salamon. – Mothers are kind of left to their own devices – adds Mrs. Aleksandra Wąchal.

From the difficult experiences of one, a support group for many was created. On Mrs. Anna's initiative, women in Wolbrom can share what their childbirth was like. – I cannot remember a mother I met here who did not experience at least one violation during childbirth – says Mrs. Anna.

SEE ALSO: While pregnant, she found out she had cervical cancer. Mrs. Maja underwent chemotherapy and gave birth to a healthy son

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These are private experiences and common knowledge. – What the patients pointed out to us was that if they were to describe their childbirth, they would have to describe it with words such as painful, traumatic or tragic – says Bartłomiej Łukasz Chmielowiec, Patient Rights Ombudsman.

The term “pregnancy register” appeared during the PiS government. Even though the government has changed, the concerns remainAdrianna Otręba/Fakty TVN

Letter to the Ministry of Health

The Ombudsman wrote to the Ministry of Health that perinatal care in Poland needs to be improved and quotes data – every fifth woman felt humiliated during her delivery. Why? The reasons are shocking. This includes blackmailing the child's health, spreading the legs by force or tying them to the bed, threats, nudging or slapping.

– The Ombudsman decided to send a comprehensive speech that would present the picture of pregnancy and childbirth in the greatest possible way – says Piotr Mierzejewski from the office of the Ombudsman.

READ ALSO: “My dogs do that too.” Horrible childbirth and intervention of the Patient Ombudsman

Not all labor is bad, but when it is, it can be bad for many reasons. – Lack of access to anesthesia, lack of support in breastfeeding, lack of protection of the perineum, lack of consent for medical procedures – says Mrs. Anna Osmenda-Salamon.

Mrs. Izabela told about the traumatic birth. "I have postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder"

Mrs. Izabela told about the traumatic birth. “I have postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder”Katarzyna Górniak/Fakty TVN

Standards of perinatal care are about to change

The list of shames is long, but there are also positives. – The positive news is that, because we analyze these data on an ongoing basis, there are changes – says Joanna Pietrusiewicz from the Roździ po Ludzku Foundation. They can be seen, for example, in the percentage of epidural anesthesia. Year after year there were scandalously few of them, and when the Ministry of Health changed the way they were financed, something changed in the numbers.

Percentage of natural births with epidural anesthesiaNational Health Fund

However, there is still a lot of work to do. The ideas are there. – Very intensive training of midwives is underway, then anesthesiologists will be able – as is standard – to give them some of their competences during childbirth – informs prof. Ewa Wender-Ożegowska, national consultant in obstetrics and gynecology.

And the standards of perinatal care will soon change – as the Ministry of Health assures – for the benefit of women. – They will have lactation care, better midwife care, better access to perinatal anesthesia solutions, and a number of other solutions that will make women less afraid of giving birth – assures Jakub Gołąb, spokesman for the Ministry of Health.

It is worth knowing your rights before giving birth so that you do not have to pursue them after it. Mrs. Anna proved before the Patient Ombudsman that her rights were violated during childbirth. – I found the strength to fight for my rights – emphasizes Mrs. Anna. The point is that there is no need to fight anymore.

Main photo source: TVN24



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