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Additional maternity leave for parents of premature babies. Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk on changes
„We provide parents with what is most invaluable: the time they can spend with their child,” stated Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the head of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, on Wednesday while discussing the extension of maternity leave for parents of premature infants. The new regulations took effect on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, new regulations were enacted, introducing supplementary maternity leave for parents of premature infants and those children who require hospitalization immediately after birth.
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– We are providing parents with what is most valuable, which is the time spent with their child, with their little one – highlighted Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the head of MRPiPS, during a press briefing. She noted that previously, when a child was born prematurely or required a longer hospital stay due to illness, the parents waiting by the hospital bed were deprived of their maternity leave. – When they finally left the hospital with their child after several weeks, their leave and time to bond with the child was significantly reduced. This was simply unjust – she assessed.
She reminded that extended maternity leave is available to parents of children born before the 28th week of pregnancy or those who weighed less than 1,000 g at birth, allowing for one additional week of maternity leave for each week the child is hospitalized, up to a maximum of 15 weeks.
The Minister emphasized that this leave is optional, as „parents are the best judges of if and when they need this additional time off.” She also mentioned that parents currently in the hospital with their child can utilize the additional leave.
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The head of MRPiPS expressed gratitude to everyone who played a role in the implementation of these regulations – the social sector, members of parliament, and President Andrzej Duda. She pointed out that these beneficial regulations for parents were introduced within 11 months.
– 135 days – that's how long little Michalinka was hospitalized after her birth, weighing just 370 grams – stated Elżbieta Brzozowska, vice-president of the Coalition for Premature Babies Foundation. She remarked that March 19 can be termed „the day of parents of premature infants.” – I believe that together we have authored a new chapter in the story of Polish neonatology – emphasized Brzozowska.
Extended maternity leave
Extended maternity leave is accessible to parents of children born prior to the 28th week of gestation or those who weighed no more than 1,000 g at birth, providing one additional week of maternity leave for each week the child remains in the hospital, up to a total of 15 weeks. Parents of children born after the 28th week but before the 37th week, weighing more than 1,000 g, can receive up to eight weeks of additional leave. This also applies to parents of children born after the 37th week, provided the child spends at least two days in the hospital following birth, the first of which must occur between the 5th and 28th day after birth. The insured individual – either the mother or father caring for the child – will be entitled to maternity benefits during the period of additional maternity leave. The right to extra leave will be granted immediately after the conclusion of maternity leave. Therefore, applications should be submitted before the end of the maternity leave or leave under the terms of maternity leave.
