On 9 January this year, a meeting between the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy and representatives of the All-Poland Alliance "Together for Preterm Births" took place in the seat of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. At the meeting, a petition concerning maternity leave for mothers of preterm infants from discharge from the hospital to home and sick leave during the child's hospitalisation after birth was handed in to Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk.

In their appeal, mothers of premature babies on maternity leave ask, among other things, for the leave to be extended by the time the baby has spent in hospital. During this period, parents of premature babies spend a considerable amount of time on medical appointments and various therapies to support their child's development.

I invite you to substantive discussion, cooperation, and joint search for solutions. Already now, I would like to propose the establishment of a working group at our Ministry, where we can meet regularly so that we would have the feeling that the solutions, which could become law, were worked out together, that in every element the voice of society, specialists, doctors, parents, and mothers was taken into account – said Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk during the meeting.

The signatories of the petition during the meeting at the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy were represented by: Elżbieta Brzozowska – Vice-President of the Coalition Foundation (Fundacja Koalicja), social spokeswoman of the All-Poland Alliance "Together for Preterm Births", Adriana Misiewicz – Vice-President of the Coalition for Preterm Births Foundation (Fundacja Koalicja dla wcześniaka), All-Poland Alliance "Together for Preterm Births", Prof. Ewa Helwich, MD, PhD – National Consultant in Neonatology, Prof. Tomasz Szczapa, MD, PhD – President of the Polish Neonatology Society, Katarzyna Dyńska-Kukulska, MD, Chem. – President of the MatkoweLove Foundation, Marta and Robert Leśnik – Too Early Association (Stowarzyszenie Za wcześnie) board, Sylwia Wesołowska – President of the Little Fighters Foundation (Fundacja Mali Wojownicy), Jolanta Uchman, MD – Dream Laboratory Foundation (Fundacja Laboratorium Marzeń), Katarzyna Parafianowicz – President of the Child’s Heart Foundation (Fundaca Serce Dziecka).

The next meeting of the social side with Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk and the Ministry's management will take place in February. At that time, a working group will be formed, which will work on solutions to meet the needs and expectations of parents of premature babies.