The specialists from the Medical University of Warsaw - assistant professor Aleksandra Wesołowska and Dariusz Madajczak, MD, PhD – explain that the presence of a mother by the new-born who requires intensive care or long-term specialist treatment cannot be reduced to merely just a visit of the young patient.

Both parents are partners when making decisions and planning the treatment of their child. The clinical state of the youngest and the least developed children is often unstable and important decisions must often be made at a moment’s notice. That is why, even during the increased epidemiological restrictions due to the COVID-19 infection, we cannot prevent the parents from remaining at Intensive Care Units, as that would entail questioning their right to represent the best interest of their child and to act as their advocate – says Dariusz Madajczak, M.D., a neonatologist at the  Anna Mazowiecka Clinical Hospital.

“Mother’s milk serves as a medicine for prematurely born infant”

Doctors believe that mothers of new-borns should be treated as the member of the therapeutic team. In such case, we should also consider the role of mother’s milk in the process of curing a child.

Mother’s milk serves as a medicine for prematurely born infant. Such new-born should have access to mother’s milk which has a protective and stimulating effect; in addition, children should also feel their parent's touch - kangaroo care is not only an expression of affection, but also ensures that the infants life functions remain stable, says assistant professor Aleksandra Wesołowska, the president of the Human Milk Bank Foundation and the President of the Research Institute on Human Milk and Lactation at the Regional Human Milk Bank at the Holy Family Hospital in Warsaw.

Assistant professor Wesołowska also points out another aspect. – The development and stabilisation of lactation after premature birth requires contact with the child; in addition, it often requires the support of specialists who will not be easily available for women after they leave the hospital. For that reason, after premature birth mothers should have the possibility to remain with their children at least until their lactation becomes stable – she explains.

Wesołowska and Madajczak jointly stress that not only the premature birth, but also the discharge cause stress and put psychological strain on the parents, in particular for the mother.

That is why the hospital should allow for the possibility of readmitting mothers to the hospital in order to allow them to get used to the new situation and learn how to care for their children with the assistance of medical doctors and nurses; the needs of the children often exceed the needs of healthy children born on time – say the specialists and add that the parents - mothers in particular - who participated in the process of providing care for their children each day, will find it easier to handle the new situation at home after leaving the hospital.

Minister Socha: we must not divide the family

The Ministry of Family and Social Policy and the Family Council acting under the authority of the Minister of Family both join the appeal of the doctors.

We should support the parents of prematurely born infants and allow them to contact their children. That is particularly important for the children as well as for the parents. Doctors and the hospital must do everything to ensure the best possible bond between the parents and the infant; to ensure that the family goes through this difficult time together instead of being divided – says Barbara Socha, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policy.

Hospitals should make every effort to allow mothers to remain with their children during hospital stay. It would be best if such stay would apply from birth to discharge; however if that proves impossible for organisational reasons, we should develop a system which will allow the mothers to stay with their children each day, periodically – adds Dorota Bojemska, the Chairman of the Family Council acting under the authority of the Minister of Family.

Adherence to the sanitary regime is crucial. That is why the hospital should provide unlimited access to disinfectants and personal protective equipment - masks or disposable aprons. Separate social rooms should also be available to the parents to allow them to rest during the necessary medical procedures or ward rounds, without the need to leave the ward and thus limiting the risk of contact with other people.