Giving birth in a state hospital in Warsaw Poland - any additional costs? Advice, experiences?

Hello all,

My wife and I are moving to Warsaw next week, she is Chinese and I am British. We have just found out that my wife is pregnant so, as well as living in Warsaw, we will be starting a family there too :) This will be our first time in Poland.

I've read lots of posts about people's experiences and advice in giving birth in Poland. Since these things (experiences/ healthcare/ practises/ cost of procedures, etc) seem to change quickly, I want to create this new thread to get the latest information and people's experiences.

We want to explore the birth happening in both private and state hospitals, at the moment we are thinking more about using a state hospital.

My wife will be covered by national health insurance (provided by my company). This may seem a silly question: but is this enough to give birth in a state hospital without any additional costs (or if there are additional costs, what should we prepare for?).

In addition, I could pay 250zl for Gold level or 100zl for basic level cover with the Damian Medical Centre - so, any similar experiences here would be greatly appreciated.

Everything will be new to us: first baby, first time in Poland and Warsaw. Any advice or information that you can offer will be appreciated, for example, state or private, recommended hospitals, procedures.

Thank you.

Damian works with medicover and they have excellent facility on ale rezpolotica(however its spelt),me and my pals have premium membership for almost 5000pln a year,and they have given birth there with a private room(almost like an 4 star hotel room).its sometime cheaper for us to travel to Poland from usa as the insurance covers it all there.Use medicover or damian.

If you don't as yet have a policy, wouldn't they view the pregnancy as a "pre-existing medical condition"? Sorry to sound so clinical. Congrats btw.

I would caution that which ever hospital you choose offers an epidural. Some women don't want one, however, it is good to have the option.

From our own experience we have had to choose a private hospital and the cost incurred, because our local hospital simply won't offer an epidural, it isn't an option.

However, on the plus side the cost of a private hospital birth isn't prohibitive around 6000zl, which is what our pram cost, so really not that expensive.

It is certainly worth checking out your options.

You paid 6000zł for a pram? How many gears does it have? A/C? CD changer?

Actually, my wife vetoed the prams with motors, so I settled for a Stokke. ( they are like cars, some hold their price and there is a healthy second hand market, so in the long long term it is a smart buy).

Off topic, sorry.

For the OP, google Swissmed, Warsaw.

Here is a hospital which comes high on the charts szpitalzelazna.pl/en/patients-guide
I have no personal experience with the place other than visiting. I know three couples who gave birth at this hospital and all reviewed high. As far as I understand it is state or partially state you need to do your own research. As for Damians our daughter was born there a good few years ago and if I am correct it cost the insurance company 10,000 zlotys. It was the best at the time as for the market now I am not up to date.

which Pram did you buy for 6000zl? I see them going for 1000used - 3000zl new

my maluch cost 1000zl !!! :p

5 Maluchs' worth: allegro.pl/stokke-xplory-2w1-wozek-gleboko-spacerowy-i4474145084.html

Be careful. sometimes they charge more for unnecessary things like. Extra nurses or some extra scans or diagnostics that are almost negligable. Better to take a translator with you or somebody savvy.