Newborn care in Poland: screening, vaccines, checkups, midwife visits
Short answer: NFZ says every newborn has about 30 screening tests and hepatitis B and tuberculosis vaccines in the first 24 hours, then 4 free checkups in year one and midwife home visits.
If your baby is born in Poland, a set of free checks and vaccinations starts on the first day. The National Health Fund (NFZ) describes them in two pages of its information service Akademia NFZ: "Profilaktyka noworodka i wcześniaka" (10 June 2026) and "Kiedy karmienie piersią jest trudniejsze" (9 September 2026). We read both on 19 October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Screening tests in the first days
According to NFZ, every newborn has about 30 tests, meant to detect defects, genetic diseases and other disorders early. The page names phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) among the genetic diseases. For developmental defects it lists a pulse oximetry test, which detects heart defects, an eye examination for premature babies, and a hearing test under the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
First-day vaccinations
In the first 24 hours of life, a baby gets vaccinations unless the doctor finds a medical contraindication. NFZ says they are against hepatitis B and tuberculosis. For the current schedule, the page points to the National Institute of Public Health site szczepienia.info. See also the site's guide on the mandatory vaccination schedule for children.
Four free health checkups in the first year
NFZ describes "bilanse zdrowia" as free health reviews done by a paediatrician, family doctor or nurse. In the first year a child should have 4. They are often done before the next vaccinations, at:
- 1 to 4 weeks;
- 2 to 6 months;
- 9 months;
- 12 months.
* Photos: a crying newborn (cover) and a newborn's feet (body), CC0 and public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, used as illustrations only.
Visits from the midwife
A primary care midwife helps parents in the first weeks. She visits the family at home in so-called "wizyty patronażowe" and assesses the health of mother and baby. She advises on bathing, skin and umbilical cord care and supports breastfeeding. The September page says you are guaranteed at least 4 midwife visits in the newborn period, and that you can count on her help during the whole breastfeeding period. It also says the midwife acts as your lactation adviser, and that a woman has the right to care during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which lasts 6 weeks.
Breastfeeding
The NFZ page says the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then adding other foods, ideally while continuing to breastfeed until the child is 2. After birth, the baby should be placed on the mother's chest, skin to skin, and stay there until the end of the first feed or at least 2 hours. If the mother cannot hold the baby for medical reasons, the other parent can do it. After a caesarean, the page says skin to skin can also happen if the condition of mother and baby allows.
Premature or sick newborns
A premature baby is one born between 22 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. The page says parents may be separated from the baby, and that they can ask the midwife for help in making contact and ask for a psychologist's advice. When the baby cannot yet be breastfed, NFZ advises expressing milk at least 8 times a day, including at night, expressing colostrum as early as possible, and storing milk in a closed container in the refrigerator. It also describes "kangaroo care": placing the baby on a parent's bare chest, covered, for 30 to 60 minutes a day.
What the sources do not say
The pages do not say whether a baby needs to be registered, or insured, before these services apply, or whether they differ for foreign families. They do not cover birth registration, PESEL or benefits. For those, see the site's guide on having a baby in Poland as a foreigner. The pages also do not name the clinics that perform the screening tests.
Frequently asked questions
What vaccinations does a newborn get in Poland?
According to NFZ, in the first 24 hours, against hepatitis B and tuberculosis, unless there is a medical contraindication.
How many checkups does a baby have in the first year?
Four free "bilanse zdrowia", at 1 to 4 weeks, 2 to 6 months, 9 months and 12 months.
Does a midwife visit the family at home?
Yes. NFZ describes home visits by a primary care midwife, with at least 4 visits guaranteed in the newborn period.
