Power Grant (institutional grant for carrying out the group’s mission).

About the group

Women’s reproductive rights include not only the right to abortion, contraception and sex education, but also the right to dignified childbirth and care at the highest level during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

We Hug Moms is an initiative from Cieszyn, which consists of Gosia – activist, Olga – doula, Ania – activist, Gosia – doula, Natalia – uro-gin physiotherapist, Dorota – midwife and Ania – activist. We Hug Moms observed that patients’ ignorance of their rights leads to abuse and transgressions by the medical staff. The Association fights for the improvement of services and systemic changes in perinatal care, as well as counteracting the violation of patients’ rights by conducting watchdog and educational activities in the Cieszyn region. We Hug Moms also postulates the extension of systemic support for mothers, in particular when it comes to the reimbursement of urogynecological physiotherapy and lactation counseling.

We are guardians in hospitals where we control the observance of the patient’s perinatal rights, create reports, negotiate changes for patients. The problem is the violation of rights, e.g., to dignity, intimacy, information, health protection (including protection of lactation and the perineum during childbirth).

About the action

The association helps women in the perinatal period whose rights have been violated or who do not have sufficient access to basic health services. In addition, the Group conducts educational and advocacy campaigns and works in the nationwide Coalition for Changes in Lactation Care in Poland. In the future, they want to introduce a systemic change by setting up an emergency care service for perinatal patients in the formula of a social enterprise.

Grant amount: PLN 80,000

Photo: Rafał Soliński