Introduction. Perinatal Care Standard is a law act, which has been implemented in Poland for the few years. This Regulation was based on EBM [3]. The recommendation of the early "skin to skin" contact has a purpose to colonise the newborn’s skin by physiological bacterial flora and also to develop a proper relationship between the mother and her child. In accordance with the regulation, the ‘skin to skin’ contact should last at least two hours after delivery. Aim. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of the "skin to skin" contact towards patient’s rights resulting from the Minister of Health Regulation of 20th September 2012 in case of the Perinatal Care Standard in chosen hospitals of Zachodniopomorskie province. Material and methods. The study included 154 women after natural birth that were hospitalized in the period from 11th July 2014 to 6th February 2015, based on the author’s questionnaire, developed on the Standard of Perinatal Care 20th September 2012. There was used a diagnostic survey method. Results. The vast majority of patients had the possibility of the close ‘skin to skin’ contact after labour. Unfortunately, 75.5% of women who gave birth in hospital in Szczecinek and about 1/3 of patients from SPSK1 and SPSK2 had no possibility to extend this contact up to 60 minutes after labour. All activities related to supplying the newborn were performed in the newborn corner mostly in every chosen hospitals – in 90.5% cases of SPSK1, 78.9% cases of SPSK2 and 75.5% cases of hospital in Szczecinek. Conclusions. The implementation of the "skin to skin" contact is not performed on a sufficient level, which can ensure development of a proper relation between the mother and her newborn. It is necessary to change the medical staff attitude. All activities related to supplying the newborn were performed in the newborn corner mostly. This has a negative influence on the ‘skin to skin’ contact.

Key words: perinatal care, patient’s rights, parturition, care standard, "skin to skin" contact.