[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › [Maternal and child nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/maternal-child/) › Ley 2244 de 2022: dignified, respected and humanised pregnancy, birth and postpartum # Ley 2244 de 2022: dignified, respected and humanised pregnancy, birth and postpartum - Law Ley 2244 de 2022 lists the rights of women in pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and pregnancy loss, and the rights of the newborn, in Colombia. Updated Nov 13, 2026 ## Key points - Right to at least one companion of her choice during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum, and no fee may be charged for it (Art. 4, no. 16). - Right to a birth plan, and from week 32 to have prenatal visits where the birth will take place (Art. 4, no. 11). - Respected birth: intermittent fetal monitoring, liquid intake, free movement and upright positions, drug and non-drug pain relief, and pushing with her own urge (Art. 4, no. 12). - A woman who refuses a recommendation or procedure states it in a written informed dissent (Art. 5, no. 2). - Newborn rights: skin-to-skin contact, timely cord clamping and not being separated from the mother without a reason (Art. 7). ## What it is Ley 2244 de 2022, known as the «Ley de Parto Digno, Respetado y Humanizado», recognises and guarantees the rights of women during pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and gestational and perinatal grief, and the rights of newborns. It applies across the country with a differential approach. It names concrete practices (companion, birth plan, free movement, pain relief, skin-to-skin contact) and makes failure to comply a fault under the procedures of the Superintendencia de Salud. In 2026 the Constitutional Court ruled that its guarantees also cover all pregnant people. ## Key articles - Art. 1: the purpose is to recognise and guarantee the rights of women in pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and gestational and perinatal grief, and the rights of newborns. - Art. 3: defines humanised caesarean, birth plan, gestational and perinatal grief, postpartum and puerperium (about 35 to 40 days after birth). - Art. 4: lists 28 rights, among them respectful treatment without discrimination, clear information, a preparation course, psychosocial support, breastfeeding support, a humanised caesarean, information on vaginal birth after caesarean, care in grief away from other pregnant women, and receiving the placenta if she asks. - Art. 4, no. 21: no procedure for research or teaching without free, prior, express and written informed consent. - Art. 5: the woman's duties, including written informed dissent and respectful communication with health staff. - Art. 7: newborn rights, including civil registration and health insurance, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding, timely cord clamping and contact with the father if the woman authorises it. - Art. 9: health system actors must train their staff and apply the Ministry's care guides. - Art. 12: failure to comply is a fault under Superintendencia de Salud procedures, without prejudice to civil, ethical or criminal liability. Art. 13: in force from publication. ## What it covers - Women's rights from pregnancy to postpartum and in pregnancy loss. - Women's duties, including informed dissent. - Newborn rights. - Duties of the State and of health system actors, cultural pluralism, training of traditional midwives and sanctions. ## In nursing practice - Ask about and record the birth plan, and explain any part that cannot be followed and why. - Invite the companion in and do not charge for it; if she has none, offer a trained person for emotional support. - Offer free movement, upright positions, liquids and pain relief, and let her push with her own urge, when her and the baby's health allow it. - Keep mother and baby together and skin to skin unless one of them needs special care, and explain why when they must be separated. - If she declines a procedure, record the written dissent; if an intervention is for teaching or research, obtain written consent first. - In a pregnancy loss, offer care away from other pregnant women and psychosocial support for her and the family. ## Status and official text - Texto oficial verificado el 2026-11-13 en secretariasenado.gov.co (official text checked on 2026-11-13 at secretariasenado.gov.co). - Constitutional Court ruling C-252 de 2026 (12 August 2026) declared the words «mujer» and «mujeres» conditionally constitutional: the law also applies to all pregnant people. - The Senate's legal database lists no other law that modifies it. - In force since its publication in the Diario Oficial No. 52.092 of 11 July 2022. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Can a fee be charged for the woman's companion during labour under Ley 2244 de 2022? No. Art. 4, no. 16 says no fee may be charged for this right. ## From which week of pregnancy may prenatal visits be held where the birth will take place? From week 32 (Art. 4, no. 11). ## How does a woman record that she refuses a recommended procedure under this law? With a written informed dissent document (Art. 5, no. 2). ## What did ruling C-252 de 2026 decide about this law? That its guarantees for «mujer» and «mujeres» also apply to all pregnant people. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/nursing/ley-2244-de-2022-dignified-respected-and-humanised-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartu/) ## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia - [Conscientious objection in health care](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/conscientious-objection-in-health-care/) ## Connections ## Related 2 - [The four stages of labour from the nursing side: the partograph and the WHO Labour Care Guide](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-four-stages-of-labour-from-the-nursing-side-the-partograph-and-the-who-labou/) - [Colombia's maternal–perinatal care route (Res. 3280 de 2018) from the nursing side](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/colombia-s-maternal-perinatal-care-route-from-the-nursing-side/) [← All of nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order. Sources: [Ley 2244 de 2022, por medio de la cual se reconocen los derechos de la mujer en embarazo, trabajo de parto, parto y posparto (Ley de parto digno, respetado y humanizado)](https://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_2244_2022.html) (Secretaría General del Senado de la República de Colombia, 2022); [Resolución 3280 de 2018: lineamientos técnicos y operativos de la Ruta de Promoción y Mantenimiento de la Salud y de la Ruta Materno Perinatal](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/DE/DIJ/resolucion-3280-de-2018.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia, 2018). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/ley-2244-de-2022-dignified-respected-and-humanised-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartu/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/ley-2244-de-2022-dignified-respected-and-humanised-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartu/