Antenatal care

During your pregnancy, you will be under the care of your GP and the Hospital.

Your 1st visit is with your GP. At this point it is important to complete a Mother and Infant Care form to cover you for free antenatal visits with your GP, this form will be submitted to the HSE from the surgery.

You should start taking Folic acid if not already taking it. This should be continued until week 12 of your pregnancy.

Your care will alternate between your GP and the Hospital /Midwife.

The following is a broad outline of the schedule of visits but remember that this schedule may be changed by the Doctors.

Maternity & Infant Care Scheme

The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides an agreed programme of care to all expectant mothers who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. This service is provided by a family doctor (GP) of your choice and a hospital obstetrician/midwife. You are entitled to this service whether you have a medical card/doctor visit card or not.

The schedule of these visits is attached. These scheduled visits are provided without cost to the pregnant mother.

The Scheme also provides for two post-natal visits to your GP: a 2-week developmental check for the new baby & a 6-week check for the new baby & his/her mother.

Care for other illnesses which you may have at this time, but which are not related to your pregnancy are not covered by the scheme. Similarly, extra ante-natal visits which are requested by either the pregnant lady or the hospital are not covered by this scheme & will attract normal surgery fees. This applies to all patients: medical card holders; doctor visit card holders & private patients.

We would recommend that you ask your doctor at each appointment when your next scheduled visit will be due and to please inform the hospital if they suggest a visit outside of this date.

All pregnant women are advised to have the flu vaccine during pregnancy and to also be vaccinated against Pertussis (whooping cough). Currently, the Pertussis vaccine is provided free of charge to all patients, usually in the later stages of pregnancy; the flu vaccine is provided free to medical card/doctor visit card patients only.

Please ask to speak to our Practice Manager if you have any questions/queries over this scheme and how it works.

Week of Pregnancy	GP Visit	Hospital Visit
Before 20 weeks		*
24 weeks	*
28 weeks	* (2nd/subsequent pregnancies)	* (1st pregnancy)
30 weeks	*
32 weeks		*
34 weeks	*
36 weeks		*
37 weeks	*
38 weeks		*
39 weeks	*
40 weeks		*
Birth of Baby
2 weeks after birth (for baby)	*
6 weeks after birth (for mother and baby)	*