Pregnancy Care

Maternity Care Services

We offer comprehensive care to woman and their partner, before pregnancy, throughout the pregnancy, and after delivery, as well as providing care for your newborn baby. We are happy to provide you with support during breastfeeding.

We are happy to accept new patients who would like to attend us for maternity care.

Every woman who is pregnant and ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to maternity care under the Maternity and Infant Scheme. Ordinarily resident means you are living here, or you intend to remain living here for at least one year. You are entitled to this service even if you do not have a medical card. We are all experienced at providing ante natal care under this "shared care" scheme. To apply for the scheme, simply make an appointment to see one of the GPs in the practice early in your pregnancy and you can sign the form to register for the scheme at that first visit with your GP.

Maternity and Infant Scheme

On your first pregnancy the GP provides an initial examination, if possible before 12 weeks, and a further 5 examinations during the pregnancy, which are alternated with visits to the maternity unit/hospital. These visits to the GP are free of charge. The schedule of visits may be changed by your GP and/or hospital obstetrician, depending on your individual situation. For susequent pregnancies you will have an initial examination and a further 6 examinations.

If you have a significant pregnancy related illness, e.g. diabetes or hypertension, you may have up to 5 additional visits to the GP.

Care for other illnesses which you may have at this time, but which are not related to your pregnancy, is not covered by the Scheme.

After the birth, the GP will examine the baby at 2 weeks and both mother and baby at 6 weeks.

How to Book Antenatal Care

1. Phone to make an appointment with your GP to discuss the pregnancy. All consultations are dealt with in strict confidence. You don't have to tell the reception staff why you are attending your GP but if you do choose to tell the reception staff, this information will be dealt with in strict confidence.

2. At your first visit with your GP you will be invited to sign a form to register for the Maternity and Infant Scheme.

3. Phone your maternity hosptial of choice to make a booking appointment. For more information on the local maternity hospitals read below.

National Maternity Hospital Information

Thr Rotunda Hospital Information

The Coombe Hospital Information

Vaccines in Pregnancy

Please talk to your GP about vaccines in Pregnancy. You can read more information here

HSE Vaccines in Pregnancy

It's very important that you continue to attend for your routine antenatal visits during the Covid pandemic.

HSE info re Vaccines in Pregnancy & Covid

Preparing For Pregnancy

If you are hoping to become pregnant there are a few things you can and should do to improve your general health and so help your pregnancy to progress smoothly. Most pregnancies are not planned, however, and still progress normally, resulting in a healthy mother and baby.

Women who might become pregnant within the next year need an extra 400 micrograms of folic acid as a supplement (tablet) every day, as well as eating a healthy diet. Read about folic acid here.

HSE Folic Acid and Pregnancy

HSE information on preparing for pregnancy

Fertility Problems

If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, phone reception and ask to make an appointment with Dr Miriam Daly or Dr Doreen Myers. We can do a comprehensive medical assessment and order blood tests and semenanalysis and ultrasound scan (if needed) and give advice. Once the blood test results are back we can refer you you to a fertility expert, if needed.

If is generally recommended that you see your GP after 1 year of trying to become pregnant if:

you and your partner are healthy
the woman trying to get pregnant is younger than 35

It is advised you should see your GP after 6 months of trying to become pregnant if:

the woman trying to get pregnant is older than 35
you or your partner have health problems that could affect fertility, such as previous gynaecological problems or medical problems.

For some useful information read here

HSE Attending your GP with Fertility Problems