Pregnancy week by week in Ireland: GP, hospital and scan schedule

Pregnancy care in Ireland can feel confusing at the start because you are not usually seen by one person in one place.

For many uncomplicated pregnancies, care is shared between your GP and your maternity hospital or maternity unit.

The result is an alternating schedule of appointments that becomes much more frequent in the final trimester.

This guide puts that schedule in one place.

If you know your last menstrual period or due date, start with the Pregnancy Due Date & Timeline Calculator to work out exactly how many weeks pregnant you are.

The short version: contact your GP early, expect a hospital booking visit in early pregnancy, a dating scan before 15 weeks, an anatomy scan around 18–22 weeks, and then increasingly frequent GP and hospital appointments from 24 weeks onward.

This article describes the routine national schedule. Your own maternity team may change it depending on your hospital, your previous pregnancies, your health, your baby’s growth or any pregnancy complications.

If you became pregnant while using Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or another GLP-1-based medicine, see GLP-1s and pregnancy: what the evidence says. It covers accidental early exposure, preconception washout periods and the current European pregnancy advice.

Pregnancy appointment schedule in Ireland at a glance

Under the HSE’s Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, routine antenatal care is shared between general practice and your chosen maternity unit.

HSE patient guidance says you will see your GP at least five times during pregnancy, while the formal scheme schedule sets out the usual sequence of GP and hospital contacts.

Pregnancy stage	Usual appointment	What normally happens
As soon as possible / before 12 weeks	GP	Confirm pregnancy, discuss health history, folic acid, vaccines and maternity-care options; referral to maternity unit
Around 8–12 weeks	Maternity hospital / unit	Booking visit, history, blood tests and maternity-care planning
Before 15 weeks	Hospital / ultrasound	Dating scan
Around 18–22 weeks	Hospital / ultrasound	Fetal anatomy scan
24 weeks	GP	Routine antenatal check
28 weeks	Hospital if first pregnancy; GP if not first pregnancy	Routine antenatal review
30 weeks	GP	Routine antenatal check
32 weeks	Hospital / maternity unit	Routine antenatal review
34 weeks	GP	Routine antenatal check
36 weeks	Hospital / maternity unit	Routine antenatal review
37 weeks	GP	Routine antenatal check
38 weeks	Hospital / maternity unit	Routine antenatal review
39 weeks	GP	Routine antenatal check
40 weeks	Hospital / maternity unit	Review at due date and plan next steps if still pregnant
2 weeks after birth	GP — baby	Postnatal baby check
6 weeks after birth	GP — mother and baby	Postnatal review

That table is a standard pattern, not a promise of exact appointment dates.

Hospitals can schedule visits differently, and people with twins, high blood pressure, diabetes, growth concerns or other complications often need extra appointments.

First things first: what happens after a positive pregnancy test?

Weeks 4–7: contact your GP

You do not need to wait until 12 weeks.

The HSE advises contacting your GP or community midwife as early as possible once you know you are pregnant.

Your GP can:

• confirm the pregnancy history;
• review medicines and medical conditions;
• discuss folic acid and healthy pregnancy basics;
• register you for the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme;
• refer you to your chosen maternity hospital or unit;
• discuss vaccines and any extra care you may need.

If you are using public maternity care, the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides pregnancy-related GP and hospital care without needing a medical card or GP visit card.

If you do not have a GP, the HSE advises contacting your local maternity unit.

Do you normally get a scan at the GP?

Usually, no.

Routine ultrasound scans are generally arranged through the maternity hospital or unit.

Some people choose a private early scan, but that is separate from the routine public schedule and does not replace hospital care.

Weeks 8–12: the hospital booking visit

Your first major hospital appointment is usually called the booking visit.

Current HSE guidance says this generally takes place between 8 and 12 weeks and is usually with a midwife.

This appointment can be longer than later antenatal visits because your maternity team is building your pregnancy record.

You may be asked about:

• your medical history;
• previous pregnancies;
• family history;
• medications;
• smoking and alcohol;
• mental health;
• previous pregnancy complications;
• any conditions that could affect pregnancy.

Blood tests are usually taken.

You may also be given information about:

• antenatal classes;
• breastfeeding;
• maternity-care options;
• further tests or specialist appointments if needed.

The formal Maternity and Infant Care Scheme schedule describes the first maternity-unit contact more broadly as taking place before 20 weeks. In practice, current HSE patient guidance places the booking visit much earlier, usually at 8–12 weeks.

Before 15 weeks: the dating scan

All pregnant women in Ireland are offered a dating scan, according to the HSE.

It should normally take place before 15 weeks.

The scan is used to:

• confirm the baby’s heartbeat;
• estimate gestational age;
• establish or refine the estimated due date;
• measure the baby;
• check whether there is more than one baby.

This matters because pregnancy appointments, screening windows and growth assessments are all interpreted against gestational age.

If your last menstrual period and scan give different dates, the maternity team may use the scan information when assigning your clinical due date.

For a deeper explanation, see LMP vs dating scan: how accurate is your due date?.

Weeks 13–17: usually a quieter stretch

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, there may be fewer routine appointments in this period.

That does not mean you have been forgotten.

Your next major milestone is usually the fetal anatomy scan, while your GP and maternity unit remain available if concerns arise.

From 16 weeks, the HSE recommends vaccination against whooping cough during pregnancy, with the vaccine offered between 16 and 36 weeks.

Flu vaccination is also offered during flu season.

Your GP or maternity team can advise on timing for your individual pregnancy.

Weeks 18–22: the anatomy scan

The fetal anatomy scan — often called the anomaly scan or 20-week scan — is generally offered between 18 and 22 weeks.

It looks in detail at the baby’s anatomy and development.

The scan may assess:

• the baby’s brain and head;
• spine;
• heart;
• abdomen;
• limbs;
• placenta;
• growth;
• amniotic fluid.

The purpose is not to guarantee that every condition will be detected.

The HSE notes that an anatomy scan can identify many structural problems, but no ultrasound can detect every health condition.

If something needs a closer look, you may be referred for further scans or fetal-medicine review.

Week 23

For an uncomplicated pregnancy, there is usually no specific national routine visit scheduled at week 23.

Your next standard combined-care contact is normally the 24-week GP appointment.

Individual hospitals may arrange care differently.

Week 24: GP appointment

The standard Maternity and Infant Care Scheme schedule places a routine GP visit at 24 weeks.

Typical antenatal checks may include:

• blood pressure;
• urine testing;
• discussion of symptoms;
• review of general wellbeing;
• assessment appropriate to your stage of pregnancy.

The exact examination can vary.

Your maternity team may also discuss screening for gestational diabetes if it is appropriate for you. HSE pregnancy guidance notes that gestational-diabetes screening can occur between 24 and 28 weeks.

Weeks 25–27

There is no separate routine national appointment listed for each of these weeks in an uncomplicated pregnancy.

The next scheduled visit depends on whether this is your first pregnancy.

That distinction matters at 28 weeks.

Week 28: first pregnancy vs later pregnancy

The standard HSE schedule treats 28 weeks differently depending on pregnancy history.

If this is your first pregnancy

The routine 28-week contact is with the maternity unit or hospital.

If you have been pregnant before

The routine 28-week contact is usually with your GP.

That distinction is one of the easiest parts of the Irish schedule to miss when looking at generic pregnancy calendars online.

Whatever the location, care from this stage increasingly focuses on:

• blood pressure;
• urine;
• baby’s growth;
• baby’s heartbeat;
• symptoms that could suggest complications.

From 28 weeks onward, HSE guidance says hospital appointments continue to monitor the baby’s growth, development and position as well as signs of conditions such as high blood pressure.

Week 29

Usually no separate routine national visit is scheduled in an uncomplicated pregnancy.

The next standard contact is at 30 weeks with your GP.

Week 30: GP appointment

A routine GP visit is scheduled at 30 weeks.

As pregnancy progresses, these shorter but increasingly frequent appointments help identify changes between hospital reviews.

This is also a useful stage to make sure you know:

• how to contact your maternity unit;
• where to go if you have an urgent pregnancy concern;
• what signs of labour look like;
• when antenatal classes are taking place.

HSE antenatal classes commonly start between 26 and 32 weeks, although booking them earlier is recommended because places can fill.

Week 31

For uncomplicated pregnancies, week 31 is generally between scheduled routine visits.

Your next standard appointment is usually at the maternity unit at 32 weeks.

Week 32: hospital appointment

The national schedule places a routine maternity-unit or hospital appointment at 32 weeks.

Appointments later in pregnancy increasingly assess:

• baby’s growth;
• fetal heart rate;
• your blood pressure;
• urine;
• baby’s position;
• symptoms or concerns.

Some people will have additional growth scans.

Extra scans are normally arranged when there is a clinical reason rather than automatically for every pregnancy.

Week 33

Usually no separate routine national appointment.

Next standard contact: GP at 34 weeks.

Week 34: GP appointment

At 34 weeks, you return to your GP under the standard combined-care schedule.

By now the gap between appointments is becoming shorter.

Use these appointments to raise practical questions as well as symptoms — for example medications, vaccinations, pelvic discomfort, work, sleep or concerns about what is normal.

Week 35

Usually no separate routine national appointment for an uncomplicated pregnancy.

The next scheduled review is generally at the maternity unit at 36 weeks.

Week 36: hospital appointment

A maternity hospital or unit appointment is scheduled at 36 weeks.

This is late enough in pregnancy that the baby’s position becomes increasingly relevant to birth planning.

Your maternity team may discuss:

• baby’s position;
• growth;
• birth planning;
• when to contact the hospital;
• signs of labour;
• any reason you may need additional monitoring.

This is also the end of the HSE’s usual 16–36 week window for pertussis vaccination, so check with your GP or maternity team if it has not already been given.

Week 37: GP appointment

At 37 weeks, the standard schedule returns to your GP.

From 37 weeks onward, pregnancy is considered term, although that does not mean labour is expected to begin immediately.

Routine antenatal checks continue while you wait for labour or the next hospital review.

Week 38: hospital appointment

The next standard review is at the maternity unit or hospital at 38 weeks.

If pregnancy remains uncomplicated, the focus is generally on monitoring mother and baby and making sure the plan remains appropriate as the due date approaches.

Week 39: GP appointment

A standard GP visit is scheduled at 39 weeks.

This is the final GP antenatal visit listed in the national schedule before the due-date hospital review.

Week 40: hospital appointment

If you are still pregnant at 40 weeks, the standard schedule places you back with your maternity unit or hospital.

Your team can review:

• your health;
• baby’s wellbeing;
• movements;
• signs of labour;
• the plan if pregnancy continues beyond the estimated due date.

The exact approach to pregnancy beyond 40 weeks is determined by your maternity service and individual clinical circumstances.

There is not one universal date at which every person is induced.

What happens if you go past your due date?

A due date is an estimate.

If labour has not started by 40 weeks, your maternity team will discuss what happens next.

That can include additional monitoring and discussion of induction depending on gestational age, your health, your baby’s wellbeing and local maternity-unit protocols.

Follow the plan given by your own maternity hospital rather than using a generic online timeline to decide when care is due.

What actually happens at a routine GP pregnancy appointment?

Not every appointment contains exactly the same checks.

Common antenatal assessments can include:

• blood pressure;
• urine testing;
• review of symptoms;
• questions about baby’s movements later in pregnancy;
• measurement of the uterus as pregnancy progresses;
• listening to the fetal heartbeat when appropriate;
• discussion of vaccines, medicines and pregnancy concerns.

Your GP is part of the maternity-care team, but hospital assessment is still needed for scans, specialist review and hospital-based obstetric care.

What happens at maternity hospital appointments?

Hospital visits can involve a midwife, obstetrician or both depending on your care pathway.

From 28 weeks onward, HSE guidance specifically notes ongoing assessment of:

• baby’s growth and development;
• baby’s position;
• blood pressure and signs of pregnancy complications.

Some people remain primarily under midwife-led supported care.

Others are moved to obstetric or specialist care if a concern develops.

The number of appointments therefore varies considerably between pregnancies.

Do you have to pay for these appointments?

Under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, eligible pregnancy-related GP and public maternity-care appointments are free.

You do not need a medical card or GP visit card to use the scheme.

The scheme covers care related to the pregnancy.

It does not automatically cover unrelated illnesses — for example, a chest infection simply because it occurs while you are pregnant.

Private or semi-private maternity care is a different arrangement and may involve additional appointments and fees.

What if you are having twins or have a higher-risk pregnancy?

The schedule in this article is for routine antenatal care.

You are likely to have more appointments if, for example:

• you are expecting twins or multiples;
• you develop gestational diabetes;
• you have high blood pressure;
• your baby’s growth needs closer monitoring;
• you have a significant medical condition;
• you had complications in a previous pregnancy;
• your maternity team identifies another reason for additional care.

Extra appointments for pregnancy-related conditions can still fall within the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.

When should you not wait for the next routine appointment?

A pregnancy calendar is useful for planning.

It is not a reason to wait when something feels wrong.

The HSE advises contacting your midwife, GP or obstetrician immediately for warning signs including:

• vaginal bleeding;
• severe abdominal pain;
• a change in your baby’s usual pattern of movements;
• a severe headache, particularly with blurred vision, upper abdominal pain, nausea or swelling;
• concerning tightening or possible preterm labour;
• severe emotional distress or a mental-health crisis.

The HSE also advises going to a maternity Emergency and Assessment Unit for concerns such as bleeding, changed fetal movements, or waters breaking/signs of labour before 37 weeks.

If someone who is pregnant is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, call 112 or 999.

After the baby is born: the GP schedule continues

The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme does not end at birth.

The standard schedule includes:

Around 2 weeks after birth

A GP appointment for the baby.

Around 6 weeks after birth

A GP check for both mother and baby.

These visits are part of the maternity and infant-care pathway and are worth putting in the calendar before the birth.

A simple way to use this schedule

If you are early in pregnancy:

1. Work out your estimated gestational age with the Pregnancy Due Date & Timeline Calculator.
2. Contact your GP rather than waiting for a particular week.
3. Confirm which maternity unit you have been referred to.
4. Add your booking appointment and scan dates when the hospital sends them.
5. Use the national schedule above as a planning guide — but let your GP and maternity team override it.

If you are already further along, jump to your current week and look at the next standard GP or hospital contact.

The important thing to remember

Ireland’s routine pregnancy-care schedule is not one long hospital clinic.

It is a shared-care pathway.

The pattern is roughly:

GP early → hospital booking and scans → GP at 24 weeks → alternating GP and hospital care through the third trimester.

That makes much more sense once you see the appointments on one timeline.

And because every pregnancy is different, your own appointment letter, GP and maternity team always take priority over a generic schedule online.