Maternity and Infant Care Scheme 2026 — 8 free GP visits for all pregnant women, no medical card required
Maternity and Infant Care Scheme Ireland 2026
Every pregnant woman in Ireland is entitled to free GP care during pregnancy and after the birth — regardless of income, insurance, or medical card status. The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides 6 free antenatal GP visits during pregnancy, and 2 free postnatal visits after the birth (one for the mother, one for the baby). No means test. No application. Register with any participating GP.
Maternity and Infant Care Scheme — At a glance
- Antenatal visits
- 6 free GP visits during pregnancy
- Postnatal visits
- 1 for mother (6 weeks) + 1 for baby
- Cost
- Free — no charge at all
- Eligibility
- All pregnant women ordinarily resident in Ireland
- Medical card needed?
- No — applies regardless of card status
- How to access
- Register with any participating GP practice
The 8 free visits — what each one covers
| Visit | Timing | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Antenatal 1 | As early as possible (booking visit) | Pregnancy confirmation, blood tests (full blood count, blood group, rubella, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis screening), urine test, blood pressure, weight, referral to maternity hospital |
| Antenatal 2 | ~16 weeks | Blood pressure, urine, fetal growth assessment, general health review |
| Antenatal 3 | ~22 weeks | Blood pressure, urine, fetal growth, symptoms review |
| Antenatal 4 | ~28 weeks | Blood pressure, urine, fetal position, repeat blood tests (glucose screening, anaemia check) |
| Antenatal 5 | ~34 weeks | Blood pressure, urine, fetal growth, symptoms, birth plan discussion |
| Antenatal 6 | ~36 weeks | Blood pressure, urine, fetal position confirmation, signs of labour preparation |
| Postnatal (mother) | 6 weeks after birth | Recovery review, blood pressure, mental health screening, contraception discussion, return to work discussion |
| Postnatal (baby) | 6–8 weeks after birth | Baby's weight, growth, hip check, eye and hearing check, general development assessment, vaccination schedule initiation |
Some GP practices offer additional visits beyond the 8 standard ones depending on clinical need (e.g., for high-risk pregnancies). Extra visits are funded separately.
How this scheme fits with hospital maternity care
In Ireland, antenatal care is shared between your GP and your maternity hospital. The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme covers the GP side. Hospital visits (antenatal clinics, scans, birth, postnatal ward stay) are covered separately:
- Public patients: Free antenatal hospital appointments, free birth, and free postnatal stay in a public maternity hospital
- Semi-private or private patients: Charges apply; often covered by private health insurance
- Scans (anomaly scan, etc.): Usually included in hospital antenatal care; some additional scans may be private
- GP maternity visits: Covered by this scheme (Maternity and Infant Care Scheme) — free regardless of your hospital status
How to access the scheme
- Confirm your pregnancy with your GP
As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact your GP. Tell them you want to register under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme. If you are not already registered with a GP, you can register with any GP who participates in the scheme — most practices in Ireland do.
- Your GP registers you for the scheme
Your GP practice registers your pregnancy with the HSE under the scheme. This is an administrative step handled by the practice — you do not fill out any forms yourself.
- Your GP refers you to the maternity hospital
At your first antenatal visit, your GP completes a referral letter to your nearest or chosen maternity hospital. This triggers your hospital antenatal care pathway.
- Attend your GP and hospital appointments
Your antenatal care is then shared — alternating between GP visits (Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, free) and hospital visits (public maternity care, also free for public patients).
Other free healthcare during pregnancy
The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme is one of several free healthcare entitlements during pregnancy:
- Public maternity hospital care: free antenatal clinics, delivery, and postnatal ward stay as a public patient
- GP Visit Card for under-8s: once your baby is born, they get a GP Visit Card automatically until age 8 — free GP visits for the child
- Free vaccines: childhood immunisation programme begins at 2 months; all vaccines are free through the national immunisation schedule
- Maternity Benefit: €299/week DSP payment for employed and self-employed women on maternity leave (separate from this healthcare scheme)
Frequently asked questions
Do immigrant women in Ireland qualify for the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme?
Yes. The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme is available to all pregnant women ordinarily resident in Ireland, regardless of nationality or immigration status. EU/EEA citizens, people with Stamps 1, 1G, 2, 3, 4, or refugee status all qualify. The key requirement is ordinary residence in Ireland — you do not need a PPSN to start receiving care, though you will need one for Maternity Benefit (DSP payment).
What if I do not have a regular GP — can I still access free maternity care?
If you do not have a GP, register with any GP practice in your area. Most GP practices in Ireland participate in the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme. If you have difficulty registering due to lists being closed, contact the HSE's GP queries line or your Local Health Office. You can also present to a maternity hospital directly — public hospital antenatal care is also free.
Is the GP visit card automatically issued during pregnancy?
No. The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme provides free maternity-specific GP visits — it is separate from the GP Visit Card (which gives free GP access for all conditions). If you want a GP Visit Card, you need to apply separately through the HSE means test. However, under the scheme, your maternity-related GP visits are free even without any card.
Does the scheme cover additional specialist appointments during pregnancy?
The scheme covers standard GP antenatal and postnatal visits. If you are referred to a specialist (obstetrician, endocrinologist, cardiologist) during pregnancy, those specialist visits are typically covered under the public hospital outpatient system — not the GP scheme. As a public patient, specialist referrals during pregnancy are generally provided within the public health service at no additional charge.
I had my baby — can I still use my remaining antenatal visits?
No. Antenatal visits are for use during pregnancy only. Once the baby is born, the antenatal phase ends and the postnatal visits (one for mother, one for baby at 6 weeks) become relevant. Unused antenatal visits are not transferable.
- You do not need a medical card or GP visit card to get free antenatal GP visits — the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme operates independently of these.
- The scheme covers GP visits only — hospital appointments, scans, and the birth itself are covered separately under the public maternity hospital system.
- The scheme is not the same as Maternity Benefit (the DSP weekly payment of €299/week) — they are completely different. One is healthcare; the other is income replacement.
- No application is needed from you — your GP registers you when you first present for pregnancy care.
- The 6-week postnatal check for the baby is also free under this scheme — not just the mother's check.
Related guides
This page was reviewed against official HSE and Citizens Information guidance and updated to reflect the 2026 Maternity and Infant Care Scheme visit schedule and eligibility conditions.