The Maternity & Infant Care Scheme
Who is eligible?
Every woman who is pregnant and ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to maternity care under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.
(“Ordinarily resident” means you are living in Ireland, or you intend to remain living here for at least one year.)
Service providers
These services are provided by our family doctors (GP) of your choice and a hospital obstetrician. You are entitled to this service even if you do not have a medical card. Virtually all GPs have agreements with the Health Service Executive to provide these services; even if they are not a part of the medical cards system.
Our infant & maternity care services
The scheme provides for two designated visits to the general practitioner for your baby:
(i) Within two weeks of birth
The visit helps re-establish the link between you and the general practitioner. It enables the general practitioner to check on your health status to review your hospital care experience and to discuss any difficulties you may have in managing your baby.
To book a 2-week postnatal check, please book a with our nurse:
(ii) At six weeks of age
This visit is to review general health, to conduct another developmental examination, to review feeding practice and the overall management of the baby and to finalise immunisation plans.
For mums, the scheme also provides a postnatal examination for the mum. This can be carried out by a GP, although by arrangement it may be carried out by the hospital too.
To book a 6-week postnatal check, please book a double appointment with our nurse – one your baby and one for yourself.
Please notes:
- Visits not associated with your pregnancy are not covered by the scheme and if you do not have a medical card or doctor visit card then there will be a charge for these visits.
- With the Under 8s GP visit card, your child will get free GP visits.
Details on how the scheme works and what information you need to apply for the card are available at Under 8s GP visit card.