At Galway East Medical Practice, we aim to provide you with the most complete, professional, and compassionate care throughout your pregnancy. We see antenatal care as a cornerstone of our practice, and we are keen to share our experience and expertise with you every step of the way!
All our specialist GPs are proficient in antenatal care and our practice nurse Ursula is there to help us deliver the highest quality care to you on your journey to bring life into the world.
Antenatal Care in Ireland
While the exact routine for antenatal care varies slightly from hospital to hospital in Ireland, the role of the GP remains the same all over the country. Every woman in Ireland with a PPS Number is entitled to free, shared antenatal care between their chosen GP and their chosen hospital. This is called the Mother and Infant Scheme (HSE Maternity Care).
This applies to public hospitals that provide obstetric care only. Some patients may choose to see an obstetrician privately, and this can be arranged on your consultation with our doctors.
The ‘Booking Visit’
If you have a positive home pregnancy test, then we would encourage you to book in for your first routine antenatal visit. This is called the booking visit. We will
- confirm the pregnancy and weeks of gestation
- calculate your due date
- discuss underlying health issues
- discuss healthy lifestyles in pregnancy
- discuss vaccines in pregnancy (please link to relevant section on our website)
- discuss breast feeding
Initial Hospital Visits
- dating ultrasound scan at 12 weeks
- first obstetrician visit at 16 weeks
- anomaly ultrasound scan (‘the big scan’) at 20 weeks
Schedule of Visits
Week of Pregnancy |
GP Visit |
Hospital Visit |
| Before 12 weeks
(as soon as pregnancy is confirmed) |
X | |
| 12 weeks – scan
(Dating Scan) |
X | |
| 16 weeks | X | |
| 20 weeks - scan
(Anomaly Scan) |
||
| 24 weeks | X | |
| 28 weeks | X
(second and subsequent pregnancies) |
X
(first pregnancy) |
| 30 weeks | X | |
| 32 weeks | X | |
| 34 weeks | X | |
| 36 weeks | X | |
| 37 weeks | X | |
| 38 weeks | X | |
| 39 weeks | X | |
| 40 (and subsequent) weeks | X | |
Postnatal Visits |
||
| 2 weeks (baby check) | X | |
| 6 weeks (mother and baby check) | X |
Nutrition in pregnancy
Eating well and moderating some foods and drinks is important in pregnancy. The following links will provide you with the most up-to-date information…
https://www2.hse.ie/pregnancy/
https://patient.info/pregnancy/diet-and-lifestyle-during-pregnancy
https://www.fsai.ie/faq/caffeine_and_pregnancy.html
Lifestyle in pregnancy
Vaccines recommended in pregnancy
There are currently 2 vaccines strongly recommended for all pregnant women in each pregnancy. The pertussis vaccine protects your newborn baby against whooping cough which is a life-threatening infection for an infant and we vaccinate the mothers from 16 weeks gestation in order to produce antibodies to pass across the placenta to the baby. These will last for approximately 6 months.
The influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended during flu season for all pregnant women to protect mothers from influenza, which can be a life-threatening condition for pregnant women.
(link to our section please)
Supplements recommended in pregnancy
Folic acid and vitamin D are both currently recommended for ALL women who are pregnant.
Folic acid is recommended up to the end of 12 weeks of pregnancy. The standard dose of 400mcg per day is available over the counter in the pharmacy. Some women are recommended a higher dose if the have a known folic acid deficiency or a personal or family history of spina bifida or neural tube defects.
Vitamin D in dose of 800-1000iu per day is recommended for all pregnant and breast-feeding women for the entire pregnancy and beyond! Vitamin D will also be recommended for your newborn baby up to the age of 3.
Infant feeding guidelines
Nutrition is the key to your baby’s long-term health and wellbeing. Below is a link to a wonderful publication to download. Please also see www.mychild.ie.
file:///C:/Users/citye/Downloads/Best%20Practice%20for%20Infant%20Feeding%20in%20Ireland%202012%20FINAL%20Revised%202013.pdf