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Public Care Options

Public Maternity Care at The National Maternity Hospital

If you are a public patient you can choose to have your antenatal care in the hospital or in the community. 

How do I book public maternity care with The NMH? 

Please contact us as soon as you know you are pregnant to book your first appointment with us.

You can book online using the ‘Book Now’ buttons below.

You can also book your public maternity care with us by calling our Central Booking Office on (01) 637 3288 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm or emailing us at cb@nmh.ie 

We are always happy to answer any questions that you have.

For further information on your public maternity care options; hospital based antenatal care and community based antenatal care, please find detailed information below.

Please note if you are pregnant and you are ordinarily resident in Ireland you are entitled to free maternity care under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.

Hospital based maternity care

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Hospital based antenatal care is provided at the Holles Outpatient Clinic in The National Maternity Hospital.

The Holles Outpatient Clinic offers three types of antenatal clinic; a Midwife Led Clinic, a Consultant Led Clinic and Consultant Led Specialist Clinics. Please see below for more information on each type of clinic.

Midwife Led Clinic
  • This Midwifery Led clinic is suitable for normal risk women on the supported care pathway.
  • Antenatal appointments are shared between your GP and hospital Midwife. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here.
  • Please see eligibility criteria for our Midwifery Led Clinics.
  • You will usually see the same Midwife for all of your visits.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks
  • You will have your baby in The National Maternity Hospital
  • Your care during labour and birth will be provided by the Labour and Birthing Unit midwives. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You may have access to our Early Transfer Home Service (12 - 36 hours after birth) if you are suitable for the service. The Early Transfer Home team provide postnatal care in your home for 5 - 7 days depending on clinical need. The Early Transfer Home Service operates within a certain catchment area and accessing the service is dependent on the circumstance of your baby's birth and your well-being.

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Consultant Led Clinic
  • This clinic is suitable for women who are medium risk who require a higher level of oversight and are on the Assisted Care Pathway. This clinic is also suitable for women who are normal risk on the Supported Care Pathway, but wish to attend a Consultant Led clinic.
  • Antenatal appointments are shared between your GP and one of our team of hospital doctors. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here. 
  • A Consultant Obstetrician will have overall responsibility for your care. 
  • Please note you will not see that Consultant at every visit, you might be seen by one of our Registrars or Senior House Officers.  You will also see a midwife at each visit. 
  • Consultant Led clinics run Monday - Thursday in Holles Outpatient Clinic at The National Maternity Hospital. Clinic days, times and consultants attending are available to view here.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks.
  • You will have your baby in The National Maternity Hospital.
  • Your care during labour and birth will be provided by the Labour and Birthing Unit midwives. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You may have access to our Early Transfer Home Service (12 - 36 hours after birth) if you are suitable for the service. The Early Transfer Home team provide postnatal care in your home for 5 - 7 days depending on clinical need. The Early Transfer Home Service operates within a certain catchment area and accessing the service is dependent on the circumstance of your baby's birth and your well-being.

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Specialist Clinics - Consultant Led
  • Our specialist clinics are suitable for high-risk women who require a more intensive level of care and are on the Specialised Care Pathway. They care for women with certain conditions whose health needs are complex or who may need additional medical or other support.
  • Antenatal appointments are shared between your GP and the specialist clinic you are attending. 
  • You may be advised to have your first visit with a specialist clinic earlier than 12 weeks.
  • The clinics are Consultant Led and delivered by both Consultants and Specialist Midwives. In many of these clinics the obstetric team works closely with medical consultant specialists and you will be seen jointly within the multi-disciplinary team. You will have an individualised care plan which takes into account your medical condition.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan, an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks as well as any additional scans as prescribed by your consultant.
  • Your care during labour and birth will be provided by the Labour and Birthing Unit midwives. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You may have access to our Early Transfer Home Service (12 - 36 hours after birth) if you are suitable for the service. The Early Transfer Home team provide postnatal care in your home for 5 - 7 days depending on clinical need. The Early Transfer Home Service operates within a certain catchment area and accessing the service is dependent on the circumstance of your baby's birth and your well-being.
  • Please see our specialist clinics page for a full list of clinics offered at The National Maternity Hospital. If you have a condition that is not listed on this page, please contact the Holles Outpatient clinic at clinics@nmh.ie  or (01) 637 3527/637 3528 and we will advise you. 

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Community based maternity care 

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Our clinics in the community are convenient for women who wish to have their antenatal care close to home.

We offer three types of community clinic:

Midwifery Led Satellite Clinics

  • Midwifery Led Satellite clinics are suitable for normal risk women on the Supported Care Pathway.
  • Please see eligibility criteria for our Midwifery Led Satellite Clinics.
  • Please see locations, days and times for our Midwifery Led Satellite Clinics.
  • Antenatal appointments are shared between your GP and The Community Midwifery Team. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here
  • As this clinic is midwifery delivered, you will see a Midwife at all of your visits. 
  • If you require Consultant input at any point during your pregnancy generally you will see a Consultant in your Satellite Clinic. If you are attending Ballinteer or Dun Laoghaire Satellite Clinics, you will be referred to the Holles Outpatient Clinic in The National Maternity Hospital for Consultant review as Consultants do not visit these two clinics.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks.
  • You will have your baby in The National Maternity Hospital.
  • Your care during labour and birth will be provided by the Labour and Birthing Unit midwives. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You may have access to our Early Transfer Home Service (12 - 36 hours after birth) if you are suitable for the service. The Early Transfer Home team provide postnatal care in your home for 5 - 7 days depending on clinical need. The Early Transfer Home Service operates within a certain catchment area and accessing the service is dependent on the circumstance of your baby's birth and your well-being.

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Consultant Led Satellite Clinic

  • This clinic is suitable for women who are considered medium risk on the Assisted Care Pathway.  
  • Please see eligibility criteria for our Consultant Led Satellite Clinic here.
  • Please see locations, days and times for our Consultant Led Satellite Clinic here. 
  • Antenatal appointments are shared between your GP and The Community Midwifery Team with input as needed from the Consultant Obstetrician. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here 
  • You will see a Midwife for all of your visits. A Consultant Obstetrician attends these clinics regularly and will review your care if you require medical input in your pregnancy.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks.
  • You will have your baby in The National Maternity Hospital.
  • Your care during labour and birth will be provided by the Labour and Birthing Unit midwives. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You may have access to our Early Transfer Home Service (12 - 36 hours after birth) if you are suitable for the service. The Early Transfer Home team provide postnatal care in your home for 5 - 7 days depending on clinical need. The Early Transfer Home Service operates within a certain catchment area and accessing the service is dependent on the circumstance of your baby's birth and your well-being.

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The Domino & Homebirth Service Clinics

The Domino and Homebirth Service is suitable for normal risk women on the Supported Care Pathway.

This Midwifery Led service has two offerings; The Domino Service and The Homebirth Service.

The Domino Midwifery Team run both services.

The Domino Service

  • The Domino Service is suitable for normal risk women on the Supported Care Pathway.
  • Please see eligibility criteria and catchment area for The Domino Service here.
  • Please see locations, days and times for The Domino Service clinics here.
  • Antenatal appointments for The Domino Service are shared between your GP and The Domino Midwifery Team in the community. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here.
  • The Domino Midwifery Team encourage an ethos of active birthing and focus is placed on healthy mind and body preparation throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. 
  • The team provide antenatal classes with a focus on active birth.
  • The Domino Midwifery Team provide continuity of care through-out pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
  • You will have a 12-week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks.
  • You will birth your baby in The National Maternity Hospital.
  • A midwife from The Domino Midwifery Team will care for you during labour. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on-call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • You will be discharged from hospital approximately 6 hours after your birth once you and baby are well. You will receive postnatal care in your home from The Domino Midwifery Team for 7 - 10 days after your birth depending on clinical need.
  • The Domino Midwifery Team are available on a bleep system to answer any queries 24/7 during pregnancy and postnatally.

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The Homebirth Service

  • The Homebirth Service is suitable for normal risk women on the Supported Care Pathway.
  • Please see eligibility criteria and catchment area for The Homebirth Service.
  • Please see locations, days and times for The Homebirth Service clinics here.
  • Antenatal appointments for The Homebirth Service are shared between your GP and The Domino Midwifery Team. Please see guide to your antenatal visits here. Please note an antenatal home visit will be carried out during your pregnancy to discuss suitability and consent for homebirth. If your GP does not offer shared care for homebirth please contact the Domino Midwifery Team for advice by emailing commw1@nmh.ie or calling us on 01 6373177
  • The Domino Midwifery Team encourage an ethos of active birthing and focus is placed on healthy mind and body preparation throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. 
  • The Domino Midwifery Team provide antenatal classes with a focus on active birth. 
  • You will have a home visit to discuss your homebirth plan in detail. 
  • You will have a 12 week dating scan and an anomaly scan at 20/22 weeks.
  • You will birth your baby at home. 
  • A midwife from The Domino Midwifery Team will care for you during your labour at home with a second midwife also present for your birth. 
  • If transfer to hospital is needed your Domino Midwife will go to the hospital and continue to be involved in your care. If medical assistance is required, it will be provided by the obstetric team of the day with guidance and consultation from the on call Consultant Obstetrician.
  • The Domino Midwifery Team provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period with postnatal care in your home for 7 - 10 days after birth depending on clinical need.
  • The Domino Midwifery Team are available on a bleep system to answer any queries at any time during pregnancy and postnatally.

Book now