How antenatal care works under Medicare — public vs private vs shared care, what's covered, and what to expect at each stage. Plain-English guide, not medical advice.
Enter the first day of your last period or the date and gestational age from a dating ultrasound. You’ll see your current week and estimated due date (EDD).
This is the calendar-based estimate. Ultrasound dating is more accurate — if you have a scan result, use the other tab.
Use the gestational age from your scan report (often shown as e.g. “12+3”).
Standard schedule in Australia. YOU ARE HERE shows the week you’re in (once you’ve entered dating above).
This is the typical schedule for low-risk pregnancies. Higher-risk pregnancies may have extra scans, blood tests or specialist visits — your care team will explain anything specific to you.
In Australia you have several options for who looks after you during pregnancy and at the birth. None is “better” — each suits different situations, budgets and preferences.
You attend a public maternity clinic for most visits; birth at the public hospital. May be team midwifery, midwife-led continuity, or doctor-led depending on risk.
Free with MedicareMost of your antenatal visits are with your GP; you still book in at a hospital for delivery. Works well if you have a GP you trust and want to stay local for visits.
Free or low costThe obstetrician sees you throughout pregnancy and delivers your baby in a private hospital. Continuity with one doctor; out-of-pocket costs apply.
Significant out-of-pocketA private midwife provides continuity through pregnancy, birth (home or hospital) and postnatal care. Some Medicare rebate available; significant fees.
Out-of-pocket variesCost matters most? Public hospital or GP shared care — bulk-billed and minimal out-of-pocket.
Want continuity with one person? Midwife-led continuity programs (public, free, limited spots) or private midwife / private obstetrician.
Higher-risk pregnancy? Most public hospitals have specialist clinics; private obstetricians manage high-risk too.
You can switch models if circumstances change. Talk to your GP early in pregnancy — they can refer you in either direction.
Bulk-billing depends on the practice, not on being pregnant — pregnancy itself isn’t a Medicare bulk-billing incentive category. Some practices bulk-bill all GP visits, others charge a gap fee — ask when booking. Find bulk-billing GPs near you →
Routine pregnancy ultrasounds (dating, NT, morphology) are Medicare-rebated. Most practices have a small out-of-pocket gap (varies by provider — ring ahead). Public hospitals usually do the scans free. More on each scan →
Routine antenatal bloods (full blood count, blood group, antibody screen, infection screen, OGTT) are Medicare-rebated and most labs bulk-bill. NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing for chromosomal conditions) is not currently Medicare-rebated — expect to pay around $450–550 if you choose it. What NIPT actually checks for ↗
Pertussis (whooping cough), RSV (Abrysvo) and influenza vaccines in pregnancy are free under the National Immunisation Program. Your GP or pharmacy can give them. Full guide to timing and funding ↗
Provided free through the National Blood Authority. If your blood type is Rh-negative you’ll usually have a dose at 28 and 34 weeks.
Public hospital — free with Medicare. Private hospital with private obstetrician — can be significant out-of-pocket even with top-level private health insurance. Always get a written estimate from the obstetrician early in pregnancy.
Folic acid and iodine are recommended and inexpensive over the counter. See the supplements guide →
It can be confusing knowing who handles which question. A rough guide:
Calendar-based dating (from your last period) and ultrasound-based dating can differ. Ultrasound dating is more accurate, so if there’s a difference of more than about 5 days in the first trimester, your due date will be updated to match the scan. Once dating is set, it usually stays the same for the rest of the pregnancy.
Personal choice. Many people wait until after the 12-week scan; some tell their employer earlier if symptoms or job safety mean adjustments are needed. Australian law requires you to give 10 weeks’ written notice of your start date for unpaid parental leave; paid parental leave eligibility is via Services Australia.
Yes — especially earlier in pregnancy. If you started with one model and want to change, talk to your GP. Public hospital clinics generally accept transfers from private care up to a point in pregnancy (varies by hospital).
Pregnancy care for non-Medicare-eligible patients varies by state. Some public hospitals provide pregnancy care under state-funded arrangements. More on healthcare for visitors →
Paid Parental Leave is managed by Services Australia. You can claim up to 3 months before your due date. Family Tax Benefit and other family payments also start with the new baby — check servicesaustralia.gov.au/having-baby.
This page explains the Australian health system for pregnancy care. It is not medical advice. Your GP, midwife or obstetrician decides what tests and care plan apply to you.