Healthcare & Family

Pregnancy and maternity care, free, midwife-led, thorough

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionPrenatal care, ultrasounds, birth and postnatal care are all free through the public system. Your GP refers you to a midwife (jordemoder) early, and care is shared between GP, midwife and hospital.

What is covered

Maternity care is fully covered by the public system for residents: prenatal appointments, scans and ultrasounds, the birth (at hospital or birthing centre), and postnatal follow-up. There is no bill for a standard pregnancy and delivery. Denmark's maternal and infant follow-up is thorough, with regular guaranteed touchpoints.

Who looks after you

Care is shared:

  • Your GP confirms the pregnancy and makes the first checks and the referral.
  • A midwife (jordemoder) leads much of your antenatal care and, typically, the birth.
  • The hospital handles scans, any complications and delivery.
  • After birth, a health visitor (sundhedsplejerske) visits you at home to support you and the baby.

Vaccinations in pregnancy

The programme has expanded: whooping-cough (pertussis) vaccination in pregnancy became routine in 2024, and RSV/influenza vaccination in pregnancy has been added since. These are offered free - your GP or midwife will advise on timing.

Plan the leave, not the costThe care itself is free, so the financial planning is about leave, not medical bills. Read parental leave (barsel) for the 52-week framework and how much employer top-up you may get - that is where the money questions actually sit.
Get the GP referral earlyContact your GP as soon as you know you are pregnant - the referral to the midwife and the booking of scans work best started early. It also sets up the shared-care pathway smoothly.

Common questions

Do I pay for having a baby?
No - prenatal care, scans, the birth and postnatal care are free for residents through the public system.
Who delivers the baby?
Usually a midwife (jordemoder), with hospital doctors involved for scans, complications or intervention. Care is shared with your GP too.
What happens after the birth?
A health visitor (sundhedsplejerske) visits you at home to check on you and the baby - part of Denmark's strong follow-up for new families.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: lifeindenmark.borger.dk, sundhed.dk, the Danish Health Authority (sst.dk), Statens Serum Institut and municipal pages. Figures are 2026 levels and vary by region and municipality. General information, not medical advice.

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