How does pregnancy care work in Luxembourg (gynaecologist, midwife, hospital booking)?

Pregnancy care involves three players: your gynaecologist, a midwife if you wish, and the maternity where you plan to give birth.

Gynaecologist: the health portal recommends a first consultation within 5 weeks of your last period. At that visit you receive the maternity booklet (carnet de maternité), which records your pregnancy, and the CAE form for the birth allowance, whose first instalment is the prenatal allowance. After that, appointments are usually monthly until the birth, and more frequent late in pregnancy or if the pregnancy is high risk. The examinations that count for the birth allowance must be done by a doctor: the CAE pays none of its three instalments for examinations done by a midwife.

Midwife: you can choose your own midwife during pregnancy, generally without a prescription, for antenatal check-ups and for birth and parenthood preparation. Midwife care listed in the CNS fee schedule is covered at 100% and is usually paid directly by the CNS. If your pregnancy has complications, some midwife care needs a prescription from your gynaecologist or GP.

Maternity hospital: hospital-based midwives organise antenatal consultations and visits of the maternity ward, so contact the maternity where you plan to give birth during your pregnancy. From the 35th week, book an appointment with the hospital's anaesthetist if you plan an epidural or a planned caesarean.

After the birth, an independent midwife can also visit you at home, covered by the CNS.

For any medical question about your pregnancy, ask your gynaecologist or midwife.