Pregnancy and childbirth in Denmark

If you become pregnant in Denmark, you should contact your doctor (GP). Your doctor is the one stated on your medical card.

Your GP will do the initial examinations and set up a digital maternity record that will follow you through the pregnancy. The maternity record contains information about the course of your pregnancy. It will be used by your GP, your midwife, the place where you give birth and other healthcare professionals you encounter during your pregnancy.

At the first medical examination, your GP will also talk to you about where you intend to give birth.

The Danish Health Authority recommends this basic care programme if you are healthy and have an uncomplicated pregnancy:

• 3 consultations with your GP
• 2 ultrasound examinations
• 4-7 midwife consultations
• Possible pregnancy visit by a health visitor

The specific programme will depend on your needs.

Pregnant women can be offered free vaccination against whooping cough, RS virus and influenza.

As a starting point, the Danish Health Authority recommends:

• Vaccination by your own doctor against whooping cough in week 25 of your pregnancy
• Vaccination against RSV in week 32 of your pregnancy, if you are due to give birth from July to March, inclusive
• Vaccination against influenza in the second or third trimester, in the period from 1 October to 20 December, inclusive

You can give birth in the maternity ward of a hospital, at a clinic affiliated with a hospital, or at home.

Your GP or midwife can tell you about the options available in your region. You are entitled to midwife care and medical care at the birth.

Normally, the midwife registers the birth. You will only need to report your child’s birth yourself if a midwife has not attended the birth.

If you live abroad and give birth in Denmark, the birth will be registered in the parish where the child was born. If the child is born in South Jutland, the birth will be registered by the municipality.

If you live in another Nordic country, it may happen that you give birth in Denmark. This could for example happen if you give birth unexpectedly during a temporary stay, or because you wish to give birth in Denmark.

There are various rules for payment and documentation, depending on whether the birth becomes necessary during a temporary stay or is planned in advance.

If you give birth during a temporary stay in Denmark

If you live in and are covered by health insurance in another Nordic country, you are entitled to urgent and necessary treatment in the Danish public healthcare system if you are staying temporarily in Denmark. This includes examinations, treatment and childbirth.

You must be able to document that you are covered by public health insurance in your country of residence. If you are covered by health insurance in a Nordic country, you can usually document this with your ID and information about your residence address. You can also show your EU health insurance card.

If you wish to give birth in Denmark

If you live in another Nordic country and wish to give birth in Denmark, you should contact the Danish hospital where you wish to give birth. The hospital will assess whether it has the capacity to receive you.

You must also contact the authority or health insurance that covers your health care costs in your country of residence. You must check whether you will need to obtain prior permission to cover the cost of childbirth in Denmark.

If you do not have prior permission or other proof that the expenses are covered, you may be charged hospital fees. This applies even if you have a valid EU health insurance card, because the EU health insurance card does not cover planned treatment.

If the child is born in Denmark, but you live abroad

If you give birth in Denmark but do not have your registered address in Denmark, the birth will be registered in the parish where the child was born. If the child is born in South Jutland, the birth will be registered by the municipality.

You only need to report the birth yourself if a midwife has not attended the birth.

If you live abroad and give birth in Denmark, you must contact the national register or the relevant registration authority in your country of residence to have the child registered there.