Two lines on the test, and with them a long list of questions. Do you see your GP or a midwife? How many check-ups will you get, and what does it cost? If you are new to Norway, the system may look different from the one you grew up with. The good news: pregnancy care here is both free and well organised – and your fastlege (GP) is one of its cornerstones.
How maternity care works in Norway
In Norway, routine pregnancy care (svangerskapsomsorg) is delivered through primary care, not automatically through a hospital. You are followed through a normal pregnancy by your fastlege – your assigned GP – or by a jordmor (midwife) at the local health centre (helsestasjon), or a combination of both. The hospital becomes involved mainly for ultrasound scans, any specialist follow-up, and of course the birth itself.
This surprises many people who move here. There is no private obstetrician managing every step; instead, a well-defined national programme runs through services you already use. For English speakers in Drammen, the practical takeaway is that your GP is your first point of contact for pregnancy, just as for everything else.
GP, midwife – or both?
One of your first choices is who follows you. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health's national guideline for pregnancy care, this is entirely your choice, and the GP and midwife can collaborate on your follow-up.
Many people split it: some check-ups with the midwife, some with the GP. The advantage of keeping your GP involved is continuity. Your fastlege already knows your medical history, any regular medication and how you are doing generally – and is the same doctor you will see after the birth, for both you and your baby. In a city like Drammen, that means your care holds together from pregnancy into the early years of parenthood.
The first check-up
The first pregnancy check-up usually takes place in weeks 8–12. You should be offered an appointment as soon as possible, and no later than one week after you contact your GP or midwife to book. This first visit is often the longest, because there is a lot to set up.
At the first check-up you will typically talk through any previous pregnancies and illnesses, regular medication, lifestyle and how you are feeling. You are offered blood tests, a blood pressure measurement and information about what happens next. It is also your chance to ask anything you are wondering about – no question is too small.
The programme: nine consultations
For a normal pregnancy, the Directorate of Health recommends a basic programme of nine consultations, including ultrasound and the offer of fetal diagnostics. The check-ups are spread across the pregnancy, more closely towards the end, and each one follows things like blood pressure, growth and the baby's development.
Two of the consultations are ultrasound scans:
- Early ultrasound in weeks 11–14. Since 2022 this has been offered to all pregnant women in Norway, not only those at particular risk.
- Routine ultrasound in weeks 18–19. The more familiar "standard" scan, which looks at the baby's development and helps confirm the due date.
Ultrasound and fetal diagnostics are carried out by the specialist health service (hospital), while the other check-ups take place with your GP or midwife. Your fastlege coordinates the whole picture and refers you onward where needed.
Normal pregnancy: nine check-ups, two ultrasounds (weeks 11–14 and 18–19), free choice between GP and midwife – and all of it free of charge. You should get your first appointment within a week of getting in touch.
Folate and healthy habits early on
Some of the most important steps happen before your first check-up. The Directorate of Health recommends that everyone planning a pregnancy takes a supplement of 400 micrograms of folate daily – ideally from at least one month before conception and through the first twelve weeks. Folate helps the baby's neural tube close correctly early in pregnancy and reduces the risk of neural tube defects. You can read more in the Directorate of Health's advice on diet and folate supplements.
Your GP can also advise on other habits that matter early on – diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol – and review whether any regular medication should be adjusted. If you have a pre-existing condition, an early conversation with your fastlege is especially worthwhile.
When you need closer follow-up
Nine check-ups is the starting point for a pregnancy without complications. If your GP or midwife finds something that should be watched more closely – such as high blood pressure, diabetes or other risk factors – more frequent check-ups are recommended, and you may be referred to a specialist or to a maternity outpatient clinic (svangerskapspoliklinikk). The same applies if you have had a difficult pregnancy before.
If you notice symptoms that worry you – bleeding, severe pain, reduced movement or fever – always get in touch. During the day, call your GP; outside opening hours, call the out-of-hours service (legevakt) on 116 117, and in a life-threatening emergency call 113. When in doubt, it is always better to call once too often than once too seldom.
All of this is free
Pregnancy check-ups are exempt from the usual patient fee (egenandel). That applies both with your GP and with the midwife, and also to the blood tests and routine examinations in the basic programme. In other words, you pay nothing for pregnancy care itself. It is a deliberate priority in the Norwegian system: good care for pregnant women should not cost anything, whoever you are.
If you are new to Drammen or looking for a GP with capacity, it is worth sorting this out early in your pregnancy so your care stays joined up. See our guide New to Drammen? How to find a GP, or read about how to use Helsenorge.no to book appointments and view test results.
Expecting a baby?
Hotvet legesenter is at Rosenkrantzgata 75, in the centre of Drammen. Several of our GPs have capacity on their lists and would be glad to follow you through your pregnancy – and beyond, with both you and your baby.
See available GP placesThis article gives general information and does not replace individual assessment. If you are unsure about anything during your pregnancy, talk to your GP or midwife.