Having a baby in the UK: your complete map
NHS appointments, maternity pay, grants and paperwork in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, checked on official sites so you know exactly what to do and when.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In the UK, NHS pregnancy care is free: refer yourself to a midwife as soon as you know, ideally for a booking appointment by 10 weeks. Employees can take 52 weeks of maternity leave, with up to 39 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay. Register the birth within 42 days (21 in Scotland), then claim Child Benefit.
The UK in five steps
- Contact maternity services as soon as you know. In England you can refer yourself online to a local NHS trust. The first midwife appointment, the "booking appointment", should happen by 10 weeks where possible. How NHS antenatal care works, week by week.
- Claim the free help early. In England, ask your midwife for the maternity exemption certificate (free prescriptions and dental care) and check Healthy Start from 10 weeks of pregnancy.
- Sort out work by about 25 weeks. Tell your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date. Check your Statutory Maternity Pay, or Maternity Allowance if you are self-employed or do not qualify.
- Plan the partner's time off. Paternity leave and pay and Shared Parental Leave need notice before the birth.
- After the birth: register, then claim. Register the birth within 42 days (21 in Scotland), then claim Child Benefit.
Key figures, as of October 2026
| What | Amount or duration | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Antenatal appointments | At least 10 for a first baby, 7 after a previous birth, plus 2 scans | NHS |
| Statutory Maternity Leave | 52 weeks | GOV.UK |
| Statutory Maternity Pay | 90% of average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% (lower) for 33 weeks | GOV.UK |
| Minimum average earnings for SMP | £129 a week | GOV.UK |
| Paternity leave | Up to 2 weeks, paid at £194.32 or 90% (lower) | GOV.UK |
| Shared Parental Leave | Up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay to share | GOV.UK |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | £500 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) | GOV.UK |
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment | £796.65 for a first child (Scotland) | mygov.scot |
| Child Benefit | £27.05 a week for the eldest child, £17.90 for each other child | GOV.UK |
| High Income Child Benefit Charge | Starts above £60,000 individual income, full repayment above £80,000 | GOV.UK |
| Register the birth | 42 days (England, Wales, Northern Ireland), 21 days (Scotland) | GOV.UK, mygov.scot, nidirect |
What changes between the four nations
- Scotland: Baby Box, Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods replace the Sure Start Maternity Grant and Healthy Start; births are registered within 21 days.
- Wales: Baby Bundles for eligible families, registered by your midwife around 25 weeks.
- Northern Ireland: the same main payments, with its own forms and some different rules (for example on paternity leave), explained on nidirect.
- England: self-referral to maternity services online and the maternity exemption certificate for free prescriptions and dental care.
When to call. 999 for a life-threatening emergency at any stage. NHS 111 if you are not sure what to do or your maternity service is closed. From 20 weeks, call your midwife or maternity unit straight away if your baby moves less than usual, if you bleed, leak fluid or have a severe headache or sudden swelling.
All the UK guides
The whole journey in one book
Our ebook Having a Baby in the UK gathers everything in one place: the NHS schedule, every claim with its deadline, the differences between the four nations, special situations (self-employed, agency workers, solo mums, same-sex parents, surrogacy, twins, loss), a month-by-month checklist and pages to fill in. Every answer you need is already free on these pages; the book is there if you prefer it organised, printable and in one place.
Questions parents ask
Is maternity care free in the UK?
Yes, NHS pregnancy care, including appointments, screening tests, scans and care during birth, is available to everyone who is pregnant. If you do not usually live in the UK, you may be asked to pay afterwards in England.
When should I contact a midwife?
As soon as you know you are pregnant. In England you can refer yourself online without seeing a GP, and the first midwife appointment should happen by 10 weeks where possible.
How long is maternity leave in the UK?
Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks for employees, from day one of the job. Statutory Maternity Pay lasts up to 39 weeks if you qualify; the last 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer pays more.
Is anything different in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland has the Baby Box for every newborn, the Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead of the Sure Start Maternity Grant, Best Start Foods instead of Healthy Start, and a 21-day deadline to register a birth.
Sources
- NHS — Your antenatal care and appointments checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Maternity pay and leave checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Register a birth checked October 13, 2026
- mygov.scot — Register a birth (21 days in Scotland) checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Child Benefit checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.