Uzm. Dr. Ertan Özen
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Pregnancy & Birth
Pregnancy follow up
What pregnancy follow up (antenatal care) involves in Turkey, which visits, blood tests and ultrasound scans happen in each trimester, what screening can and cannot tell you, approximate costs against the UK, US and Germany, what is included in a package, flying while pregnant, warning signs and how to choose a maternity team.
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Prof. Dr. Zehra Neşe Kavak
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What is pregnancy follow up, and how does it work in Turkey?
Pregnancy follow up, called antenatal care in the UK and prenatal care in the US, is the series of check-ups, blood tests and ultrasound scans that monitor you and your baby from the first weeks until birth. In Turkey the care is usually led by an obstetrician and gynaecologist, in a private hospital, a clinic or a state hospital, who sees you at regular intervals, rather than by a midwife-led team as in the UK. The aim is to confirm the dates, check that the baby is growing normally, detect problems such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes early and plan the birth.
This guide explains the usual schedule, which tests are offered, what they can and cannot show, what a follow-up package costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, how flying while pregnant works and how to choose a team. It is general information; your own obstetrician decides what you need. See also our overview of gynaecology treatments in Turkey.
How often do I see the doctor, and what is checked at each visit?
A common pattern is a first visit at five to eight weeks, then monthly visits until about 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks and weekly until birth, although a healthy first pregnancy often needs fewer visits and a higher-risk one needs more. At most visits you will have your blood pressure and weight checked, urine tested for protein and sugar, the baby's heartbeat checked, and from about 24 weeks the height of the womb measured. You are asked about movements, bleeding, headaches and swelling. These routine checks are simple but they are what finds pre-eclampsia, slow growth and other treatable problems early.
Which scans and tests are done in each trimester?
Ultrasound scans are the visible part of pregnancy follow up, but each has a defined purpose. The table sets out a typical schedule; your doctor may add or drop items.
| Stage | Typical checks | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10 weeks | Early scan, blood group, blood count, infection screen | Confirm a heartbeat, date the pregnancy, identify anaemia or infections |
| 11–14 weeks | Nuchal translucency scan, combined or blood-based screening | Estimate the chance of conditions such as Down's syndrome |
| 18–22 weeks | Detailed anatomy scan | Check the baby's organs, placenta and fluid |
| 24–28 weeks | Glucose tolerance test, blood count | Detect gestational diabetes and anaemia |
| 32–36 weeks | Growth scan if advised, position check, group B streptococcus swab where used | Check growth, position and plan the birth |
Screening tests give a chance, not a diagnosis: a high-chance result calls for further discussion and sometimes a diagnostic test such as amniocentesis, which carries a small risk of miscarriage. Non-invasive prenatal testing on a blood sample is available privately in Turkey and is more accurate than older combined screening but is still not a diagnosis.
Pregnancy follow up cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The ranges below are approximate prices for routine antenatal care across a whole pregnancy in a private setting, excluding the birth itself; they are not hospital quotes. Prices vary widely with the number of visits and scans.
| Country | Approximate cost range (routine follow up, excluding birth) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €500 – €2,500 |
| United Kingdom | €2,000 – €5,500 |
| United States | €2,500 – €8,500 |
| Germany | €1,200 – €4,000 |
What changes the price: the number of visits, the number and type of scans (a 3D or 4D scan is extra), blood-based screening, a glucose test, high-risk monitoring and whether the birth is included. A written package should list the visits and scans, the tests included and what is charged separately. Ask what happens to the price if the pregnancy becomes high-risk. In Turkey, foreign nationals often pay privately, and travel or residence insurance may not cover antenatal care, so check with your insurer first.
Do I need a high-risk pregnancy follow up?
Closer monitoring is advised for women with a twin pregnancy, pre-existing diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney or thyroid disease, previous premature birth or stillbirth, a previous caesarean section, a low-lying placenta or an age over 35 or 40. The visits are more frequent, extra growth scans or Doppler scans are done and an obstetrician with a neonatal intensive care unit nearby is important. If you are travelling for care or live abroad, say so at the first visit, so that the team can plan where you will give birth and whether you can fly. See our overview of pregnancy and birth care and our guides on caesarean section and natural childbirth to learn the main options.
Can I fly to Turkey, or home from Turkey, while pregnant?
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that flying is generally safe in an uncomplicated pregnancy, with most airlines allowing travel up to 36 weeks for a single baby and 32 weeks for twins; many ask for a letter from your doctor after 28 weeks. Long flights raise the risk of blood clots, so walk regularly, drink water and consider compression stockings. Avoid flying if you have bleeding, high blood pressure, or have been told you are at risk of premature labour. Check the airline's rules and your travel insurance, which may exclude pregnancy-related claims in late pregnancy. Plan to be where you want to give birth several weeks before your due date.
What are the warning signs that need urgent care?
Do not wait for the next scheduled visit if you have vaginal bleeding, severe or constant abdominal pain, fluid leaking from the vagina, a sudden severe headache with blurred vision or swelling of the face and hands, fever, painful or frequent urination, or a marked reduction in the baby's movements after about 24 weeks. These can indicate miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, infection, premature labour or a problem with the baby. The NHS gives a clear list on its pregnancy pages. Know the emergency number in Turkey (112) and the hospital where you will be seen.
Pregnancy follow up in Turkey: what care and recovery look like after the birth
Follow up does not end with the delivery. A check at about six weeks after birth reviews your wound or stitches, bleeding, blood pressure, mood and contraception. Recovery after a vaginal birth is typically a few weeks of soreness, and after a caesarean about six weeks before lifting and driving are comfortable. Baby checks, hearing and heel-prick screening and vaccinations are also arranged. If you give birth in Turkey and then fly home, ask for a discharge summary in English, the baby's records and any test results, and arrange a visit with your GP or midwife on arrival.
What are the limits and risks of antenatal screening?
Routine follow up is safe, but screening has limits. Scans cannot detect every abnormality, and a normal scan is not a guarantee of a healthy baby. Screening can give false alarms, causing anxiety and sometimes leading to invasive tests with a small risk of miscarriage. Treatment choices should be made after counselling, not simply because a test result is available. Over-testing is a recognised concern: be wary of clinics that add expensive extras without a medical reason, and ask what each scan or test is for.
How do I choose an obstetrician or maternity hospital, and what should I ask?
Look for an obstetrician registered in Turkey who sees you throughout the pregnancy, a hospital with a delivery unit, an anaesthetist and a neonatal intensive care unit on site, and a written list of what the price covers. Red flags are a package with no breakdown, routine promotion of caesarean birth without a medical reason, no named doctor and pressure to pay in advance. Read how our process works and send your dates and reports through the free quote page. Questions to ask:
- Who will see me at each visit, and who attends the birth?
- What is included in the package, and what is extra?
- Is there a neonatal intensive care unit in the same hospital?
- What is the hospital's policy on caesarean birth and on vaginal birth after caesarean?
- Can I get a letter for the airline and a summary in English?
Hospitals with Gynaecology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Pregnancy follow up, or antenatal care, is the series of check-ups, blood tests and scans that monitor your health and your baby's growth from early pregnancy until birth. In Turkey it is usually led by an obstetrician.
A common pattern is monthly visits until about 28 weeks, then every two weeks and weekly near term. A healthy first pregnancy may need fewer visits, and a high-risk one needs more.
Routine private antenatal care across a pregnancy costs approximately €500 to €2,500 in Turkey against about €2,000 to €5,500 in the UK, excluding the birth. The hospital confirms its price in a written package.
Most women have an early dating scan, a nuchal scan at 11 to 14 weeks, a detailed anatomy scan at 18 to 22 weeks and sometimes a growth scan in the third trimester. Your doctor decides what is needed.
No. Screening tests, including blood-based tests, estimate the chance of a condition. A high-chance result is usually followed by a diagnostic test such as amniocentesis, which carries a small risk of miscarriage.
Routine checks are not painful. Blood tests cause a brief sting, and scans may feel uncomfortable on a full bladder, but they do not hurt the baby.
In an uncomplicated pregnancy flying is generally considered safe up to about 36 weeks, or 32 for twins, but airline rules differ and many require a doctor's letter after 28 weeks. Check your insurance too.
A check at about six weeks reviews your recovery, bleeding, blood pressure, mood and contraception, while the baby has routine screening and vaccinations. Ask for records in English if you fly home.
Yes, many hospitals have maternal-foetal medicine and neonatal intensive care. Tell the team about previous complications, and confirm that the hospital has the facilities you may need.
A routine check-up with scans can be done in one or two days. If you plan to give birth in Turkey, most people arrive several weeks before the due date and stay a few weeks after.
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