After the first appointment, you receive an individual schedule of pregnancy checks. Services provided without a separate charge are set out in the national standards for guaranteed care, the LEA (Livelli Essenziali di Assistenza). For an uncomplicated pregnancy, the list contains 28 procedure, laboratory and diagnostic codes. Several may be scheduled for a single visit; if a risk is identified, the clinician adds the examinations appropriate to your case.
Pregnancy calendar in Italy by weeks
- Up to 10 weeks: first appointment, dating the pregnancy and initial tests.
- 11–13 weeks: combined screening; cell-free fetal DNA testing subject to regional rules.
- 19–21 weeks: anomaly scan.
- 24–28 weeks: glucose tolerance testing when the specified risk factors apply.
- Third trimester: repeat tests, vaccination and additional investigations where indicated.
- 36–37 weeks: group B streptococcus swabs and preparation of the maternity-unit file.
- After the estimated delivery date: monitoring according to the chosen unit’s schedule.
First appointment and tests up to 10 weeks
At the first appointment, the doctor or midwife reviews previous pregnancies, operations and health conditions, dates the pregnancy and calculates the estimated delivery date. You receive referrals for blood and urine tests, blood group, Rh factor and infection screening from the national list. The results guide later care and form part of the file for the maternity unit.
The first ultrasound confirms the location and stage of the pregnancy and the number of embryos. For twins, the specialist also establishes the number of placentas and amniotic sacs. This affects the frequency of later scans, the choice of maternity unit and the approximate timing of delivery.
| First-trimester result | How it is used later |
|---|---|
| Blood group, Rh factor and antibodies | The clinician uses these results when planning prevention of Rh incompatibility; take a copy to the maternity unit |
| Full blood count and urine tests | The results are compared with repeat tests in the second and third trimesters |
| Infection screening | The results guide repeat monitoring, treatment or measures during labour |
| First ultrasound | The report confirms the stage of pregnancy used to time all later screening windows |
Screening at 11–13 weeks of pregnancy
Between weeks 11 and 13, you may be offered combined screening. It uses maternal age, blood results and ultrasound measurements, including nuchal translucency, to estimate the individual likelihood of chromosomal conditions. A specialist reviews the result and, if the calculated risk is high, refers you to a prenatal diagnosis centre.
NIPT is a non-invasive prenatal test that examines fragments of placental DNA in the mother’s blood. Funding varies by region: it may be offered under a public programme to specified groups or available privately. If you are considering NIPT, check the local conditions early enough for the result to inform any further diagnostic decisions.
Anomaly scan at 19–21 weeks
The anomaly scan is performed from 19 weeks 0 days to 21 weeks 0 days. The specialist assesses the baby’s anatomy and growth, the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid. The report is used by the clinician in the second half of pregnancy and later by the maternity unit. If the examination is incomplete or a change is detected, you may be invited back or referred to a specialist centre.
A third-trimester ultrasound is provided without a separate charge where there is a medical indication, such as a growth concern or maternal illness. You can also book a private three-dimensional or four-dimensional scan; the centre sets both the price and the scope of that service.
Diabetes test at 24–28 weeks
An oral glucose tolerance test is offered when the specified risk factors for gestational diabetes apply. For high risk it is performed earlier; otherwise it is scheduled between weeks 24 and 28. The referral states how to prepare and when the first blood sample is taken. The clinician uses the series of measurements to plan further care.
Testing and vaccination in the third trimester
In the third trimester, repeat the blood and urine tests on your schedule and take the results to the next appointment. Vaccination against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus is recommended during every pregnancy, while influenza vaccination is offered in season; the local service sets the appointment. Keep the vaccination record with your test results so that the paediatrician can see the pregnancy vaccination history after the birth.
If you have Rh-negative blood, the clinician will set the timing of preventive anti-D treatment. Growth concerns, high blood pressure, diabetes or other complications may lead to additional ultrasound scans, blood-flow studies and fetal heart-rate monitoring. Give these reports to the maternity unit, which will use them to plan monitoring and delivery.
If you are considering an epidural, the chosen maternity unit may arrange a separate appointment with an anaesthetist and blood tests that remain valid only for a limited period. Attend on the date given, place the report in your admission file and be aware that the anaesthetist may request a repeat test if the result is no longer current when labour begins.
A swab for group B streptococcus (GBS) at 36–37 weeks
At 36–37 weeks, vaginal and rectal swabs are taken for group B streptococcus. Put the result in the maternity-unit file alongside ultrasound reports, blood-group information and records of previous operations. The obstetric team uses the result to decide whether antibiotics are needed during labour.
During these weeks, the chosen maternity unit will usually arrange its presa in carico, or formal handover of care. At this appointment, you provide the medical file, receive the address of the obstetric assessment unit and obtain a schedule of checks up to the estimated delivery date. If any result has expired, the unit will arrange a repeat test.
Monitoring after the estimated delivery date
After the estimated delivery date, attend checks according to the chosen maternity unit’s schedule. From 41 weeks, the national list includes an assessment of amniotic-fluid volume; the unit may also add fetal heart-rate monitoring and an examination. The clinician then sets the next check or an induction date, taking account of the stage of pregnancy and the baby’s condition.
High-risk pregnancy and twins
If you have a chronic illness, pregnancy complication or abnormal screening result, referrals carry the M50 code and follow-up continues in a specialist clinic. Appointments and scans are timed according to the particular risk. The specialist’s report helps the maternity unit decide the level of monitoring, any hospital stay and the planned mode of delivery.
For twins, the frequency of monitoring depends on the number of placentas and amniotic sacs identified on the first-trimester scan. Take that report to later appointments and when choosing a maternity unit; the specialist sets the interval between scans and an approximate timing for delivery.
Diagnostic studies after screening
If combined screening, NIPT or ultrasound indicates an increased risk, you will be referred for a prenatal-diagnosis consultation. The specialist reviews the timing, results and family history, then discusses chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Before you give consent, the procedure’s accuracy, timing and possible complications should be explained.
Chorionic villus sampling is carried out in the first trimester and amniocentesis in the second. The centre explains which results to bring, when to attend and when to expect the report. Give the report to the clinician managing the pregnancy so that follow-up and preparation for birth can be planned.
Antenatal classes
Public family clinics and maternity units run antenatal courses, or corsi di accompagnamento alla nascita. Registration opens in advance and dates are linked to the estimated delivery date. Sessions cover admission to the maternity unit, pain relief, caesarean birth, the postnatal period and local services after discharge.
If you plan to give birth in another city or region, ask your current clinic for a medical summary and contact the chosen maternity unit in advance. Provide the pregnancy history, test results and ultrasound reports. The unit will then arrange the handover of care and explain where to attend checks after the estimated delivery date.
Medical folder for the hospital in Italy
By 36–37 weeks, arrange in date order the estimated delivery date, blood-group result, infection tests, screening reports, ultrasound scans, group B streptococcus result and records of previous operations. For a high-risk pregnancy, add specialist reports and the follow-up plan. The maternity unit will review the file when it assumes care and say which results, if any, must be repeated before admission.
Bring originals or printed copies to the handover appointment even if some results appear in the regional electronic health record. An investigation performed privately or in another region may not be visible in the chosen hospital’s system. After discharge, the gynaecologist and paediatrician will need the documents for continued care.
Where to seek help between appointments
Urgent obstetric concerns are assessed by the maternity unit designated for your area or care plan. At the first hospital visit, ask for the address of the assessment unit and the entrance used at night. If life is at risk, call 112.
For non-urgent questions about referrals, results or the next appointment, contact the family clinic or outpatient service managing the pregnancy. This keeps the results within the same care pathway and ensures they reach the hospital in time.
Questions about the Italian pregnancy calendar
- What stage of pregnancy and estimated delivery date are recorded?
- Which referrals must I use before the next appointment?
- Where is combined screening performed, and is it included in the public pathway?
- Is there an indication for a glucose-tolerance test or additional ultrasound?
- When does the selected hospital accept documents?
Italian phrases about examinations during pregnancy
- A quante settimane sono?ah KWAN-teh set-tee-MAH-neh SOH-nohHow many weeks pregnant am I?
- Questo esame è gratuito per la gravidanza?KWES-toh eh-ZAH-meh eh grah-TOO-ee-toh pehr lah grah-vee-DAN-tsahIs this examination covered under the pregnancy exemption?
- Entro quale settimana devo prenotarlo?EN-troh KWAH-leh set-tee-MAH-nah DEH-voh preh-noh-TAR-lohBy which week must I book it?
- Quando devo consegnare gli esami all’ospedale?KWAN-doh DEH-voh kon-seh-NYAH-reh lyee eh-ZAH-mee al-loh-speh-DAH-lehWhen should I give the test results to the hospital?
Frequently asked questions about pregnancy tests
How many ultrasound scans are covered during pregnancy in Italy?
The national list includes a first-trimester ultrasound to date the pregnancy and an anomaly scan at 19–21 weeks. Additional scans and investigations are ordered when medically indicated.
When are group B streptococcus swabs taken in Italy?
The national schedule specifies 36–37 weeks. The doctor or midwife will give you the exact date and location.
When should I give my medical file to the maternity unit?
The chosen maternity unit sets its own timetable. Documents are usually reviewed towards the end of pregnancy, after the main tests and group B streptococcus swab.
Official sources on the pregnancy schedule in Italy
Interpreting for pregnancy appointments in Italy
I can interpret questions about timing, test results, screening and follow-up appointments in Rimini or elsewhere on the Romagna Riviera.