Prenatal care (before birth)

Prenatal care refers to the medical and nursing care for women during pregnancy. The aim of prenatal care is to foresee any potential problems as early as possible.

Prenatal care is provided free at public health clinics.

Find out more about prenatal care or contact the Department of Health on 012 395 8000.

About doing a pregnancy test

If you suspect that you are pregnant, you must go to your nearest clinic or a professional medical practitioner for a pregnancy test. You can also buy a home pregnancy test kit from a pharmacy.

If you have symptoms such as:
missed period
nausea
breast tenderness
fatigue
pregnancy testing can confirm your suspicions.

Note: A pregnancy test is also performed when a rape case is reported.

What you should do
Go to your nearest clinic or a professional medical practitioner
Complete a patient form
If you prefer a:
blood test, your doctor will draw blood sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis
urine test, your doctor will give you a specimen cup where you will have to provide a urine sample.
Note: You can also buy a home pregnancy test kit from pharmacies.

How long does it take
Urine test results – immediately
Blood test results - few hours or days
How much does it cost
The service is free at state-owned clinics and hospitals. Private medical facilities will charge a minimum fee.

Note: You can also purchase a home pregnancy test kit at your nearest pharmacy.
Forms to complete
Patient form.
Who to contact
Visit your nearest clinic or professional medical facility.

If you want to determine whether you are biologically related to someone or not, you may go for a paternity test at the National Health Laboratory Service.

A paternity test analyses your blood group to determine whether you are biologically related to someone else. Negative results prove that you are not related but positive results show only that you could be. An individual, a lawyer or a magistrate may apply for a paternity test.

Read more about paternity tests or contact the National Health Laboratory Service on 011 489 9470.

You must register the birth of your child within 30 days after birth. The birth can be registered by a parent, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child at an office of the Department of Home Affairs. If you are overseas, the birth can be registered at your nearest embassy or mission.

Registration of birth after 30 days is considered a late registrations and additional requirements apply.

Once the child’s birth has been registered, an unabridged birth certificate is issued for free. You can apply for additional unabridged birth certificates, for which a fee will be payable. An unabridged birth certificate is needed if you want to travel out of the country with the child.

Find out more about how to register a birth, or contact the Department of Home Affairs.

Postnatal care takes place in the period after the delivery of the baby. This includes routine clinical examination and observation of the woman and her baby.

Visit your nearest clinic with your baby for postnatal care.

Read more about postnatal care or contact the Department of Health on 012 395 8000.