Pregnancy is a precious time as you welcome a new life. If you are experiencing pregnancy in Korea for the first time, it can feel overwhelming to figure out which tests to get and where to find help. This article covers the check-ups you will need during pregnancy, how to take care of your health, your options for giving birth, and the medical support services available to foreigners and refugees.

Check-ups During Pregnancy

Attending regular prenatal check-ups at an OB-GYN clinic or community health center throughout your pregnancy helps monitor the health of both you and your baby, and allows potential risks to be identified early. The table below lists the tests that are commonly performed.

TestWhat It Checks
Blood type testDetermines your ABO and Rh blood types
Anemia testChecks for anemia caused by iron deficiency during pregnancy
Blood glucose testScreens for gestational diabetes
Blood pressure measurementDetects gestational hypertension and preeclampsia early
Urine testChecks for proteinuria, urinary tract infections, and similar conditions
UltrasoundMonitors fetal growth, position, and possible abnormalities
Rubella antibody testChecks whether you are immune to rubella (German measles)
Hepatitis B testChecks whether you are infected with the hepatitis B virus
HIV testChecks whether you are infected with HIV
Fetal anomaly screeningScreens for chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome

The specific tests and their schedule may vary depending on the condition of the mother and baby. Please follow your doctor’s guidance. Before making any appointments, you can verify the latest information by calling 1345 (Korea Immigration Service’s Immigration Contact Center, available in multiple languages) or by contacting your local Korea Immigration Service office (HiKorea is the Korea Immigration Service’s official online portal).

Healthy Habits During Pregnancy

1. Start taking care of your health before you become pregnant

A healthy mother gives birth to a healthy baby. If you are planning a pregnancy, check on your current health status first. If you have any existing medical conditions, talk with your doctor to create a treatment plan.

2. Do not take medication without guidance

During pregnancy, try to avoid taking any medication unless it is necessary. Medications can have serious effects on the developing baby, and extra caution is needed in the first trimester (before 12 weeks), which is the critical period when the baby’s hands, feet, heart, and nervous system are forming.

That said, if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or if you have a high fever that persists for a long time, leaving it untreated can actually be more dangerous. In those situations, you must consult your doctor and receive appropriate treatment. Do not worry — your doctor will prescribe medication that is safe to use during pregnancy.

3. Avoid alcohol and tobacco completely

  • Alcohol: Alcohol is a powerful substance that can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that affects the baby’s development. The rule during pregnancy is not to drink even a single sip.
  • Tobacco: Smoking interferes with fetal growth and significantly raises the risk of having a low-birth-weight baby. It is best to quit before you become pregnant.

4. Eat a balanced and nutritious diet

It is important to get a well-rounded intake of calories, protein, minerals, and vitamins. If you are already eating well with regular meals, you do not necessarily need to take additional supplements.

  • Weight gain: If your nutritional status is normal, a typical pattern is gaining about 1 kg per month during the first four months of pregnancy, and about 2 kg per month during the final six months, for a total of roughly 13 kg over the entire pregnancy.
  • Iron: Starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, you will need to take an iron supplement. Iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach, so take it before meals.
  • Folic acid: Women who are trying to conceive are advised to take folic acid every day to help prevent neural tube defects (abnormal development of the baby’s spine or brain).
  • Constipation: During pregnancy, the digestive system slows down and the growing uterus puts pressure on the intestines, making constipation common. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and keeping up with light, regular movement can all help.

5. Keep up with moderate exercise

You do not need to stop exercising entirely just because you are pregnant. It is good to maintain your usual daily activities and do light exercise on a regular basis. However, avoid suddenly starting a new type of exercise or increasing intensity, and stay away from activities that carry a risk of injury, such as lifting heavy objects or climbing to heights.

6. Take care during long-distance travel

If you are sitting for a long time during travel, stretch your legs or walk around for a few minutes at least every hour. During pregnancy, circulation in the lower body is reduced, making leg swelling more likely. Keeping your legs elevated can help, but if you experience significant swelling in the later stages of pregnancy, it could be a sign of gestational hypertension, so be sure to have your blood pressure checked.

7. Get an influenza (flu) vaccination

Pregnant people are at higher risk than the general population of developing complications such as pneumonia when they get the flu. It is recommended to get a flu vaccination regardless of how many weeks pregnant you are. You can check the vaccination schedule and whether you qualify for a free vaccination at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s vaccination information website (nip.kdca.go.kr) or at your nearest community health center.

8. Know what bodily changes are normal

An increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy is common and normal, caused by rising female hormone levels that stimulate increased mucus production in the cervix. However, if the color or smell of the discharge seems unusual to you, let your doctor know.

How Childbirth Works in Korea

All births must take place at an OB-GYN clinic or hospital. Even if you have been receiving prenatal care at a community health center, the actual delivery must happen at a hospital or clinic. Decide on your delivery hospital before the birth and prepare the necessary documents and your hospital bag in advance.

Vaginal Delivery

This is the process of giving birth through natural labor contractions, without surgery. A small incision may be made in the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus) to assist with delivery. If labor goes on for a long time without progressing, labor-inducing medication may be used.

  • First birth: Usually takes 10 hours or more
  • Second or subsequent birth: Usually takes around 5 hours
  • Hospital stay: Approximately 2 nights and 3 days
  • Cost: Less expensive than a cesarean section

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

This is a surgical procedure in which the baby is delivered through an incision made in the abdomen. It is chosen when a vaginal birth would be dangerous — for example, in cases of advanced maternal age, a narrow pelvis, or when the baby is in a breech (feet-first) position. Because it is a surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications. The hospital stay is also longer, at about one week, and the cost is higher. Vaginal delivery is generally recommended unless a cesarean section is medically necessary.

Medical Support for Foreigners and Refugees

Raphael Clinic (Free Medical Care)

The Raphael Clinic is a volunteer medical organization that provides free healthcare to foreign workers and other vulnerable populations. OB-GYN consultations and fetal anomaly screening are available.

Raphael Center Main Clinic (Seongbuk-gu, Seoul)

Please check the official website for the most up-to-date schedule, as hours are subject to change. The information below may have changed.

General Consultations (Sundays)

  • Clinic hours: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • Morning registration: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Afternoon registration: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Dental Consultations (Wednesdays and Saturdays, by appointment)

  • Wednesdays: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (registration: 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM)
  • Saturdays: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (registration: 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM)

Available Specialties

SessionSpecialties
MorningFamily medicine, anesthesiology and pain medicine, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, general surgery, otolaryngology (ENT), rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, dentistry, laboratory medicine, referrals to other hospitals
AfternoonInternal medicine, diabetes clinic, neurology, radiology, psychiatry, dentistry, dermatology, laboratory medicine, referrals to other hospitals

Branch Clinics

In addition to the main clinic in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, the Raphael Clinic operates a Cheonan Branch (2nd floor, Global Community Center, 67 Yeongseong-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province). The Cheonan Branch provides internal medicine, general surgery, and dental consultations (dental services run on alternate weeks) every Sunday from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM. For information on any other branch clinics and their hours, please check the official website or call 02-763-7595 in advance.

Clinic schedules and registration hours are subject to change without prior notice. Always check the latest information at raphael.or.kr or by calling 02-763-7595 before your visit.

Interpreter and Translation Services

If Korean is a barrier for you at the hospital, there is no need to worry. You can call the Danuri Call Center ( 1577-1366, available 24 hours a day in multiple languages), or contact a nearby Multicultural Family Support Center, community health center, or Foreign Workers’ Support Center to access interpretation and translation assistance. If you are having difficulty connecting with an interpreter, you can also find relevant guidance through the government portals Government24 (gov.kr) (정부24, Korea’s integrated government services portal) or HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) (HiKorea, the Korea Immigration Service’s official online portal for foreigners).