Giving Birth Under SHA at a Level 3 Facility: What's Covered and How to Prepare
How delivery under SHA works at a Level 3 facility in Nakuru: what the Primary Healthcare Fund covers, registering early on *147#, adding your baby and what to bring.
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- Primegala Clinical Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 4 min read
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Short answer: Under current SHA rules, normal delivery at Level 2 and 3 facilities is funded through the Primary Healthcare Fund for registered SHA members. Register early in pregnancy by dialling *147#, confirm your status at your first antenatal visit, and add your baby as a dependant after birth. If complications arise, you are stabilised and referred to a higher-level hospital.
It's two in the morning and the contractions are coming every few minutes. While her husband phones a neighbour with a car, a young mother searches a drawer for her ID and wonders: am I even registered with SHA? That question is far easier to answer at an antenatal visit months earlier.
What does "Level 3" mean for your delivery?
Kenya grades health facilities by the level of care they provide, known as KEPH levels. Level 2 and 3 facilities, such as dispensaries, health centres and medical centres, provide primary care, and many offer antenatal visits, normal (vaginal) deliveries, newborn care and postnatal checks. Caesarean sections and specialist obstetric care are provided at higher-level hospitals (Level 4 and above).
Primegala Medical Centre is a KEPH Level 3 medical centre registered on the Kenya Master Health Facility Registry, open 24 hours at Maili Sita on the Nakuru–Nyahururu Road.
What does SHA cover for giving birth?
SHA pays for care through three funds. Which one applies depends on the type of care and where you receive it.
| Care | Where it usually happens | How SHA usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Antenatal visits | Level 2, 3 and above | Primary Healthcare Fund, for registered members |
| Normal delivery | Level 2 and 3 facilities | Primary Healthcare Fund, for registered members |
| Postnatal checks for mother and baby | Level 2, 3 and above | Primary care, usually the Primary Healthcare Fund |
| Caesarean section or complications needing specialist care | Level 4 hospitals and above | Other SHA funds (SHIF or the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund), each with its own conditions |
Many people call this "free delivery under SHA". In practice, what matters is that you are registered and that the facility confirms what your cover includes. Some items may fall outside the package, and benefit rules can change, so ask the front desk to explain what SHA covers, and whether anything isn't covered, before your due date.
Your SHA checklist through pregnancy
- As soon as you know you're pregnant: dial *147# to register or check your status. You'll need your national ID number.
- At your first antenatal visit (ideally before 12 weeks): ask the front desk to confirm your SHA status in the national system.
- If you're registered as a dependant on your spouse's account, check that your details appear correctly.
- Keep the phone number registered with SHA active. You may receive a one-time verification code on it when you arrive.
- By 36 weeks: check your status again, pack your ID and Mother & Child Health booklet in your hospital bag, and keep your registered phone charged.
- After the birth: add your baby as a dependant.
What to bring on the day
- Your national ID
- The phone registered with SHA, charged
- Your Mother & Child Health booklet and any test or scan results
- Your packed bag for you and baby
What if something goes wrong in labour?
Midwives monitor you and your baby throughout labour. If a problem develops, such as heavy bleeding, labour that isn't progressing, signs that the baby is distressed or very high blood pressure, the team stabilises you and arranges transfer to a higher-level hospital, sending your notes with you.
Before labour starts:
- Know the pregnancy danger signs and come in immediately, at any hour, if they appear.
- Arrange day and night transport, such as a neighbour with a car or a trusted boda rider, and save two numbers in your phone.
- Keep some M-Pesa balance for transport in case of referral.
- In an emergency, call 999 or 112.
After the birth: add your baby to SHA
Newborns are not covered automatically. Add your baby as a dependant through *147# or the official SHA portal as soon as you can. You may need details from the birth notification or birth certificate. Once your baby is listed, their postnatal checks and immunisation visits are simpler. Read our guide to postnatal care and the 6-week check.
Common questions at the front desk
- "I used Linda Mama under NHIF." SHA replaced NHIF in October 2024, so maternity care is now paid through SHA. What matters today is your SHA registration.
- "The system can't find me." Your details may differ or you may not be registered yet. Register through *147# and we'll check again.
- "My husband is the principal member." Bring your own ID. The front desk can look you up as a dependant.
How Primegala can help
Our maternity team is available 24 hours, and our front desk helps patients register, check their SHA status and understand their cover every day. Start with antenatal care, learn about maternity and delivery, read more on our SHA page, or book a maternity visit to plan your birth with us.
At Primegala
Maternity & Delivery
Respectful, skilled care through labour, birth and the first days with your baby.
- Open 24 hours, every day, including public holidays
- Maili Sita, opposite Kiamaina Primary School
- SHA accepted for eligible services
Frequently asked questions
Is normal delivery covered by SHA at a Level 3 facility?
Under current SHA rules, normal delivery at Level 2 and 3 facilities is funded through the Primary Healthcare Fund for registered members. Rules can change, so confirm your status and cover with the facility well before your due date.
What happens if I need a caesarean section?
Level 3 facilities handle normal deliveries. If a caesarean section or specialist care is needed, you are stabilised and referred to a higher-level hospital, where care is paid through other SHA funds with their own conditions.
How do I add my newborn baby to SHA?
Add your baby as a dependant through *147# or the official SHA portal soon after birth. You may need details from the birth notification or birth certificate. Our front desk can walk you through it.