Giving
birth outside of one’s home country, in an unfamiliar culture and without a
network of friends and family on hand can be a daunting prospect. It is
important to know what your options are, and how to ensure that your experience
of pregnancy and childbirth are as smooth as possible.
Ten years ago, most expats living in China would go to Hong Kong or return to their home country to deliver their baby, but with the improvements in healthcare in general and in labour and delivery practices more specifically, this trip has become largely unnecessary.
Ten years ago, most expats living in China would go to Hong Kong or return to their home country to deliver their baby, but with the improvements in healthcare in general and in labour and delivery practices more specifically, this trip has become largely unnecessary.
In the
first tier cities in China, you can choose between international, western-style
hospitals and local hospitals. Smaller cities might not have an international
hospital, so local hospitals are likely the only option. Routine and free
prenatal care is available in second and third-tier cities, but it is limited.
International hospitals
have high standard facilities and the doctors, nurses and staff are quite
fluent in English but this comes at a high price. For expectant parents who
don’t have international insurance, covering these costs by themselves can be
very hard.
In the past, local
hospitals didn’t always have a good reputation, but at least in the major 1st
Tier cities, they are constantly improving and are offering better services to
meet foreigner’s expectations. At these hospitals, the prices are more
reasonable, but the doctors and staff probably are not very fluent in English,
and the staff’s bedside manner might be different than what foreigners are used
to. The minimum stay in the hospital is three days. This will be extended if
there is the slightest concern for either newborn or mother. Both will be
expected to stay in the hospital until the problem is rectified or identified.
In most local hospitals, men are not allowed in the delivery room. Some
hospitals have VIP rooms, where a husband is sometimes allowed to stay with his
wife during delivery.
It is important to note
that in China, a high proportion of deliveries are by caesarean-section. If you
are strongly in favor of having a natural birth, it is important that you
discuss and make clear your preferences with the doctors and hospital staff far
in advance of your delivery date.
Homebirth is technically
legal in China, but the practice is discouraged. Medical professionals are
unable to attend the birth and local ambulances are slow to respond in case of
an emergency. Also, birth certificates can only be issued by a hospital, so
obtaining important paperwork may prove challenging.
All newborns should join a
vaccination program within one month after the birth. Most hospitals have a
specialized department within the Maternity and Aftercare department where you
can get the vaccinations.
The
most important thing is for parents to do some research to know what the
options are and to choose the one that makes them most comfortable.
Here
are some of the most popular hospitals in China offering maternity provision.
In the local hospitals, expat parents might find that practices are not as
patient/mother friendly as back home. Shanghai and Beijing have a lot of
options, but in other cities United Family is the one with the first rate
services and facilities. This comes at a high price, so parents have to check
if their insurance covers this.
Beijing
-
Beijing United Family
Hospital
-
GlobalCare
Women and Children’s Hospital
-
OASIS
International Hospital
-
Amcare
Women’s & Children Hospital
-
American-Sino
OB/GYN Hospital
Shanghai
International
hospitals
-
American-Sino
OBGYN
-
ParkwayHealth
-
Shanghai
International Medical Center
-
Shanghai
International Redleaf Women’s Hospital
-
Shanghai
United Family Hospital
Local Hospital
-
International
Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital
-
Shanghai
Changning Maternity & Infant Care
-
Shanghai
East Hospital
-
Shanghai
First Maternity and Infant Hospital
-
Shanghai
Red House Maternity and Infant Hospital
Chengdu
-
New
Born Hospital (Chengdu)
-
Huaxi
Hospital (Chengdu)
Tianjin
-
Tianjin
United Family Hospital
Guangzhou
-
Guangzhou
Yilishabei Gynecological & Obstetrical Hospital
-
Guangzhou
Women and Baby Hospital
-
Guangzhou
United Family Hospital
Qingdao
-
Qingdao
United Family Hospital
When a child is born, the hospital
will issue the birth certificate. A child born in China with two foreign
parents is not eligible for the Chinese nationality. Within a month of the
birth, the child must be registered at the local Public Security Bureau.
Parents also have to contact their embassy or consulate to arrange for a
passport for the child. Different countries request different documents to get
the passport, so it is best to contact the embassy to check. The child will not
be able to leave China until he or she has a visa or residence permit. This
needs to be obtained at the Exit and Entry Bureau once the child has a
passport.
If a baby is born to one foreign
parent and one Chinese parent, the baby automatically has Chinese citizenship.
The Chinese nationality law does not recognize dual nationality. If one of the
baby’s nationalities is Chinese, the Chinese authorities do not recognize the
other nationality. The child will be considered Chinese until the citizenship
is formally renounced. Until one
nationality is chosen for the child, it is very difficult to obtain a visa or
permit from the Public Security Bureau and the child is not allowed to leave
the country. Citizenship can be renounced at a local Public Security Bureau.
So in short, parents have to:
-
get the birth certificate from the hospital
-
register the birth at the Public Security Bureau (within one
month)
-
get a passport at your embassy/consulate
-
apply for the child’s visa.
APA wishes you the best of luck and
happiness in your experience of pregnancy and childbirth in China!