Having a baby in a foreign country takes planning. Knowing your options as an expat in China and having a strategy will help you avoid unnecessary stress.
Hospital options for delivering a baby in China
When deciding on the hospital where to deliver your baby in China, you will probably be looking at three options: a public hospital, a private Chinese hospital, or an international hospital.
Most big cities in China have international hospitals — and these generally offer the best experience and quality of service. In an international hospital, you will come as close to feeling “at home” as it's possible in a foreign country. International hospitals in China are very well-equipped and offer high-quality facilities — on par with western countries. Here, you will also have English-speaking staff to consult with and answer your questions, and your preferences regarding childbirth will most likely be muttered to. You will have a private room, and your partner will be able to stay with you.
If you decide to give birth in a public hospital in China, your experience will be very different — and you need to be ready to make quite a few adjustments.
First, there will be very little room for privacy. You will most likely be in a large room with many other expecting mothers. Even when you are in the process of delivering your baby, you are most likely to share that experience with other women.
Doctors in public hospitals will probably not pay much attention to your needs or concerns. They will make medical decisions on the date considered the best for you and your baby — but there is little chance that your preferences or expectations about delivering a baby will be considered.
Things also tend to get quite hectic in delivery rooms in public hospitals, and the doctors won't be as attentive or patient as you might expect at a western hospital.
The biggest concern when it comes to giving birth in a public hospital will be the language barrier. If you don't speak Chinese, you will be very limited in how you can communicate with your doctors. And as your partner won't be allowed in the delivery room, you may find yourself lacking the needed support.
Yet, another option is to give birth in a private Chinese hospital. Your experience here may vary depending on the hospital you choose. Most private hospitals in China are well-equipped and have English-speaking staff. However, some private hospitals in the country have also been pointed out for overcharging their patients while providing substandard quality care. However, if you do your research, check with fellow expats and read honest reviews on expat forums, you should have no problem finding a good private hospital that will cater to your needs.
If you live in a smaller town in China, your hospital options will be substantially limited — especially when it comes to international hospitals. Public hospitals, on the other hand, may not be the best choice either, as the conditions there may be quite challenging to adjust to. If time and money allow, it's best to arrange your baby's delivery in a bigger city that has more hospital options.
Good to know:
Another popular option for expats is giving birth in Hong Kong. This is especially convenient if you live in southern China, close to the China - Hong Kong border. Prices for pregnancy packages in Hong Kong can be higher (depending on the hospital you choose). However, the quality of care and service is generally higher, and you will easily find an English-speaking doctor and maternity staff.
The costs of delivering a baby in China
The costs of having a baby in China vary depending on which hospital option you go with, as well as the medical care you need — natural birth with no complications will cost substantially less than a C-section.
If you go with a private or international hospital, you will most likely be purchasing a “pregnancy package”, which includes prenatal care and delivery. The cost of these packages varies in different cities and hospitals but generally ranges from RMB 40,000 ($6,000) to RMB 120,000 ($17,700), and more. For instance, delivering a baby at Shanghai United Family hospital will cost from RMB 80,000 (natural birth) to RMB 120,000 (C-section). Pregnancy packages in New Century Healthcare hospital in Beijing start at RMB 42,000 (natural birth) and go up to RMB 53,000 (C-section).
Giving birth at a public hospital will be substantially cheaper — but will also vary depending on the city you live in, the hospital, the medical care you need, and more. In general, delivering a baby at a public hospital in China can cost from RMB 8,000 to 15,000 — not counting prenatal care.
Now, whichever option you go with, it is strongly advised that you have health insurance. Even if you can afford a birthing plan at a private or public hospital, there may be extra expenses involved in case of complications. If your child needs to spend time in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), the related costs may amount to RMB 10,000 per day at a public hospital.
Note that with most insurance plans, there is a 12-month waiting period before you can access pregnancy and maternity benefits. So, you will need to purchase medical insurance for at least one year before you need maternity care.
C-sections in China
If you give birth in a public hospital in China, your doctor will (most likely) make all the medical decisions for you. C-sections are much more common in China compared to most western countries. The percentage of C-section births in China is 35% (WHO recommends that the target percentage of C-sections is 15%), and any complication during the pregnancy will probably result in a C-section.
Another interesting thing is that many women in China ask their doctors to perform C-sections. They often do this because certain dates are considered to be “lucky” in Chinese culture, and a C-section allows them to “select” a specific date for their child to be born.
Postnatal care in China
After you've given birth to your baby, your both may stay in the hospital for one or several days — depending on your and your baby's state. If you've had a natural delivery, most likely, you will be able to check out the next day.
Children born in China need to undergo a series of vaccinations — a total of 22 before the age of six. At birth, your child will be vaccinated against BCG and HPV1. You will also receive a vaccination schedule for all upcoming vaccinations: HBV2, PV1, PV2, and others.
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