It’s common for expats to give birth in Malaysia, although some do choose to go back to their home country if there are issues surrounding citizenship or they feel they’d like a lot of extended family support.

Maternity care is hospital based, and you will have regular appointments with an obstetrician throughout your pregnancy who will then be present to deliver your baby. There’s no formal midwife service at hospitals, although some independent midwives practise here providing antenatal and postnatal support. Jenlia Maternal Services in TTDI (03 7726 7002) holds antenatal classes and will visit you at home after the birth. Mamalink in Bangsar (www.mamalink.com.my), run by a UK-trained midwife, holds antenatal classes that have a strong focus on natural birth and has a breastfeeding support service. Home births and water births aren’t currently available in Malaysia.

Maternity care may be covered by health insurance, but there is often a waiting period of a year after cover starts. Some insurers will not cover you for maternity unless your spouse is insured by the same company.

Pain relief is commonly used, with natural birth being the exception rather than the rule. Gas and air and epidurals are the most widely used and you will usually have access to pain relief on demand.
Some hospitals restrict access to the delivery room and you may only be allowed one support person (usually the father) with you. Although Malaysia is a conservative society and single parenthood or unmarried parents are unusual, there are no special laws or regulations for these circumstances.

After the birth, you have 14 days to register your child with the Malaysian authorities. Once you have the birth certificate you can register the child at your embassy and get a passport. There’s not usually a time limit for this, but you can’t travel outside Malaysia until your baby has a passport, so most expats get one soon after birth. See Birth Certificates and Registration for more details. 

There may be issues regarding citizenship for children born overseas. Check with your embassy well before your due date if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.