Many expats choose to give birth in Oman and do so without any problems. The main difference is that you will not have the same choices regarding your birth plan as you would probably have in your home country. You don’t have the option of a home birth or a water birth, but straightforward births are expertly handled. If you do decide to travel home to give birth, you will need to check with your doctor regarding whether it is safe to travel at an advanced stage of pregnancy. Your doctor will usually give you permission to fly up to 34 weeks, but you should check with your airline about their restrictions and requirements for pregnant passengers.

If you give birth in Oman your only choice is to give birth in one of the private hospitals, unless you develop complications that can only be dealt with in a government hospital. In such cases you will be referred to the government hospital by the private hospital or clinic where you have had your prenatal care. Standards of care are excellent at both government and private hospitals, so don’t worry if you are referred to a government hospital for your labour. It is possible to get private health insurance to cover maternity costs, although there is usually a specific time period which must have lapsed before conception – in other words, you usually have to have been on the insurance plan for a year or so before you fall pregnant. Prices for private maternity packages start from around RO 900 for a standard antenatal, delivery and postnatal package – this may include all your ultrasound scans, blood tests, and any extra tests or procedures you require.

Don’t listen to any urban myths about having to go through labour without pain relief – the normal pain solutions such as gas and air, Pethidine and epidurals are common.

You will pay extra for Pethidine or an epidural, and if you end up having a caesarean section, that will cost extra too. Your husband is allowed to be in the delivery room with you, and so is an independent doula if you have one.

Once your baby is born you need to have the birth registered within two weeks and then set about getting a passport for him or her from your embassy. There may be extra paperwork if the mother was also born outside of her country of origin or if her embassy is not represented in Oman.

The birth of an expat child should be registered within two weeks of the date of delivery. It is important to get all paperwork relevant to your new baby in order, particularly if you are planning to travel in the near future. You’ll get an official birth certificate from the hospital where your child was born (it costs RO 6), and you then need to have this certificate stamped at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation Office (consular section – 24 699 500) in Qurm. Then you need to go to your embassy, where your baby will be issued with a passport, before applying for your baby’s residence visa through the usual channels. If you are British you can register your child’s birth with the British Consulate – this is not compulsory but it means your child will have a British birth certificate and will be registered at the General Registry Office in the UK. You do not have to do this immediately after the birth, but you should try to do it before you leave Oman for good. If you don’t, and you subsequently lose your child’s birth certificate, you can only get a replacement from the British Consulate in Oman. But if you do complete this procedure, you will be able to get a replacement birth certificate from the UK. Before the birth, it is worth checking the regulations of your country of origin for citizens born overseas.

To register your child with the Oman authorities, you will need a completed application form, birth notification from the Ministry of Health (birth certificate), resident cards or passports of both parents, and the parents’ marriage certificate. Legal responsibility for registering the child’s birth rests with the father, although in his absence it may also be done in the order of their listing by any adult relative present at the birth, any adult residing with the mother, the doctor or any midwife who attended the event.

Even if your baby is born in Oman, it does not get Oman citizenship. It will take the citizenship of the mother or the father (or both). Speak to your embassy regarding citizenship rules for your baby.

Pregnant & Single

While it is possible for single parents to sponsor their children here, having a baby out of wedlock in Oman is against the law. If you find yourself in this situation, you will need to make arrangements to have the baby outside of the country, or get married as soon as possible.

Sole Custody/Single Parents

There are no problems for a single parent wanting to bring their child into Oman as long as their passport and documentation is in order. If you have sole custody of your child and wish to sponsor him or her, you may need a letter from the other parent stating the child’s name, passport number and nationality, and that they have no objection to the child living with you in Oman. The letter must be endorsed by the legal authority that issued the sole custody, and attested. If you have no way of contacting the other parent (or if they are deceased), then the attested divorce or sole custody paperwork (or death certificate) should suffice.

Antenatal Care

If you have your antenatal care in a private clinic, they will refer you to a hospital for delivery. Your gynaecologist will possibly be present at the birth. A doctor must deliver the baby – unlike in some countries where a midwife can perform a delivery in the absence of any complications.

If you are over 35 or you are seen as having a greater chance of having a baby with spinal or neurological birth defects, you will be offered a variety of tests to check for certain problems.

Postnatal Depression

A relatively high number of women suffer from postnatal depression to varying degrees. In serious cases it can be debilitating and can even result in you or your baby being in danger of injury.

If you are having your baby in Oman, you will probably be far away from the important emotional support of your family and friends back home, and this can increase your chances of suffering from PND. 

Fortunately, there are now support outlets for mothers with PND, such as: Al Harub Medical Centre  (24 600 750), Healthy Minds Clinic  99 350 547 and Jane Jaffer  99 314 230.

Adoption


There are several orphanages in Oman, but it is still not clear whether expats are permitted to apply to adopt any of these children or not – the answer tends to depend on who you speak to. 

Many couples find it relatively easy to adopt from outside Oman, for example, from Asia or the Far East. Once you have successfully met all the requirements in your adopted child’s home country, you should have little trouble bringing your child back to Oman and applying for a residence visa. Check the regulations involved in securing your citizenship for your adopted child; your embassy will be be able to help with this matter.

Babysitting & Childcare

Childcare – the dilemma facing all working parents. Options are limited and there is no network of childminders like you might find in your home country. If you have a live-in maid, and you trust her with your children, then you have a round-the-clock babysitter. Alternatively you could pay your part-time maid an extra hourly rate (around RO 1.500) to babysit for you when you need her. Word of mouth is a great way to find a babysitter, whether it’s a friend’s maid or a responsible teenager needing pocket money. Domestic help agencies may offer babysitting services, although there is no guarantee you will be able to get the same person each time (which means leaving your child with a stranger). You could also try asking at nursery schools – often teaching assistants will baby sit in the evenings to make some extra money.