Week 14 – Baby born abroad? Maybe not
During a meet-up with Malaysian mums, many of them shared some concerns, which I didn’t really consider earlier. After doing a bit of research, it’s now a 60-40 chance I’ll have my baby here.
Here are some concerns/questions:
1. The English-speaking, highly-experienced gynae may be the only star staff at the VIP maternity center.
- will she be on call if I were to deliver after consultation hours?
- can the anaesthetist and paediatrician speak English? Are they as experienced as she is? I’m worried to hear that a few mothers (American, British, European) had trouble with the epidural.
- if my Chinese-speaking Malaysian friends were doubtful about the medical support here (esp for emergencies), what more for this English-speaking banana?
A friend suggested that I get our Chinese teacher to list out useful terms related to pregnancy and childbirth for me to memorize…
Incidentally, our Chinese teacher’s sister fell sick after 2 weeks of delivering her baby, which meant that our classes were cancelled so she could go help care for the infant…
2. Malaysian immigration procedures for registration of birth.
According to the Consulate General of Malaysia (Shanghai):
1. Children born abroad can be registered at any Malaysian Mission on the condition:-
a) Father of the child is a Malaysian citizen
b) Registration is made within one (1) year from the date of birth
c) Date of birth / age (Incomplete sentence!!!)
d) Address in home country (ditto)
e) Address of relative or next of kin that can be contacted2. Apart from bringing the child to the Mission, documents required for registration are as follows:-
a) Passports of parents
b) Original Identification Cards (ID) of parents
c) Original birth certificates of parents
d) Malaysia Marriage certificate
e) Child’s original birth certificate
f) Notarized translation of child’s birth certificate – into Bahasa Malaysia???
g) 3 identical photos of child (passport size)
h) Application ‘Form D’ for birth registration (JPN.WN02)
i) 3 sets of document (a – e) [photo copy]
- Do I want to subject my infant to air travel to Guangzhou to register the birth? It seems this is not necessary, which is another detail to confirm.
- Is it really worth the hassle of all of us flying there for this?
3. Travel back to Malaysia after getting the birth registered and travel document/passport
If the above is correct, then the infant will have to take TWO flights before he/she is 6 months old unless we wait until later to register. By then, the mother may be declared too insane to fly… 
As you know, a baby’s immune system is still immature then – do I want to expose him/her to
a) international germs at the airport and
b) the germ heaven in aeroplanes’ recycled air?
I recall an ex-colleague whose 1 month-old infant contracted meningitis – she’d regretted entertaining so many people during her confinement period. Her poor baby was given an uncountable number of injections and blood tests, she became too weak even to cry in pain! 
Other issues to consider (according to the Mayo Clinic’s air travel guide for infants)
- air pressure on an infant’s ears – yeah, I could breastfeed or pacifier but imagine if THAT doesn’t work. The most direct flight back home will also take at least 6 hours. So exhausting…
- ear infection and air travel – I’ve flown a few times with a cold and boy, did my eardrums feel as if they’d burst! Imagine a poor little baby’s. December, January and February are cold winter months in China (read this stewardess’ experiences about flying with kids)
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – although there’s no relation between air travel and SIDS, there is evidence that lowered oxygen levels in aircraft results in irregular breathing…
- a rear-facing infant car seat is required – more equipment to pack and drag! I wish airlines would rent out car seats the way some airports provide child strollers.
4. Support at home.I’m happy my mother-in-law has agreed to come over for a month but what happens after that?
Hubby wonders if I’ll be able to cope with a toddler, a baby and cooking all on my own? What if he has to entertain customers? Or, worse go off on a business trip??? What if the baby, Lucas or I fall sick??? O_O
While my cleaner agrees to extend her hours in the evening (unavailable on Fridays), she plans to bring her 2.5 year old son from her hometown and set him up in a preschool here.
Although she says that wouldn’t affect her ability to work, I doubt it. She hasn’t really been taking care of her son and has no idea about situations where:
- the boy pines for the grandmother who has fed him, clothe him, bathed him and sleeps with him since birth;
- the boy falling sick and needing her to care for him (she did share that he didn’t like ANY of the food she cooked or even outside when she brought him over for a holiday);
- her husband and son may want her for family time on weekends
I’d thought of extending her hours later in the third trimester when I get really heavy but can I count on her support?
Reading my earlier more optimistic post of ‘Ready, get set, go‘, I’m sure many will be surprised to read this more doubtful one.
Hubby has suggested some options around the potential problems above. Until we confirm the immigration procedures and the hospital, I haven’t decided yet.
Thank God for a wonderful Hubby who’s said he’s ready for me to change my mind any time…of course, before he confirms our flight tickets home!
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Where are you now? I’m facing similar problem, still trying to decide where to give birth. I’m 8 weeks pregnant.
Well… unless you’re mentally superstrong, it should be ok. But, with so many unpredictable factors, I’d go back to “home sweet home” to deliver. Ohh… life would be much easier then. You as the postnatal mom, won’t suffer from too much depression.
Think of yourself..ur mental health is very impt.
Hmm…I would echo Mott’s views. Why give yourself unnecessary stress? By the way, what would be the MAIN benefit for delivering in China as opposed to home?
if there are too many doubts, then perhaps go back to your original plan. only hubby will be troubled to travel to and forth to see all of you.
anyway, give it some thought, i’m sure you will know what to do.
like that ah, i prefer to give birth back home here lor
hey, sounds like delivering back home is less risk. i’ve got a msian colleague (based in our HK office) who insisted that she must deliver back home for several reasons: one relating to holding back Malaysian nationality (thou i can’t exactly remember the details), family supports being the next ….
hopefully, u could really ‘weigh’ all the factors & consequences wisely before the final decision…. wish you luck!!
THF – You know where I am…where are YOU? Our situations may be different?
Mott – Thanks for the reality jolt. I forgot that I was the pregnant one!
Paik Ling – Want us all to be together lor and also to ensure that Hubby WILL be there for the delivery…
Syn – Ya, looks like it’s back to Plan A.
Wen – Ya lor
Jacss – Thanks for sharing this info about your colleague. Helpful to know!
Yes, I think our situation is slightly different. I am in canada and the main motivation to go back to deliver is to maintain the citizenship.
I have many other concerns too, too much thing to think about.
THF – I feel sorry that you’re way further than where I am. On the other hand, you’re in an English-speaking country with great medical facilities.
Do look and ask around, with so many Malaysians in Canada now, I’m sure there’s a way to register your child’s birth there.
I know what you mean – my head feels like it’s going to explode!
I would opt for home sweet home delivery, which I did. And I was glad I had done that. I travel with infants since they were 6 weeks old. Touch wood, so far so good. Actually doc adviced to travel with baby above 3 months old, if possible. But I guess more than 1 month is preferable.
You are indeed very lucky to have such a considerate hubby.. envy envy.
Malaika’s Mummy – Ya I felt it’s best for all of us if we went back. Too much ‘adventure’ and ‘exploring’, I think, if I stayed here.
We’ll be 10 years’ married soon
A lot of talking (…and arguing and debating!) helps, I think LOL
Hmm…good points you raised here. But you still have time, if things don’t seem to work out, you can always decide to come back.
I am malaysian who has been wondering around the world since 1996. My family is now in Suzhou, we deliver our baby Oct-2008.
I did the “registration of birth process” you mention with the Shanghai consulate…
The first thing you do when you have a kids in China is —–> Check if the baby need to be register with the loca police station.
In Suzhou —-> The police told us —> get your passport and come back later.
In Shanghai —-> The police will “FINE” you if you do not register the baby within one week of birth (The shanghai consulate people told me).
Other places …. please check.
I call the consulate before I proceed to make the registration (very tough to get a 3 months old infant in the car driving from suzhou to shanghai, 150 km ..), here goes some of the unofficial information not available in the net:
1. Baby can be register as a Malaysian if One of the parents is Malaysian, if only one —> then it is tougher.
Which I assume you and your hubby are “Anak Malaysia”.
2. The difficult part is the “Notarized translation of childs birth certificate”, you need to do the following:
- Obtain China/Hong Kong Birth Cert.
- Goto China Government notarize department, they will help to do the following:
- Translate the China/Hong Kong birth Cert into English
- Certified you and your hubby passport (identification)
- Certified you and your hubby is the kid son.
- Provide a Chinese and English Letter to prove the above.
You will get a “Booklet” with all the photocopy informatino inside.
It was fun that actually China Birth Cert is dual language (english + Chinese) —> still you need the Notarize copy !
BTW —-> Please remember to ask for 2 Copy !!!!! [You need another one later ...]
3. The next difficult part is to get a Passport size photo (Blue background !!!!) for the baby .. [hard to photo a cute 3 months old baby that move like a worm]
4. Go to Malaysia consulate with the kids + all docu + Your hubby —> you get your cute “Borang W” in about one hour —> which you will need to exchange to a formal birth cert when you are back in Malaysia.
Is the show over ? —> answer is no !! you still need to get the passport.
For passport you need the following:
1. Parents Malaysia passport (Copy Main Page, Newest Visa + Any empty page –> 3 page)
2. Parens Malaysia IC
3. Parents Malaysia Birth Cert
4. Parents Malaysia Marriage Cert
5. Baby Birth Cert
6. Parents Work Permit (All page needed)
7. Baby Borang W (the yellow and hot paper you just received).
All of them need to photocopy …, when you get the Borang W, please ask them to make you a few copy ….
It took me 2 months until I get my kids passport. Register in Feb-2009, and got it at Apr-2009 …
After that ====> You need to get VISA for your babay …
You might need the notarized copy of baby birthcert again to apply for the baby visa …
(I was ask again… luckily I have 2 copys).
Any question can drop me an email …
sierraywlATgmailDOTcom
Yongwun – Thanks for such a detailed description of your experience. I’m sure someone in the same boat will find it helpful