Are you an expectant mother or parent and want to know more about the rules and regulations of giving birth in Qatar for expatriates? We have collated all the information for you in one place and here’s what we have for you.

Rules for giving birth in Qatar

The first and foremost condition for giving birth in Qatar is that under the Qatari Law, a woman must be married in order to give birth here.

For expectant expat parents, giving birth in Qatar is a good choice as there are excellent care options with a variety of top-notch clinics and hospitals that will make your birthing experience as smooth as possible. Due to the plethora of both public and private hospitals available in Qatar, you are sure to find the hospital and doctor of your choice.

With a huge number of public, private hospitals and clinics and the attached services, expats seeking to access maternity services need to start off reviewing their insurance policy to see which hospital is offering what if you're looking for a private hospital or clinic. Choose the one which accepts your insurance and the one that satisfies your needs, in every stage of the pregnancy.

Services at Hamad Medical Corporation

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the principal healthcare provider in Qatar and the hospitals under it, need a special mention as they are preferred by a majority of women in the country for giving birth. They deliver effective care for pregnant women and new mothers who are in need of any kind of service with respect to maternity, delivery and also post-delivery. The Women's Wellness and Research Centre is Qatar's largest tertiary hospital dedicated to women's care. They offer a range of clinical services right from preconception to childbirth, post-natal care and beyond.

Giving birth in Qatar

When you reach your delivery time or date, the procedures for it and the birthing plan must have been already confirmed with the doctor. These will be everything from who should be in the room, if it is going to be a natural birth or a C-section, how long are you likely to stay after birth.

Remember to carry your

• Qatar ID
• Health Card
• Insurance Card
• Passport
• Marriage Certificate

What to expect when you go to a public hospital?

• Once you know you're pregnant or have confirmed it through a home test, you visit the health centre according to your health card.
• There, the doctor takes a proper blood test to confirm your pregnancy.
• Following this, an appointment for scanning is given, and thereafter appointments for regular scanning are given according to the doctor's advise.
• After 6 months, depending on your condition, you will be referred to a doctor at Hamad Medical Corporation.
• At Hamad, a GDT test or a Gestational Diabetes Test is done as a routine check.
• At about 38 weeks of pregnancy, a tentative date for delivery is given.
• In most public hospitals, the husbands are not allowed to accompany the wife during delivery but it depends on the hospital you opt for. For example, At Sidra Hospital, the husband is allowed both during natural birth and C-section, and they also allow up to two people for natural birth.
• After the delivery, the mother and baby are moved to a room where depending upon the condition, for public hospitals, the mother and baby are likely to be discharged after a day or two.
• The entire procedure at HMC is entirely free of cost but you might have to pay for a few scans and the room after delivery.
• After the birth of the baby, a logbook is given where the following check-ups and medical expenses for the baby is completely free of cost until the baby turns one.
• During discharge, the mother and baby are usually given a hamper as a congratulatory gift from the hospital.

Follow the advice of your doctor for post-natal care and thanks to Qatar’s efforts, you can also opt for HMC’s newborn screening test for the early diagnoses of babies born with various diseases and disorders.

Vaccination for your baby

Qatar follows the World Health Organization’s vaccine schedule, which is implemented in accordance with the age of the child. A total of 12 different vaccines (Bacille Calmette-Guerin, Hepatitis B, Hexavalent, Pentavalent, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis, Influenza Type B, Rotavirus, Oral Polio, MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis A) are scheduled for children aged zero to 12 years of age.

• Know all about child vaccinations in Qatar here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/living/vaccinations-in-qatar
• Schedule a timely immunization for your baby here: https://eservices.moph.gov.qa/NIP/En/schfybaby.jsp

Issuance of birth certificate

A birth certificate is issued to every child born in the State of Qatar by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). It must be noted that children born to non-Qatari parents are not automatically entitled to Qatari citizenship by reason of birth in the country. Expatriate parents are responsible for registering their child’s birth with their respective country’s embassy and obtaining a passport. Not all embassies have this option, so make sure to check with your respective embassy for the procedures. The application for the residence permit for a newborn must be submitted within 60 days of the birth of the baby or the parents face a fine or QR 10 per day.

Here is the latest announcement by MoPH regarding issuance of birth certificates: https://www.moph.gov.qa/Admin/...

• The registration department registers all births electronically and issues e-certificates within 60 minutes.
• The cost of obtaining each copy of a birth certificate is QR 20.
• New births in Qatar have to be reported to the competent authorities within 15 days.

To know more about the documents needed to obtain a birth certificate and the procedures in Qatar, click here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/living/how-to-issue-a-birth-certificate-in-qatar

Find the complete information for obtaining a residence permit (RP) for a baby in Qatar here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/living/how-to-issue-an-rp-for-a-baby-in-qatar

Additional information:

Health Card in Qatar

Citizens and residents of Qatar may apply for a health card to access services at any of the HMC’s healthcare facilities or hospitals. Consultations or non-emergency treatments may cost extra but will be subsidized for those who hold a valid health card. It is advisable for expats to get one too, for gaining access to public hospitals or health centers. By getting a Health Card for QR 100, you get access to subsidized doctor visits, medication and treatment in public hospitals and health centres.

• Apply for one by following the instructions in the link here: https://www.hamad.qa/EN/Patient-Information/How-To-Get-A-Health-Card/Pages/default.aspx
• Know all about the Hamad Health Card in Qatar here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/living/qatar-guide-how-to-get-your-hamad-health-card

Are you an expat and have you given birth in Qatar? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below! Don't forget to share this article - it keeps us going!

Source: Hamad Medical Corporation, MoPH
Cover image credit: Shutterstock

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Vrinda Abilash

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