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If there is the possibility that you or your spouse might have a baby during your period of employment in Cayman it is essential that you read this section. In this section we describe in detail what is involved in having a baby in the Cayman Islands; we give an overview of the general environment, how to choose a hospital, we list all the OB/GYNs, pediatricians, pre and post natal classes etc. Most importantly we describe the legal requirements for registering your child with the Cayman Islands Government, how to go about it, how to get a passort (essential especially if the child is born during hurricane season), the law surrounding maternity leave, and finally how to go about getting your newborn named as a dependant on your work permit.
PREPARING TO HAVE A BABY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
The General Environment
Anyone who has ever had a baby in Cayman will tell you it is a nice place to be pregnant. People are generally very considerate. You will seldom pump your gas, carry your own groceries or open a shop door. You can float in the sea and feel weightless; the midwives are fabulous and the Caribbean men are protective and thoughtful. There are also lots of young families so even if you are far away from home, the community in Cayman is very supportive and there are many opportunities for play-groups, help from nannies or helpers and support from many other sources.
Cayman is a very child-friendly place. Children are welcome almost everywhere and highchairs are available at restaurants and coffee shops. Helpers are readily available part-time through local agencies, or you have the option of applying for a work permit for a full-time helper or nanny. This is very economical compared to other countries. Residential and work districts are within easy driving distances so that dads or working mums can conveniently pop home for lunch with the kids.
Prenatal medical care is excellent on Cayman. Parents-to-be have the enviable opportunity of first class ultrasound scans at each and every private obstetrician appointment, right there in the doctor’s office. Dr. Rommel El-Madany, Dr. Barry Richter and the Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital have 3D scanning equipment for when the foetus reaches an appropriate level of development. Dr. El-Madany also has a 4D scanner which gives ‘real time’ movements of the foetus.
Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Upon discovering you are pregnant the first thing people usually do is choose either a private doctor (OB/GYN) or register at the Women’s Health Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital for ante-natal care. The following is a list of all the OB/GYNs on the Island:
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Dr. Edward Caudeiron
33 Pasadora Place, Smith Road
Tel: (345) 949 9090 Fax: (345) 946 7917
NB: Will not be practising obstetrics after January 2009
Dr. Sarath de Alwis
FRCS FRCOG MRCP MFFP(UK) MRCS LRCP(UK)
Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital
Walkers Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 945 6066 Fax: (345) 945 0161
Email: sarath@candw.ky
Consultant/Specialist OB/GYN; General OB/GYN; Infertility; Cancer Screening; Ultrasound; Colposcopy; H.R.T; Amniocentesis Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic Surgery; Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr. Howard Deosaran Bsc MD DM FACOG LLB
TrinCay Medical Services
Alexander Place, Suite 9
Dorcy Drive, Industrial Park
Tel: (345) 943 4633 Fax: (345) 943 4634
Email: trincayms@candw.ky
Obstetrician / Gynaecologist including Antenatal; Intrapartum; Post Partum and Pre-pregnancy Counselling; Early Foetal Testing (Amniocentesis, Quad Test); Ultrasound; Infertility Management; Minimal Access Surgery; Regular Gynaecology; Colposcopy; Hysteroscopy; Saline Infusion Sonography. Member of the American Association of Gynaecologist Laparoscopies and The Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
Dr. Rommel El-Madany
MB BCh FRCS(GYN)(Edin), HDGO(Dublin) DM MD RCSI/IPA(Dublin) Diploma of Advanced Obstetrics Ultrasound RCOG/RCR (London)
Island Medical (OB/GYN) Office
9 Smith Road Plaza, Smith Road
Tel: (345) 94 OBGYN (946 2496)
Fax: (345) 946 4329
Email: islandobgyn@candw.ky
Consultant/Specialist OB/GYN including Infertility; traditional and advanced surgery including: advanced laparoscopic surgery and minimal invasive surgery for heavy periods, endometriosis, urinary incontinence, sterilisation and prolapse; advanced equipment including: 4D, 3D and coloured ultrasound; electronic urodynamics; digital colposcope and LEEP procedures. One stop cancer screen; foetal anomaly scan; Nuchal translucency and amniocentesis tests; packages for pregnancy care and delivery.
Dr. George Meggs OB/GYN MB BS DM FRCOG FACOG
Smith Road Plaza
69 Smith Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 949 8969 Fax: (345) 947 8193
NB Does not practise obstetrics
Dr. Gregory Richmond-Peck
MB BS LRCP MRCS LMCC FRCS(C)
247 Smith Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 945 7044, (345) 525 8177
Fax: (345) 945 7033
Dr. Barry Richter
MB ChB LMCC MMed(O&G) FRCS(C)
Cayman Clinic
439 Crewe Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 946 3424 Fax: (345) 946 3426
In-office 3D Ultrasound and Foetal Monitoring; Colposcopy; LEEP-Procedures; AccuDexa Bone Density; Infertility; Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery of Endometriosis, Adhesions, Incontinence, Laparoscopic Hysterectomy; Advanced Hysteroscopic Surgery including Endometrial Ablation and Resection of Fibroids; E-Sure Office Sterilisation (female sterilisation without incision).
Doula Services
A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who may be hired privately to provide physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth. A doula is especially popular as a birth coach during labour. Jacqui Smith (Tel: (345) 949 6024) currently offers doula services on the Island.
Hospitals
There are two hospitals on Grand Cayman: the Cayman Islands Hospital (also known as the George Town Hospital) and the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, both located in George Town. Most private OB/GYNs will offer to deliver your baby at either hospital, although some have their own preference. You can leave the decision about the hospital right up until the end of your pregnancy if you are using a private doctor. If you decide on midwife care, you should register at the Women’s Health Centre in the George Town Hospital as soon as possible.
We suggest you visit both facilities so that you can ask questions and decide where you will feel most comfortable delivering your baby. A brief overview of both hospitals’ maternity units follows:
George Town Hospital (GTH)
Maternity Unit Tel: (345) 244 2842/2841
The Maternity Unit is located on the ground floor of building 3. It is well signed from the main entrance. The facility has five double rooms and three single rooms providing a total of 13 beds, plus three labour/delivery rooms. All rooms have en-suite toilet and shower facilities. This hospital caters to both low-risk and high-risk mothers and babies, offering services in antenatal care, labour and delivery, postnatal care including normal births, twin births, breech, vacuum, forceps and caesarean section deliveries.
The maternity ward staff consists of well-qualified and fully trained professionals including 14 midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, neonatal nurses, nursing assistants and ancillary support staff. If you are a private patient, a midwife or your OB/GYN will monitor you throughout your labour, and your OB/GYN will be present for the birth of your baby. If you are a patient of the Women’s Health Centre, a midwife will deliver your baby and a doctor will only be called if there is reason for them to intervene. Epidural services are available for both private and midwives’ patients.
The Maternity Ward at this hospital caters to about 550 births per year.
Woman and babies discharged from GTH will also be visited by community health nurses for a couple of weeks after their discharge. This visit is usually once a week or more regularly if needed. It is a great resource for new mothers who may be far away from home and may need a little reassurance once home alone with a newborn baby.
The Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital (CTMH)
Tel: (345) 949 6066
The CTMH has four private en-suite birthing suites equipped for labour, delivery and recovery so that you do not have to move between rooms for delivery and recovery. There are three midwives on staff and they are recruiting a paediatrician with a neonatology interest. They also have an obstetrician and paediatrician on staff. The birthing centre is fully equipped with neonatal ventilators, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), incubator and phototherapy equipment.
Other services include Lamaze childbirth preparation (which run on an on-going eight week cycle), infant and child CPR, antenatal and postnatal doula services, lactation consultant services and a postnatal mother to mother support group.
Visiting hours at CTMH are very flexible and fathers are allowed to overnight alongside their wives/partners.
The CTMH caters to about 50 births per year.
Costs of Having a Baby On-Island
Once you have considered a doctor and hospital, be sure to call your insurance provider and discuss the fees in relation to your insurance coverage.
You will want to ask about both your prenatal care, the cost of the delivery and the immediate care of your newborn baby. The amount of coverage will depend on your insurance plan; it may be anything from 100% to none at all. It is standard policy for insurance companies to require a 10-month waiting period before they will cover your pregnancy, and some have a limit on prenatal care e.g. CI$1,000 at 100%. Some do not cover premature births. It would also be advisable to find out how you go about adding your new baby to your insurance policy from the moment of their birth.
Having a baby in Cayman is expensive and there is no free healthcare. Expect the total cost of a normal delivery with your own OB/GYN to be approximately CI$5,000. This price includes the use of the facilities and a three night stay. The cost of a normal midwife delivery with a three night stay in hospital and the use of the facilities is about CI$2,500.
Prenatal Education Classes
GTH offers an eight week educational series called ‘Parent Craft’. It is held on Monday evenings 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Women’s Health Centre. There is no charge and no need to register in advance. Call the Antenatal Services Department on (345) 244 2649 or drop in to the Women’s Health Centre to pick up a schedule of class dates. If you miss classes you may make them up during a subsequent eight week course cycle. You may find it more comfortable to bring a cushion for your back, particularly if you have already been sitting all day at work or have lower backache.
Jacqui Smith runs a six week Childbirth Education (Lamaze) classes at the CTMH on Tuesday nights at 6pm. You have to pre-register and the cost is CI$125 per couple. Call (345) 949 6024 for registration information.
These classes are a great way to meet other pregnant women and establish a support network which you will appreciate long after your baby is delivered.
Yoga & Pilates
Various classes are offered at different times of the year. Current classes for pregnant mothers are:
Body Works
Queens Court Plaza, Seven Mile Beach
Tel: (345) 945 6485 Fax: (345) 945 1234
Better Bodies Before Babies
Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital (CTMH)
Tel: (345) 949 6024
Colleen Brummer/Energy Pilates
Tel: (345) 925 5631 or (345) 946 6006
Specialises in personal training and pilates
Prenatal Massage
Prenatal massage can be a wonderful relief for those expectant mothers suffering with lower back pain, muscle pain or fluid retention. The following companies currently offer staff trained in prenatal massage:
Body Works
Queens Court Plaza , West Bay Road
Tel: (345) 945 6485
Kathleen Noailles
Cayman Clinic, 439 Crewe Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 947 7400
Rachael Van Der Bol-Costa
Under the Palms
Tel: (345) 947 8724 or (345) 526 8724
Mobile massage in your home
Maternity Clothes
The selection of maternity wear on the Island is getting better, however it is still limited and maternity bras are not sold in the local lingerie stores. If you are already pregnant or planning to get pregnant then it would be advisable to do some shopping ahead of time and bring clothing with you. Expectations sells maternity clothes (Tel: (345) 946 6667).
Maternity Leave
You will need to ask your employer what their policy is on maternity and paternity leave as some can be more flexible than others. However, the Cayman Islands law on the matter is as follows:
Every female employee shall be entitled to 12 calendar weeks maternity leave in any 12 month period. If she has not completed twelve months of employment then her maternity leave shall be calculated on a pro-rata basis for the time that she has worked. Her employer is legally required to offer her 20 days leave on full pay, 20 days leave on half pay and 20 days leave on no pay. Leave may be taken in whatever proportions before and after actual childbirth that the employee wishes.
A female employee who adopts a child under three years of age shall be entitled to nine calendar weeks leave, of which 15 working days are on full pay. Adoption leave may be granted once in any thirty-six month period.
At present, there is no provision in the law for paternity leave, however, some companies are flexible and will allow a new father to take a few days off. There have been proposals to amend the law but as yet nothing has been legislated.
AFTER HAVING A BABY
Paediatricians
Dr. Cecily Abraham
Alexander Place, Unit 7
Dorcy Drive, Industrial Park
Tel: (345) 945 7050 Fax: (345) 949 9823
Dr. Shirley Cridland
247 Smith Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 949 5225 Fax: (345) 945 7040
Dr. Gordon Smith MRCP(UK)
MRCGP DRCOG
Windward Centre
93 Smith Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 949 2970 Fax: (345) 946 2768
Cayman Islands Hospital
Dr. Marilyn McIntyre and Dr. Earl Robinson
Cayman Islands Hospital
95 Hospital Road, George Town
Tel: (345) 949 8600
Immunisations
Immunisations are carried out by, and schedules are available from, paediatricians or the Public Health Centre. Should you choose to use the Public Health Centre you should make your appointment well in advance. Although there may be a wait for an appointment, the Public Health Centre is efficient and usually considerably cheaper than using a paediatrician. You may find that the schedule and specific shots vary slightly from your home country. This is because regions of the world immunise against diseases most prevalent in that area, or may be influenced by a particular health authority. There are some shots that are more difficult to obtain in Cayman. One that is fairly controversial is the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), as it is only available as a combined shot in the Cayman Islands (as it is in most of the US) whereas, in the UK, it is still available as separate shots. Of course, consult with your paediatrician if you have any particular concerns. Please note that schools will request to see your child’s immunisation record and require a Health Screening Report be filled out by a Cayman doctor before children can be enroled in school.
Postnatal Support Groups
The Mother-to-Mother Support Group is held in the Women’s Health Clinic (WHC) of the GTH on the first Tuesday of every month. Refreshments are served and there is no charge.
There is a breast-feeding clinic every Tuesday between 12.30pm and 2pm at the WHC for breast-feeding mothers who have concerns or problems. There is no charge and no appointments are necessary.
There are a number of ‘home grown’ playgroups for mothers and babies which meet on a weekly basis. Once you get talking to people, you will soon find out the relevant names and contact details. A really good way to meet other mums and kids is Kindermusik classes. You can email Birch for the class schedule
(kindermusikwithbirch@yahoo.com). Also on Monday mornings at 9:30am a group called the South Sound Mothers and Tots meets for two hours at the South Sound Community Centre. All newborns to five year old children are welcome. Refreshments are served and the cost is CI$6 per family. Call Amanda Miller on (345) 949 0605 or (345) 926 9263 for more information.
Postnatal Exercise
Smyles offers a service where you can leave your child in the supervision of a caregiver and, since the World Gym is directly upstairs, you are still close enough to feel comfortable leaving them.
Alternatively, if you still have a ‘mummy tummy’ or extra weight on your thighs and hips despite working out faithfully, you can try Beyond Basics Medical Day Spa. They offer a ‘Body after Baby’ solution to getting back in shape. Their FDA-cleared medical solution for circumferential reduction and cellulite treatment is non-invasive and has little down-time. Call (345) 945-2737 or visit them at #7 Smith Road Plaza, Smith Road, George Town.
Baby Clothes
Brand new baby clothes can be bought from Atlantic Kids at Paddington Place (Tel: (345) 949 2296) and Little Darlings on Shedden Road (Tel: (345) 949 2580). Both have a good selection and you will be pleasantly surprised at the quantity and quality. Another option where you may be surprised to find some adorable outfits, especially beach wear, is the hotel boutiques. Second-hand baby clothes can be bought at many of the garage/yard sales that take place every Saturday morning.
Baby Equipment
New baby equipment, especially cots and car seats, can be bought at Little Darlings and Noah’s Ark, the latter carrying high-end European brands. There is quite a lot of choice and the prices are refreshingly reasonable. Second-hand baby equipment can be bought at garage sales so keep an eye out for adverts in the local newspapers.
Baby Food
Many people wonder, before they come to Cayman, if they can get the major brands of baby food and products that they are used to at home. Nearly everything that you would expect to find in a large Canadian or US supermarket you can find here. People from Europe might not be able to find exactly what they can get at home but there will be something similar and the grocery stores are happy to order specific items for you, especially if you have the product name, UPC or barcode number. An example of what is carried here includes the Earth’s Best and Gerber product line; Enfamil and Similac formula lines; Johnson and Johnson; Pampers and Huggies product lines. Most of the stores also carry some organic produce but the choice and quantity is limited. You really need to shop around. Some carry a few items, others carry a lot more, but the produce line in the stores that try and carry more organic produce often include organic carrots, apples, oranges, celery, onions, potatoes, broccoli and salad. Kirk Supermarket also has a good line of frozen organic vegetables and fruit.
Passport & Immigration
Registering the Birth of Your Child
When you give birth to your child the hospital will issue a Live Birth Notification Form. The parents will be given a copy of this and the original is sent by the hospital to the Registrar of Births. The next step is for one of the parents (it must be both parents if you are not married) to go to the Registrar of Births, Ground Floor, Citrus Grove Bldg, Goring Avenue (Tel: (345) 946 7922, email: cigenreg@gov.ky) with the completed Live Birth Form, your marriage certificate (if you are married) and your passports. Residents of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman can register their children at the District Commissioner’s Office on Cayman Brac. By law, you must register your child within three months of birth, regardless of your nationality. There is no charge to register your child, however, you may obtain extra copies of your child’s birth certificate from the Registrar of Births at a cost of CI$10 each.
Getting a Passport for your Child
You must obtain a birth certificate for your child prior to being able to make an application for a passport. Much more information on getting a passport for your child is listed in the Immigration chapter under the section on passports.
American Passports:
The US Consular Agency is located at 222 Mirco Centre, 2nd Floor, Industrial Park, George Town, Tel: (345) 945 8173. They are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am–2pm. Leave a message or go in person for inquiries. They assist with passports and any emergency services for US citizens only. They do not deal with visas. All children born in the Cayman Islands to US citizens must be issued a ‘Consular Report of Birth Abroad’ before you can apply for a US passport for them. Details of what you need to gather together to take to the US Consular Agency can be found in the Immigration chapter.
Caymanian, British and other nationalities:
Contact the Cayman Islands Passport Office Tel: (345) 244 2274
The Cayman Islands Passport Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
Canadian Passports:
The Consulate is open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm.
Tel: (345) 949 9400 or the CI Passport Office
Jamaican Passports
Contact the Consular office on (345) 949 9526
Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 2.30pm
South African Passports:
SA Consulate General in New York
Tel: (212) 692 2401
It is highly advisable that you obtain a passport for your baby as soon as possible. You do not want the added complication of trying to arrange this document in a hurry should you need to leave for a medical emergency or, during hurricane season, due to the threat of a storm. In addition, it is advisable to apply for a US Visitors Visa if your child’s citizenship requires this for entry into the United States. Contact the US Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica for further details on 1 (876) 702 6000.
Dependant Permit
Children born on the Island to expats are not automatically entitled to citizenship unless one or both of their parents are either Caymanian or have been granted status. If you are on a work permit your baby must be added as a dependant on your work permit.
You are required to submit the following documents to the Immigration Board, to make this application:
1) Cover letter from work permit holder requesting addition of dependant
2) Child’s Birth Certificate
3) Parent’s Marriage Certificate
4) Letter from either/both parents’ employers verifying income and authorising the addition of a dependant to the work permit
5) CI$50 application fee
In order for your dependant to be legally in Cayman, your minimum monthly base salary for a family of three must be in the region of CI$3,500. Add CI$500 to CI$1,000 for each additional dependant. Call the Immigration Department on (345) 949 8344 for more information.
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