Anyone who has ever had a baby in Cayman will tell you it is a lovely place to be pregnant and prenatal medical care is excellent. Maternity care is administered by two of Cayman’s three state-of-the-art hospitals, and the care they provide is second to none.
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Cayman’s OB/GYNs and midwives are all highly qualified and experienced, giving couples peace of mind when it comes to the welfare of expectant mums.
After the child is born, new parents can also feel safe in the knowledge that their children will receive excellent medical care from world class paediatricians and receive the same rigorous well-child checks, and be subject to the same vaccine schedule, as children in the UK, USA, Canada and other developed countries.
For more comprehensive information on having a baby in the Cayman Islands, please check out the Pregnancy section of our sister website Cayman Parent.
Where to Have Your Baby
In the Cayman Islands, all babies are born in a hospital. Home and water births are not currently offered. There are three maternity wards in Grand Cayman and one in Cayman Brac. If you have a private OB/GYN, then you should discuss which hospitals they practise at.
It’s also recommended that you tour your chosen hospital beforehand to familiarise yourself with the space, staff and amenities.
There are many highly qualified private Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the Cayman Island with high-tech ultrasound equipment and the ability to provide world-class care. For a more cost-effective option, there is also the Anthony S. Eden Hospital (formerly George Town Hospital), which offers five double and three single rooms, providing a total of 13 beds, plus three labour/delivery and recovery rooms and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The standard of care is excellent. Babies are delivered by midwives, as well as HSA and private physicians.
Private OB/GYNs vs. Midwife Births
Private OB/GYNs:
Obstetricians are often very highly qualified and come from all over the world, including the US, Canada, the UK and beyond. They all have ultrasound equipment in their clinics and provide a high level of care, comparable to any developed country. If you have decided to receive private care, then as soon as you think you may be pregnant (or even better, when you decide you are going to start trying), you should book an appointment with an OB/GYN. If you are pregnant, you will probably have your first scan at around six to eight weeks. If your medical history is such that it may affect your pregnancy, have a consultation before conceiving.
The doctor you choose will guide you through your entire pregnancy and deliver your baby with the help of a team of highly trained midwives.
Midwife Births:
It is also possible to opt fora midwife delivery through the Women’s Health Clinic at the Anthony S. Eden Hospital. With this route, the expectant mother receives expert care through a team of midwives who will manage the prenatal care and deliver the baby. The midwives are highly qualified and trained to deliver babies. Parents-to-be from the UK will be familiar with this system of care through the NHS. The department OB/GYNs are also on call 24-hours a day should there be an emergency.
The hospital’s radiology department performs ultrasounds and there are also portable ultrasound machines in the women’s health department and in the maternity ward. Choosing midwife care is a more cost-effective option for having a baby in Cayman, but both mum and baby can still expect to receive fantastic care.
Costs of Having a Baby in Caymankeyboard_arrow_right
Having a baby in Cayman is expensive and there is no free healthcare. There are two options for having a baby on-Island: You can either choose between having your baby delivered by a midwife at the Anthony S. Eden Hospital (formerly George Town Hospital) and the hospital’s obstetrician being called only if it is deemed necessary, or you can choose to have a private obstetrician who will then follow you through your pregnancy and be with you through your labour and the delivery of your baby.
Read MoreFertility Treatmentkeyboard_arrow_right
If you are having trouble conceiving then there are plenty of options on Island to help you. The timings for when to see a fertility specialist depend largely on your age and how long you’ve been trying to conceive naturally.
Maternity Leavekeyboard_arrow_right
The Labour Relations Bill (2015) provides for a minimum maternity leave allowance of 14 calendar weeks in any 12 month period. However, this is only available as an entitlement where the mother concerned has already completed a full year of employment with her employer.
Childbirth Preparation Classes & Doula Serviceskeyboard_arrow_right
Most first time mothers find the prospect of childbirth extremely daunting. The fear of the unknown and knowledge that births aren’t always straightforward lead many women to attend childbirth preparation classes or employ a doula. Doulas provide non-medical support to women and can be invaluable in providing knowledgeable and emotional support families during labour and childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Prenatal Massagekeyboard_arrow_right
Prenatal massages are a wonderful way to reduce stress, alleviate the discomforts of pregnancy and promote all-round wellness for you and your baby.
Prenatal Exercise & Therapies
Pre and postnatal personal training sessions are available privately with Carla, a mobile personal trainer at 345 Personal Training (Tel: (345) 926 2117 or email: 345personaltraining@gmail.com).
Cayman Physiotherapy offers pre and postnatal Pilates and support and pelvic floor rehabilitation, and The Pilates Studio offers private pre-natal Pilates training. Alternatively, Kula Kids Cayman, One Heart Yoga & Apothecary, and Vital offer prenatal yoga classes and workshops. Prenatal exercise classes are a great way to meet other expecting mums!
For more information on exercising during pregnancy, see Cayman Parent's article on Staying Active in Pregnancy & Beyond.
A holistic way to take care of yourself during pregnancy is through therapies such as chiropractic treatments, physiotherapy, prenatal massage and acupuncture.
For pre-natal water aerobics classes, call Fitness Connection.
Maternity Clotheskeyboard_arrow_right
Cayman has a broad selection of maternity wear for all stages of pregnancy from the slightest bump to nursing apparel for post-pregnancy.
Domestic Help, Nannies & Babysitterskeyboard_arrow_right
Close to the end of your pregnancy, or once the baby has arrived, you may need some help with the work load at home. Be aware that many people seeking domestic help positions arrive in Cayman untrained.
Safety at Home
Before bringing your baby home, it’s a good idea to do a safety appraisal. Toilet and cupboard locks, stair gates, bath grip mats, corner protectors and electrical socket plugs are all easy and affordable ways to make your home safer.
You will find a good selection of baby-proofing equipment at A.L. Thompson’s, Kirk Home Centre, Baby Express and The Baby Shoppe.
You should also consider fencing (and perhaps an alarm system) if you have a pool. Contact Oasis Pool & Spa (Tel: (345) 945 7665) or Pool Patrol (Tel: (345) 949 8543). Fitness Connection (Tel: (345) 949 8485) offers pool safety and swimming lessons for little ones from three months of age. They also teach nannies how to swim and offer CPR, First Aid, AED, Lifeguard and SAI STAR certifications to put safety first in your home.
Check your garden for noxious plants that might pose a threat if ingested by young children. Additionally, citronella oil, is commonly used as a mosquito deterrent in lamps and tiki torches, poses a danger when ingested or inhaled. If you find your baby with part of a plant, or if you suspect a household product may have been ingested, even if your baby is awake and alert, call the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Poison Helpline (USA) (Tel: 1 (800) 222 1222) to check if the substance is potentially dangerous or take your child to the emergency unit of the Anthony S. Eden Hospital in George Town.
