Prenatal Care

[Jannn]

Hi,

Does anyone know of a good obgyn for prenatal care. I am in the very early stages of pregnancy and am looking for a doctor to care for me until around my 5-6th month, since after that time we will be going back to the US. Also, if anyone knows the timing and types of screening tests/ultrasounds performed that would be very helpful. This is our second child and as I am aware of screening tests in the US, I am not aware of the proccess and timings of those tests in Singapore. Finally, since I will have to submit my bills to my insurance once I am back in the states, does anyone have an idea of what normal routine visits cost here, as well as screening tests/ultrasounds???? Any advise would be appreciated. I was extremely sick with our first child and dont know if that will be the same case with this child, what types of medication if any do doctors use. I did use Zofran before and wanted to know if anyone had experience with that or if any obgyn here prescribed it for them. I just want to make sure I receive the best possible prenatal care for our unborn child. Thanks for all your help!

Jan

[JKL]

I am seeing Dr. Paul Tseng at Thomson Medical Center. He is very popular among expats and has a very good reputation. I find him very informative. Thomson Medical is also quite reasonable in terms of price as far as private hospitals in Singapore are concerned. As for the tests. It depends on your age. As I am over 35 I had to go for an OSCAR, which tests for gene abnormalities. This was done at week 13. At week 20 I went for a fetal amomoly scan, which looks at the different measurements of the baby. I've been seeing the gynae once a month for an ultrasound and check up since the beginning and I have been very impressed with the care received.

[Jannn]

Oh great! Thanks for the info. From what I understood from your comment you have had ultrasounds every month since the beg of your pregnancy? Thats pretty good care. When in the US I only received 2 ultrasounds my entire pregnancy. During the first couple of months, did your doctor do a routine blood test and exam, if so around what week? Thanks.

[JKL]

I went for a preconception check-up at my regular GP before we started trying for a baby. So I didn't need to have any tests done when I went to the gynae, as I had all the results from those tests before my pregnancy. I think they usually do them at the beginning of your pregnancy.
I guess the US and UK are the same. Women don't get a scan every visit and midwives play a major role. But here, visits to the Dr. are scheduled every month, you get to hear the baby's heartbeat and you have the option to see it on the ultrasound and get a printed image.

[uk-kiwi]

Not sure if JKL did something different but a blood test is part of the OSCAR - they screen the maternal blood which helps them assess the likelihood of Trisonomy 13 & 18. You don't have to have an Oscar but most people i know do regardless of age as it gives you a very clear idea of whether you should be going for further invasive tests. I firstly went to my GP to have the pregnancy confirmed and at that time had the full bloods done which includes AIDS etc