Having a baby in Singapore

[Mrs T]

Hi there.

I am currently almost 4 months pregnant with No 2 and there is a very strong possibility that my husband will be relocated to Singapore in the next 2-3 months. I am more than happy to move with him and relocate permanently but I am a bit worried about what to do with regards to having this baby...

I need to have a c-section due to complications with my last labour so how easy is it a) to arrange to give birth in Singapore and b) insist that I have this baby by c-section? My medical notes will obviously back up the need for the operation but I just wanted some advice really.

I am in two minds whether to move before or after the baby arrives but if after then obviously I would be left back in the UK without my husband heavily pregnant with a 4 year old to also look after! I would rather have the baby in Singapore but I just need to know what the process is for arranging this.

many thanks in anticipation.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Singapore has a Women's & Children's hospital here. It is an institution in Singapore and they are in a new building now. Kandang Karbau Women's & Children's Hospital. For many years any hospital in Singapore including SGH, NUS and TTHS hospitals sent any maternity cases that were problematic to them for deliveries. They are still the maternity hospital of choice by most except those who like to spend lots of unnecessary money on private hospitals when all the best expertise is in one place.

Oh, my wife gave birth to both of my children there (actually in the old hospital) with the first pregnancy having the arguably best gynae in Singapore in those days (he was also famous as the gender rearrangement specialist in Asia back then as well). As my wife was around 37~38 for her 1st pregnancy it was and still is considered a high risk pregnancy. Also, due to her petite size and the 3.3 kg baby, she had to have a C-section for both children. Have never had anything but good to say about the care she received at KK Hospital as it is more commonly known.

[lsac0902]

Hi Mrs T,

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and just arrived in Singapore 10 days ago. Don't worry about having C-section. Most doctors in Asian are pro C-section. What you can do before your arrival is to do some research on the web and the forum to select the O&G and the maternity. Some hospitals have an international patient department. You can contact them from the UK if you have any questions.

[sq009]

From My Financial Advisor when i set foot in Singapore:

If you plan for delivery, we have a public hospital which specialises in Women's and children (try www.kkh.com.sg). Although more expats prefer Gleneagles hospital or Thomson Medical Centre (for your info). Singapore's Doctor to population ratio is about 1:600, so gynae and padietric clinics are widely available and affordable. A full labour cost in a local public hospital can cost next to nothing if your family is CPF contributing to about $8000 for a really good service, in a private ward at a private hospital (More info can be found at www.moh.gov.sg) Try http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/statistics.aspx?id=7108 for private hospital ward charges.

Just remember to bring your Insurance Documents to Singapore, it will make things so so so much more easier.

[Amelia Camelia]

Hi Mrs T,

I think I'm in exactly the same boat as you except I am in Singapore! I am 31 weeks with a 4 year old too.

We relocated a year ago and I have no regrets. My 4 year old was born in London on the NHS and I had an emergency c-section with him. The actual op was great but the aftercare was sadly very lacking indeed.

This time round - I'm booked into the Mount Elizabeth hospital which is private. I cannot comment at all on KK or other public hospitals. As far as I can gather most expats will go private here. I don't know if that's because they are illegible for public healthcare or whether their company gives them private health insurance. Personally we are not covered but are paying ourselves. I had such a rotten experience in the UK my husband wants to pay, also it's not quite as expensive as private healthcare in the UK.

So basically, if you are going to a private hospital with private healthcare etc, then it is completely up to you how you choose to deliver your baby because you're paying for it! within reason of course. I am going to deliver by c-section under local anaesthetic this time round. Here is the maternity link for Mount Elizabeth to give you a general idea http://www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/maternity.jsp of what is available - the different room types etc! I suspect that most private hospitals are very similar - Gleneagles etc that were mentioned before.

I am very much looking forward to giving birth here in Singapore - I've found the lifestyle to be a lot more laidback and it's very child-friendly here and the safety aspect is one of the biggest factors for me. Also, I don't have one, but I know a lot of expats have domestic help - a maid basically, so although you might not have family here you could consider having a helper.

By the way, Mothercare is pretty big here!

Take care and good luck whatever you decide.
Amelia.

[Mrs T]

Thanks everyone for the replies. So if I arrive in Singapore at apx 31 weeks of pregnancy do I just approach one of these hospitals and they will accept me as a patient? Or do I need to sort it all out before we leave the UK?

Amelia - we do indeed have very similar experiences! I had my 4 year old in an Essex hospital and although they couldnt be faulted for the care I received during labour, the aftercare was shocking and I was discharged less than 48 hours after having my son. My emergency c-sec was down to me having a small pelvis (which nobody every checked during my pregnancy despite me being only 5ft tall) and my son couldnt get past to push down on my cervix. So he got stuck and distressed and after 12 hours they started losing his heartbeat so he was whipped out. The experience was horrible I must admit and the thought of giving birth in Singapore is MUCH more appealing than going to our local hospital here again. I was just worried that I wouldnt be taken on and end up having to give birth on my own ha ha.

How much do the private hospitals charge for the delivery (via c-sec) on average? This might be something my husband can negotiate with his package. Would also be happy to have in public hospital but presume they wouldnt let me just walk off the plane and into their hospital and give birth so to speak?

I am feeling much more positive about giving birth in Singapore though having read these great replies. Many thanks!!!

[lsac0902]

You may select the maternity first. Then, when you come here, you have time to go for a maternity tour and choose the one you like, then choose the gynae that's working in the maternity. Have a look on the web site! You can find their fees on the web as well. But some give the hospital fees only, not the doctors'.

[Amelia Camelia]

Mrs T

I had to laugh when I read your reply - I did the same! I discharged myself from hospital 48 hours after too!

It was such a relief to get home and the crazy thing was that I got more attention at home from visiting midwives than I did at the hospital!!

Anyway, on to you. If you're going to deliver here - then get here asap! Try to come sooner rather than later - you don't want to be travelling when you're too big - the airlines will start requesting letters from doctors to say you're fit to travel and then there's DVT etc plus you probably want to be all settled and nesting in your final months.. 2nd trimester is great for getting stuff done.

My husband's company paid for us to be accommodated in a Serviced Apartment for the first month when we got here. We also had our furniture shipped and timed for one month after arrival. This initial month gave us time to look for an apartment and move in as well as find a kindergarten for our 4 year old. It worked well for us.

If you can afford the time - I'd recommend this, because when you know where you live you can decide which hospital you want to go for - but after saying that, Singapore isn't huge, so you can pretty much deliver wherever you want especially if it's a planned c-section, then hopefully there will be no mad dashes to the hospital and traffic to contend with!

If you are talking to your husbands company about packages etc - try and talk to them about a car - or a car allowance if you both drive and are used to having a car in the UK - they are frightfully expensive here and a lot of people will say you don't need them. But for me, having a small child and a newborn would be a nightmare even with the amazing public transport system and taxis.

And finally as for the costs - this is Mount Elizabeth only - I'm sure the other hospitals are similar although Gleneagles might be a bit more expensive.

Prenatal checkups package - basically monthly checkups until birth (they increase in frequency after 30wks) $945 (about £315)
This doesn't include anything over and above normal service so if you need a blood test for example, because something doesn't look right then you will need to pay for that test separately.

Elective C-section in a single room (afterwards - you can either go for a double room - share with someone or a single) $2870 (about £950)

Gynae charges for performing the c-section about $2500 (£800)

Anaesthetist Charge - this is variable ! say $600 (£200)

So in total for the delivery - approx £2000 - actually this looks a bit low.. I think I budgeted £3k, so I must have missed something out...

In case you're interested/stuck I'd recommend my gynae Dr Selina Chua who operates out of the Women's Specialist Associates clinic at Mount Elizabeth hospital tel +65 6734 1689 for the admin girls and we're 7 hours ahead of you.

Take care
A.

[ffsgrelier]

hi
I have just given birth to a delightful little girl in Singapore 10 days ago in the Thompson medical Centre. I have moved from the Uk when i as 31 weeks pregnant and have never looked back. My gynae was Paul Tseng at TMC and he has been fantastic , very laid back attitude but very helpful and understanding ( I had booked my appointment before leaving the UK through their website). I was going privately but didn't feel it was that expensive in all fairness compared to some prices that were mentionned on this website when i was looking for info. TMC is a smaller hospital than Mount Elizabeth but the care I got was very very good, all the staff were efficient and helpful, the hospital was clean . Even the food wasn't bad ! The whole experience is somehow different as it is a different culture and they have different ways but the whole experience was in NO DOUBT much better than what I would have got in London in my local hospital. I also found that having a doula made the experience much easier and mine was absolutely fantastic.

I did not however have a c-section but my understanding is that most obgyn are quite proactive in terms of elective c section.
Beware though that the after care once you are home is near inexistent. My doula comes and weighs the baby at prsent but then there are no health visitors or assessment clinics widely available. You can go to some but have to pay for everything. You can check the Mother and child or Birth and beyond websites as they offer plenty of pre and post natal info and courses, classes, doulas etc ...
Hope this info helps.
I do believe most airlines will let you fly until 28 weeks as usual bu , between 28 and 36, you need to have a letter from your GP. I personnally had my bump double up in size by th time we landed, everything was absolutely fine for me and the little one, just the after effect of the long flight.
Hope this message puts your mind to rest. i have been in your shoes not so long ago and am now the very tired but proud mother of 2 boys and a little princess.
If you need any mor info , please feel free to contact me.
frederique

[sundaymorningstaple]

ffsgrelier,

Congratulations! I can remember your posts prior to arriving on our shores.
Glad it all went well.

[Asian_Geekette]

Congratulations on your new baby!

[ffsgrelier]

Sundaymorningstaple and asian_geekette, many thanks for your good wishes, very much appreciated.
Frederique

[Aussiefamily]

Congratulations, also to the boys. What did you call her?
Sam (Teddybear's owner)

[ffsgrelier]

hi sam,

pm you when saw this posting but not sure if you got it.
keep in touch
f x

[E-T]

Thompson Medical Centre is cool... the nurses there are alot more attentive than other hospitals. Much least compared to KKH.