Singapore Expats

Sorry to get into the blood and guts...but can anyone who has delivered in Singapore give me some info on whether you had one, whether it was in your birth plan, whether the doctor pushed it, etc?

I know a lot of women don't care and don't mind episiotomies bc they speed up delivery...but for some reason it is a big deal to me and I'd like to know what to expect here...what is the norm?

With my first child I did not need an episiotomy. And I didn't tear, either. My doctor and the delivery nurse just took things slow and easy and let nature take its course (well, with a little help from a heavenly epidural, that is.)

But now that I'm getting ready to deliver in Singapore, I'd like to hear from other expat moms; what was your experience? I am definitely trying to avoid one again this time, but don't have enough mom friends to get a good sense of how things usually go down here.

I swear...it was bad enough hearing episiotomy horror stories back home in the United States ("she didn't even tell me what she was doing til she'd already done it...") in supposedly excellent hospitals, no less.

http://sg.theasianparent.com/articles/e ... singapore/

"Episiotomy in Singapore"
2009 The Asian Parent

95% of Singaporeans have episiotomies
9.7% in Sweden
100% in Taiwan
63-90% China, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey

"According to doctors ...episiotomy rates are so high because distance between the vagina and the perineum is shorter in Asian women"

Endure without it for almost 12 hours and use it for the last 3 hours.

Hello chococat,
I will be delivering my first baby in Singapore and, like you, episiotomy is a big concern for me and just found your post while looking for some advice on hospitals and obstetricians. If you have any feedback to share, I would really appreciate it. Could be here, on PM or by mail at sandily(at)gmail
Thanks!