Singapore is a great place to have a baby; whether this is
your first or fourth child life can be much easier here with the availability of
home help. However having a baby in a foreign country can also be stressful
especially not having the support network of family and more often than not a
husband who travels.
First things first – before you choose an OB you’ll need to
decide what kind of birth you want. Do you want a high intervention OB who will
closely manage your pregnancy or more of a ‘hands off’ OB with a more natural
approach? Talk to a few Doctors and find one you feel comfortable with.
Homebirth is an option in Singapore but there is only one OB (Paul Tseng at TMC)
who currently attends them. Once you find a Doctor you’re comfortable with go
and visit the maternity wards in a few hospitals. Some Doctors have privileges
to practice in other hospitals. Thomson Medical Center is one of the most mother
friendly hospitals in Singapore. The staff is very flexible when it comes to
birth-plans and doulas and they don’t stick to a set of rigid hospital ‘rules’.
The most popular hospitals for expats in Singapore are;
Many of the hospitals also offer childbirth classes. However
you should also connect with some of the independent childbirth educators in
Singapore – so you’re sure to get balanced unbiased information on what your
options are. Doulas are also becoming more popular with expatriate women and
there are several companies offering this service. OBs offer maternity
‘packages’ which will cover a normal delivery but over all the costs are
affordable (usually around 4-6k including hospital bill) However it’s a good
idea to sign up for insurance before you get pregnant to cover any extras as a
result of any complications. Most insurance companies have a 6-12 month wait
time before you get pregnant so check out your options.
An important area to consider when planning for your baby’s
arrival is the lack of aftercare in Singapore. There are no community nurses
coming to check on you, as can be the case in many countries. The first few
weeks with a new baby can be exhausting and sometimes isolating so this might be
a good time to have a close friend or your Mum come to help out while you and
your new baby get acquainted.
Once your baby is born in Singapore, his/her birth must be registered with the
Registry of Births and Deaths at Singapore Immigration. Once you register, you
can then obtain a Singapore birth certificate. This does NOT mean your child has
Singapore citizenship. Only children of Singapore citizens can obtain
Singaporean citizenship
Take time to relax and be good to yourself. There are plenty of activities
available such as yoga classes, swimming and treats such as pregnancy massage.
Make sure you keep yourself well hydrated and enjoy these few months.
For more information on having a baby in Singapore contact:
Tracy
Donegan at tracy@fourtrimesters.com
or (65) 9151 4403
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13 Nov 2004 -
Having Baby in Singapore
13 Nov 2004 -
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