Best surgeon in Singapore for c-section. Please share your experience & advice.

[Alexa808]

Dear MNs,

I'd really appreciate your help here.

After finding out I'm pregnant with my first child I was over the moon and have arranged all private care & great surgeon for elective c-section in London at St. Mary's.

Now, my husband has received an offer which will see us relocate to Singapore in about 2 months from now. I lived there before, but have no knowledge of hospitals or doctors there.

Can any of you recommend an excellent surgeon who's known for his good c-sections?

am now looking for a recommendation of a top surgeon in Singapore who's an expert on c-sections. I will go private and would like to have a skilled and experienced doctor by my side. I have 2 girlfriends here in the Uk who have suffered massive keloid scarring and re-infected c-section wounds in the UK and would like not having to experience this.

Are there any Mums or friends who can speak about their own experiences in regards to having c-sections in Singapore? I'd appreciate it so much if any of you can point me into the right direction as I am a bit scared of leaving the doctor and care behind.

Thank you so much for your help!

relative of dh's lives out there - like you her dh's job moved them out there when she was pregnant. She had vaginal deliveries though so I don't know anything that would help you - except they found that the medical insurance they had with work did not cover NICU expenses in the first 30 days of life I think it was. This was an oversight and it was discovered and corrected during the pregnancy and thankfully they never needed it anyway - but if you have insurance - check it covers everything!

NL, thanks a lot for the tip. I will check and make sure we're covered.

Maybe there's a way of working it into my hubby's contract....

is there a medically indicated reason for you to have a c-section? If not then it would be safer for you and baby if you were to go for a vaginal birth.
congratualtions on your pregnancy.

Thanks me23 :-)

I've got an out of control cyst on the right ovary and doc has recd I book in as c-sect.

If I cannot find a good surgeon in Singers then I'll consider flying back to UK and going through with original plan, even if it means I'll be on my own.

Hi I'm living in Singapore and expecting my first baby in August. We've been here for about a year now. I found out that my medical insurance only covers S$2,000 for a C-section although my husband's work policy would cover any costs but as I have my own work policy I can't be on 2

I am currently seeing Dr Kek at Mount Elizabeth hospital who I have found to be pretty good so far.

You might want to look at the forum on the Singapore Expats site www.singaporeexpats.com(this is where I looked when trying to find a gynae). I am hoping not to have a C-section but you never know! I'll also ask around for you and post again if I get any good suggestions! I'm sure you'll find a good one here though as the standard of medical care is pretty high here. I get a monthly scan and nuchal scan was done as standard (not quite the same as the UK I understand).

Dear Expectant,

congratulations on the pregnancy! Thanks so much for your help!! I really appreciate it. I lived in Singapore in 02 & 04 but none of my remaining friends there have babies or know any families. So organising it all from London is fraught with difficulties.

Shame about the insurance, I'm already checking my current policy and dh's.

NL above has also mentioned the first 30days after the baby is born and I've read a few stories about out of control costs after the child developed breathing difficulties and so forth. Really worth checking.

Please keep in touch! All the best.

Hi Alexa808 - just saw this note. I lived in SG for 4 years - there are some great surgeons who can deliver your baby at one of the private hospitals - most commonly Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles or Thompson Medical Centre.
I had a VBAC, with a plan for a c-section if it all went pear shaped. My O&G was great - his name is Dr TC Chang. His Clinic is at Thompson Medical Centre. He has a very good reputation and I thought he was great - he supported me entirely to allow me the best chance of the birth I wanted, and worked hard to get my ds out naturally, when it might have been easier, and certainly better for his sleep if he'd done a c-section. We avoided c-section but would have been fine with him doing it if required (has "done" other friends.) The other person I know of by reputation is Dr Anne Hegerty (check spelling), who has a good reputation. I have 2 friends who delivered by c-section with her and were v. happy. She has a v. v. busy clinic - the only complaint people ever have about her is that she overruns her appointments.
And there are probably many more! The standard of medical care in Singapore is excellent.
The GP we used was International Medical Centre - large international practice close to Orchard Road. They used to be in Tanglin Shopping Centre but they may have moved to Camden Medical Centre, can't remember. I went to them for the normal check ups each month until the last couple of months and they would be able to give you a list of others so you could go meet them.
Good luck!

will second what LP says. TC Chang was my friend's Obstertrician, also Paul Seng is another that another friend used. She has used him twice actually. Both are at Thomson Medical Centre.

I gave birth here in SG in March last year at the TMC, but not C/S. You will have a fine time of it.

Take care

LP, egypt & SW, thank you very much for your tips and advice. I will go through all the details and google the doctors.

I have heard of parentlink but not had a chance to look at it yet. Thanks so much for the link!

I'm especially looking for doctors with great results in c-sections and after care for it, but appreciate all feedback on nice doctors or hospitals you felt well looked after in.

google anglo info singapore & singapore expats
These are the 2 most popular expat info website for singapore & both have forums with family or health pages.
I'm sure you'll find feedback on C sections there.

The level of care is high in Singapore. In public hospitals and private wards alike.

Another thing you will want to look into is care after you've had the baby.
Basically you'll be on your own the minute you leave the hospital. No midwives or health visitors whatsoever.
There are a lot of private places to turn to. They run baby well being clinics with drop in groups and breasfeeding groups etc... ( as well as antenatal classes)
The most commonly used are birth & beyond / Mother & child / Four trimesters.

You'll also need a pediatrician. Here again the mentioned forums will provide info.

Thanks slim22, you're right, haven't even thought about post-birth arrangements.

Are there doulas in Singapore? It's my first and have no experience with babies in my family or circle of friends.

Will look at the forums again.

Alexa

I know of a doula in Singapore, there is a small group of Doulas practising in Singapore. Let me know if you want more information and I'll see if I can get a contact for you.

you can find details of doulas on the parentlink website. i know of one who supported my friend during both her births in singapore. they are close friends now. can give you contact also if you like.

(hi rojak!)

also dont worry so much just yet about your paediatrician. we used the one that worked in the hospital where dd was born. i still see him now. but at any point after her birth i could have changed to another. i found it easier just to go with the hospital allocated one at first until i got my head round things.

Hi Eygpt and Slim - how are you both getting on? Did your DH start playing football, Eygpt?

yes he did thank you rojak, not sure whether it was with your dh or not; he went to a few. he tends to play at evans road..

Must be different team Eygpt, my DH seems to play anywhere they get a pitch and it was out in Jurong last week!

Hi Rojak & Egypt,

thanks for the additional info. Yes, I'd like info on doulas please. auric1 at gmx net

3 more weeks. Am a bit nervous now. Still have to magically make our two maine coons disappear. ;-)

They'll be staying in the UK till June when I'll come and get them. My fur babies...

Would love to meet up. It'll be so different living in S'pore this time around...

alexa, if you want to email me on simcla2000 at hotmail dot com i'll give you the doula details. x

Sorry haven't posted for a while. Hope that all is going well with your impending move alexa and with the pg! Would be happy to meet up too as a fellow first timer. Glad to hear you will be bringing the Maine Coons. Have 2 cats ourselves that came with us from London although not quite as pedigree

hello to all of you,

all a bit manic here. Our kitchen ceiling has partially caved in. Huge chunks of plaster have fallen off. Yes, no kidding. Lucky neither the cats nor us are pancakes...

Time to move...

Had my 12 week scan yday and oh it was so magical seeing the lo wave and move. It all of a sudden became so much more real.

I haven't booked my flight yet but estimate to touch down around the 9th, 10th of April.

Having the builders in and now my poor Mum will come to supervise for a few weeks.

I will also leave our two monkeys (their birth certificate says Maine Coons but they are just as cheeky as all the others) at home till end of May when I have to get back to pack up some more.

Once I have my flight details I'll email you egypt. Quite excited already! And nervous!!

How's everything with you, Expectant? Just drop me a line and we'll all get together!