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Where to Give birth in Singapore: Public vs. Private
Maternity Hospitals
EXPERTS PREGNANCY | 4 AUGUST, 2015

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4/6/2016 Where to give birth in Singapore: public vs. private maternity

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Choosing which hospital youll give birth at is often driven by where your OB-GYN of choice practices,
and choosing an OB-GYN usually happens when youre more concerned with the early stages of
pregnancy than thinking ahead to birthing. While all maternity care in Singapore is of a very high
international standard at both public and private hospitals, there are significant differences in the
offerings at various hospitals, so we encourage you to carefully consider your options. As at every stage
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4/6/2016 Where to give birth in Singapore: public vs. private maternity

of pregnancy: ask questions, make sure you understand all the costs involved and be informed and

empowered to make the best choice for you!

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The l ow-down on p r os and cons

Pros of private hospitals Triple the Fun at

EtonHouse: Open
Houses at Bukit
Smoother check-in and billing
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4/6/2016 Where to give birth in Singapore: public vs. private maternity

More luxurious surroundings and private rooms on demand

Less time pressure as theyre not trying to process as many people
Guaranteed OB-GYN of choice
Amusing perks like cocktail parties, head massages and parking spots!
The cost difference between public and private is sometimes not as large as you might expect

Cons of private hospitals

More expensive
If there is an emergency you might need to get you or your baby transferred to a public hospital
with a larger NICU or more specialist expertise
More OB-GYN led, slightly less active midwife support

Pros of public hospitals

Lower cost you can also opt to be a private patient at a public hospital to access better grades of
room and choose your OB-GYN
You are right where you need to be if something goes wrong in labour or after birth
You are more likely to have a midwife-led birth if this is what you want
NUH in particular is at the forefront of the natural birth movement in Singapore

Cons of public hospitals

Admin and wait times tend to be longer

Stricter visiting hours
Unlike private hospitals which will help to process insurance claims, with public hospitals youll
have to handle the paperwork yourself
You might need to wait longer for pain relief

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The Hosp ital s

Pub l ic Hosp ital s

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National Univ er sity Hosp ital (NUH)

5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074
Tel: (+65) 6772 2255
The Scoop : NUH is the medical teaching facility of NUS, and specializes in high-risk obstetrics. This
hospital provides the most comprehensive care for at-risk infants with their cardiology, ICU, neonatal
care and pediatric surgery departments all under one roof. This makes NUH the choice for mamas of
multiples or tricky pregnancies in Singapore. As well as medical excellence, NUH has what is probably
the most progressive attitude towards natural birth, supported by their unique Emma Care system
which means that midwives handle normal labours as far as possible without intervention. NUH allows
water births and offers aromatherapy and doula pressure as a pain relief system.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: I delivered both my babies at NUH, as drug-free water births with Prof.
Chong. I rate NUH highly. They are one of the more progressive hospitals when it comes to maternity
care. Excellent facilities, are happy to facilitate immediate skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, rooming in, etc.
-Kirsten

st
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See for your sel f: Tours are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Each tour is limited to 10
couples. Call the number above to pre-book.
Cost: $4,722 $6,312 for a Ward A bed for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery
(Emma Care package is extra).

Singap or e G ener al Hosp ital

Outram Road, Singapore 169608
Tel: (+65) 6222 3322
The Scoop : A reliable choice without many of the bells and whistles of the other options in the little
red dot. Theyve recently introduced a confinement menu, have floral-themed delivery rooms and are
very supportive when it comes to skin-on-skin, breastfeeding and after-care support. This is a busy
public hospital where you may not be able to get your room of choice.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: I was admitted for 5 days at SGH when I delivered my bub.

While the maternity ward rooms were old, they were comfortable and cosy. The nurses were helpful,
offering advice on breastfeeding and assisting me by hand expressing colostrum for my newborn, who
was in the NICU for observation.

The food was appetizing and I found myself looking forward to when meals were served. The aftercare
was amazing with nurses calling me every two days to find out if I had any issues breastfeeding or if I
was going through any baby blues. We loved feeling like part of a big family from when we went for our
pre-natal check ups to when we left with our baby.
Jasmine

See for your sel f: Labour ward tours are held on Monday to Friday at 11.30am and 3pm and are
included as part of antenatal classes at SGH. If you havent signed up for these classes you can still tour
the facilities on the day of your consultation with your OB-GYN. No advanced booking is allowed.
Cost: $3,708 $5,547 for a Ward A bed for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

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KK W omens and Chil dr ens Hosp ital (KKH)

100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899
Tel: (+65) 6225 5554
The Scoop : If anything (God forbid) goes wrong when baby arrives, youd want to be at KKH, the
largest public hospital in Singapore. They deliver 30-35 babies each day (so theyre kinda the pros), but
that can also make for a bit of a wham, bam, thank you maam experience. With a dedicated perinatal
team always on standby, theres no waiting around for an emergency c-section if needed, and the 28
private delivery rooms have all the mod cons youd expect. Lactation consultants are on hand to

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dispense advice.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: KKH is a bit of a huge machine, so it can be hard to feel like youre getting
the most caring experience, though it really depends on your individual OB/GYN. I had a pleasant
experience with Prof John Tee.
Jingwen

See for your sel f: Take a virtual tour or go along in person every Friday at 11am (call 6394 5038 to
book your spot).
Cost: $4,434 $5,627 for a Ward A bed for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

Pr iv ate Hosp ital s

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G l eneagl es Singap or e
6A Napier Road, Singapore, 258500
Tel: (+65) 6575 7575

The Scoop : Gleneagles provides a special confinement food menu, while Parentcraft classes are
available and run by midwives and lactation consultants. All rooms have Wi-Fi, TV and DVD player,
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private telephone, toiletries, slippers and towels provided. If youre after the VIP treatment at
Gleneagles, upgrade to a Superior Room Package (or one of their amazing suites) and receive a 15
minute complimentary head and shoulder massage, metabolic and hearing screening, as well as a
range of blood tests for your baby, a celebratory cocktail party (woop woop) and a limousine ride home
with your new arrival.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: Overall I had a great experience at Gleneagles: pre-registration and
check-in went smoothly; my room was brand new, clean, and bright; the food was surprisingly tasty;
and my post-birth aftercare was outstanding, from the nurses who came by to unobtrusively check in
on the baby and me, to the lactation consultant who gave me a shoulder massage and breastfeeding
tips. I had some hits and misses with the nursing staff in the labour ward, but the delivery team that
attended to me when push came to shove (uh, literally) was fantastic. They also completely followed
my birth plan (immediate skin-to-skin, baby stayed with me throughout, no pacifier, etc.), which I
really appreciated.
Kate (Sassy Mama Ed!)

See for your sel f: You can take a tour of the maternity facilities on weekdays or Saturdays; pre-
booking by calling the number above is required.

Cost: $8373 $11,461 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery

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Mount El izab eth Hosp ital

3 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228510
Tel: (+65) 6250 0000

The Scoop : Mount Es location next to Paragon on Orchard Road sets the luxury standard for this
hospital, and youll never have to eat the hospital food if hubby can be persuaded to grab some
yummies from there! Single rooms come with all mod cons like flat screen TV and Wi-Fi, and like
Gleneagles, traditional confinement food is available to help you keep your strength up post-birth.
Some fun extra perks are a parking space for one vehicle from date of babys birth, welcome longan or
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ginger tea, and a mother and baby gift set, not to mention a celebratory candlelight dinner for all
mamas staying in single rooms. If you want to seriously push the boat out, upgrade to the fabulous
Daffodil or Magnolia Suites. Mount Es particular strength is the ease of checking in and dealing with
admin, so at least while theyre taking all your money they do it efficiently and with a smile.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: I was very happy with Mount Elizabeth. From check-in to checkout the
process was very easy. My little one arrived 4 weeks early and I had not registered or completed any
hospital paperwork. They managed that with no issues and were very accommodating. Due to the early
arrival my husband was unfortunately out of town. The nursing staff went above and beyond to be my
support network while there. The head nurse even held my hand during the delivery and talked me
through it!
Kristin K

See for your sel f: Call 6731 2000 to register for a maternity tour.

Cost: $8545 $11,923 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

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Mount El izab eth Nov ena Hosp ital

38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563
Tel: (+65) 6250 0000

The Scoop : This brand-spanking-new maternity ward (opened in 2014) boasts a single-room-only
setup, so youre guaranteed your privacy. Youll get all the fab added extras of the original Mount
Elizabeth on Orchard (see above), and if you upgrade to a Junior Suite you can enjoy relaxing on your
outdoor terrace or entertain family members in your suites living room, as well as receive a free
newborn hearing test for your bub.
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W hat Sassy Mamas say: The nurses and midwives are fantastic. Supportive and ever so kind and
patient. I really appreciate the care I got during and after my natural delivery. Baby and I had skin to
skin immediately after birth and they didnt rush at all to get her cleaned up. The nurses were very
attentive.
Christy

See for your sel f: Maternity tours are conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays. For reservations and enquiries, please call 6933 0191.

Cost: $6,709 $8,555 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery

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Par kway East Hosp ital

321 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427990
Tel: (+65) 6377 3737

The Scoop : Small and cosy, East Coast mamas will want to check out this option before considering
schlepping elsewhere. Run by the same group as Gleneagles and Mount E, Parkway doesnt have quite
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as many extra plushy perks as those other hospitals, but the rooms are newly renovated and the care is
excellent.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: We moved to the East Coast before my daughter was born, so we decided
to try out Parkway East, which was just down the street from our home. It is a small hospital with just a
handful of maternity rooms and no fancy suites, but it has been recently renovated and we were
pleasantly surprised by how nice it was! Completing the registration and paperwork was easy and the
admin team was friendly and helpful. Overall the nurses were easy to work with and the quality of care
was excellent. They listened to our requests and made sure we were as comfortable as possible during
labour and recovery. The food was admittedly not great so we usually brought our own or ran
downstairs to Delifrance. If I had a third child, Id definitely go back to Parkway East.
Kristin B

See for your sel f: From Monday to Friday at 2.30pm. Call 6340 8675 to make an appointment.

Cost: $5,762 $6,956 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery

Mount A l v er nia Hosp ital

820 Thomson Road, Singapore 574623
Tel: (+65) 6347 6688

The Scoop : We hear Dr. Lai is the OG OBGYN at Mount Alvernia if youre looking for a natural birth.
Mount A has a reputation for being very pro-breastfeeding and offering lots of support in this area, as
well as being excellent for skin-to-skin. Their strict rules might raise some eyebrows (only one person
is allowed in delivery room), but there is a fair amount of wiggle room if youre prepared to negotiate.
We love that their antenatal classes include a Marriage Enrichment segment to help new parents
navigate through sex during and after pregnancy!

W hat Sassy Mamas say: I was at Mount Alvernia and found the nurses warm and caring, and the
lactation consultant was very encouraging and really helped me on my breastfeeding journey.
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Parul

See for your sel f: Monday to Friday 2.30pm, Saturdays at 10am and 12pm. Call 6347 6788 to book a
tour.

Cost: $6,470 $8,310 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

Thomson Medical Centr e

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339 Thomson Road, Singapore 307677

Tel: (+65) 6250 2222

The Scoop : Mixed reviews reign when it comes to feedback on Thomson Medical Centre some
people loved their experiences, others were not fans. The lactation consultant service in particular
seems to need some improvement. If youre bringing in your own doula and expecting a very natural
birth, youre likely to find success here. Special confinement foods are offered on the menu.

W hat Sassy Mamas say: I chose Thomson because it was small. Everything you need from doctors
and bloodwork, to food and pharmacy is convenient and close by when you need it. I also loved that the
nurses at Thomson left us to bond with our baby for a long time. Those quiet moments with our new
little one were absolute bliss!
Jennifer

See for your sel f: Mondays and Fridays at 10am and 2.30pm, Saturdays 10am and 12pm. Book your
spot by calling 6358 0055.

Cost: $5,993 $7,980 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

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Raffl es Hosp ital

585 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188770
Tel: (+65) 6311 1111

The Scoop : Raffles only work with their own doctors (this includes paediatricians), and their doctors
dont practise elsewhere. We hear rave reviews for head lactation consultant Helen who is a whizz with
helping to get your breastfeeding journey started.

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W hat Sassy Mamas say: Rooms are always clean, food was tasty by hospital standards and the staff
are great. Request a room not right next to the nursing station if possible as it gets a little noisy.
Mariana

See for your sel f: No need to book an appointment just join the tour (which starts from the Business
Office at Level 8) at 11.30am on Wednesdays or Mondays at 4pm.

Cost: $8,080 $11,276 for a Single Room for two nights stay and normal vaginal assisted delivery.

Costs for delivery are quoted from the MOH website (which you should check for updates to these
costs), and the ranges are based on the difference between a 50th percentile bill up to a 90th percentile
bill.

Lead image sourced via Shutterstock, image #1 sourced via Shutterstock

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Hester

Hester

Along with fellow Tai-Tais, Maura Thompson and Natalie

Firestone, Hester founded Sassy in Hong Kong in 2009 and then
Sassy Mama in 2011 after the birth of her daughter Elodie. Two
months after her second daughter Margot arrived, she headed
off to her new home in Singapore with tinies in tow. Hester is
discovering the Lion City one shophouse at a time!

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Join the discussion

Elisia Phua 3 months ago

It's not quite true to say that public hospitals don't handle insurance claims as well as private
hospitals. Case in point, my father-in-law was hospitalised in Parkway East and SGH before. With
SGH, the Letter of Guarantee for NTUC Income is automatically provided. Not so with Parkway
East. Also, SGH does automatically submit the bill for insurance claim.

I gave birth at SGH, and it was definitely my obstetrician of choice that delivered her. So not quite
true about the mid wife-led delivery at public hospitals too.
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