We enrolled for the tour of the medical center and signed up for their prenatal classes, 6 sessions at $361. We elected to attend their weekend class at Ang Mo Kio hub supposedly to cover the basics and get us ready. However, it was not indicated clearly that 2 of the sessions would be held at Singapore Chinese Girls School (SCGS), so transportation might be of concern. The AMK hub venue is held at a small child care center and crammed to the max with attendees with no seats and sitting on exercise floor mats for the mothers. So it can be rather uncomfortable for each 2 hour plus session.
We saw TMC's delivery rooms and decided to opt for the Premier Single suite subject to availability on delivery - which allows for privacy and the husband to room in with the mother after delivery.
The gynae we switched to is Dr (Mdm) Tan, an aging, almost-retired doctor with a life time wealth of experience behind her and was highly recommended by J's friends as well. We obtained all our medical records from KK for her reference. Unfortunately, as with all private gynae consultants, they charge by the package, so even though we are several months into the pregnancy before switching to see her, we still have to pay the full package price as new pregnancies. The benefits are apparent from the first consultation. They have their own ultra scan machines right in the consultation rooms so there's no need to queue up for a common scan as at the public services offered at KK. It is also conducted by the gynae who would see and explain the baby status on the spot - something we sorely missed at KK, which was conducted by a lab technician whose job is not to explain anything to the anxious mother and the results are to be interpreted by whichever doctor happens to be for the queue.
Upon asking her about our anxiety over the artery kink issue, she asked J to sleep on her side to help with the blood supply, which provides great relief to us. She is also very patient and detailed in answering J's questions, putting her mind at ease and lowering our stress levels.
It is good to know we are in very good hands!
We also signed up for TMC's First Born Incentive, a membership scheme for patients and a quick calculation shows that the benefits, the discounts and the goodie bag items offset the membership fee and we signed up for that too. Their goodie bag is generous with all sorts of items and samples from milk powder manufacturers and baby supply companies. We also take the chance to sign up for whatever free samples we can get from all major companies. Everyone loves free samples!
