Dr Vanaja and NUH or Dr Tseng and Mount A for natural water birth?

[EmmaEDDApril2014]

Hi,


I am pregnant with my first child and hoping for a natural water birth here in Singapore. I have narrowed my choice down to NUH or Mount Alvernia. Can anyone share their experiences of these hospitals? Unfortunately there are no doctors that deliver at both hospitals so it would be Dr Tseng at Mount Alvernia or Dr Vanaja Kalaichelvan at NUH. I have met Dr Tseng but have not met Dr Vanaja. Does anyone have any experience with her? I have been reassured by Dr Tseng that he and the staff at Mount Alvernia will stick to my birth plan, which asks for minimum intervention and procedures. As a government hospital how respectful of birth plans is NUH and Dr Vanaja?



Distance is not a deciding factor as I do not live near either hospital. My other concerns are that Mount Alvernia has only one birth tub and will not allow you to bring your own. Also there is a big lack of transparency when I ask for clarification of costing in relation to water birth at Mount Alvernia. They want to charge an additional $1500 facility fee which includes nothing other than the water in the tub, whereas NUH have been very transparent stating exactly what the $400 facility fee is for water birth…


All advice greatly appreciated.

Thanking you in advance,

Emma

 

[pawzzz]

Hi Emma! Congrats on your pregnancy and planning for a water birth.

For Dr Vanaja, last I heard is that she requires her waterbirth patients to hire a midwife from EmmaCare. Dr Vanaja is a pro-choice doctor so if you can show her that you're very informed in your birth choices and be firm on those choices, you'll be fine.

 

[ademe]

Hi,


I am pregnant with my first child and hoping for a natural water birth here in Singapore. I have narrowed my choice down to NUH or Mount Alvernia. Can anyone share their experiences of these hospitals? Unfortunately there are no doctors that deliver at both hospitals so it would be Dr Tseng at Mount Alvernia or Dr Vanaja Kalaichelvan at NUH. I have met Dr Tseng but have not met Dr Vanaja. Does anyone have any experience with her? I have been reassured by Dr Tseng that he and the staff at Mount Alvernia will stick to my birth plan, which asks for minimum intervention and procedures. As a government hospital how respectful of birth plans is NUH and Dr Vanaja?



Distance is not a deciding factor as I do not live near either hospital. My other concerns are that Mount Alvernia has only one birth tub and will not allow you to bring your own. Also there is a big lack of transparency when I ask for clarification of costing in relation to water birth at Mount Alvernia. They want to charge an additional $1500 facility fee which includes nothing other than the water in the tub, whereas NUH have been very transparent stating exactly what the $400 facility fee is for water birth…


All advice greatly appreciated.

Thanking you in advance,

Emma

Hi emma, i would like to know how your water birth went? Which doc / hosp did you go in the end and did you take a look at both facility?

i'm so confused and need advice. Please and thank you!

 

[ginger_lily]

Hi Emma and Ademe,

You can enlist the help of the EMMa Care midwives to see through your pregnancy and delivery. But the main person doing the delivery would be a doctor, I would recommend Prof Chong Yap Seng from NUH as he specialises in handling waterbirth. Or even Dr EK Tan.