DELIVERY IN SINGAPORE

We all know how important it is to choose a good doctor to observe your pregnancy, but what about the hospital to deliver your baby? Would you like to have your delivery in Singapore? Is it just a matter of comfort or something far more vital than that? At the first glance, travelling abroad to deliver your baby may seem pricy and, to a certain extent, absurd. However, the picture may change if we get into details, compare the range of services provided, newborn care facilities; range of tests to detect congenital defects (infant hearing test, newborn metabolic screen), etc. Delivery in Singapore can become a very rational option, when you are aware what is available for the money and effort you spend. In Singapore we have the best neonatal facilities to manage any possible complications, which together with the very experienced and highly skilled doctors, provides the best conditions for your baby to meet this world. Below you can find more detailed information about delivery in Singapore and neonatal services provided.

There is a comprehensive range of antenatal care services available for you, when you decide to have your delivery in Singapore, as it is an important first step in your maternity journey to prepare for your baby’s birth. Services range from health monitoring of mother and baby throughout the pregnancy to conducting antenatal classes and tours of the maternity facilities.

To make childbirth a wonderful experience for you, maternity ward features leading technology and specialised services with serene surroundings and thoughtful touches. The medically equipped delivery suites provide a safe and supportive environment during labour designed to make you feel at home.

Launched on 28 March 2014, Singapore’s first new maternity ward in 16 years is also the first and only one that guarantees every mum-to-be the comfort and privacy of a single room.

When choosing baby delivery in Singapore, mothers can look forward to the comforts of home away from home. The suites include:

  • A welcome mini bar
  • Free WiFi
  • Tablet for mobile web surfing
  • A 46” LED TV with in-room entertainment system
  • Premium bath toiletries from Crabtree & Evelyn

Personalized post-natal confinement menus are also available as well as complimentary 15-minute massages, personalized bath demonstrations and breastfeeding coaching.

The Junior Suite features an adjoining living room, an optional outdoor terrace, a luxurious walk-in bathroom, Como Shambhala toiletries, personalised nursing service, bath demonstration and breastfeeding coaching. The hearing screening test for your newborn is included as well.

Bonding with your newborn is vital especially after the first few days of birth. In addition to ensuring that your baby receives dedicated medical care, trained maternity staff will be there to support you in breastfeeding and provide advice on early parenthood skills. By the time of discharge, you’ll be ready and confident to take your baby home.

A subspecialty of paediatric medicine, Neonatology offers tailored medical care to premature or ill newborns. In collaboration with an obstetric service, the neonatology department provides:

  • Pre-conception counselling
  • Pre-natal counselling
  • High-risk pregnancies care
  • Birth defects services
  • Child development unit
  • Neonatal follow-ups for high-risk newborns

The Neonatology department provides tailored medical care that can make a huge difference in the survival of premature or high-risk newborns. Skilled paediatric surgeons can perform laparoscopic surgical procedures to repair congenital birth defects (some can be life threatening to premature and full-term babies).

As a parent, your baby’s health is your first priority. Your newborn can be screened for at least 25 rare metabolic disorders and hearing loss to ensure that your baby gets the best start in life and stays healthy, if you choose to have your delivery in Singapore.

A trained team of nurses provide intensive and special care for newborns, support and health education to parents of high-risk newborns. Support groups for parents who would like to share their experience with other parents facing similar problems in caring for their ill newborns are also provided.

WHY IS THE INFANT HEARING TEST SO IMPORTANT FOR MY BABY?

It’s important to identify any hearing problems as soon as possible because the ability to hear is the foundation of your baby’s ability to learn. This is why experts recommend that your baby’s hearing should be screened before discharging.

WHAT’S THE SCREENING TEST LIKE?

There are 2 types of newborn hearing screening tests used:

  • Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR): Sensors, connected to a computer, on your baby’s scalp to measure your baby’s brainwave activity in response to little clicking sounds that are transmitted through small earphones.
  • Otoacoustic emissions (OAE): A little device in your baby’s ear that makes soft clicking sounds and a computer connected to the device records the ear’s response to the sounds to measure sound waves in the inner ear.

Each of the tests only takes only five or ten minutes and is painless. Many babies sleep through the screening.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BABY DOESN’T PASS THE INFANT HEARING TEST?

It doesn’t necessarily mean that he has a hearing problem if your baby doesn’t pass the test but it does mean that more testing is necessary. Your baby should be scheduled for a repeat screen within the first month of life. Sometimes, babies fail the first screening because they have fluid in the middle ear or debris (like vernix) in the ear canal or because the room they are in is too noisy or they’re too feisty during the test (moving or crying). Many babies who fail the first screening often pass follow-up testing.

If a baby doesn’t pass the first hearing screening, he/she will normally be checked again in a week or two or referred to an audiologist (a hearing expert). More tests will be carried out to find out whether your baby have hearing loss, how significant it is, and what can be done to help him.

IF MY BABY PASSES THE HEARING TEST, COULD HE STILL HAVE HEARING LOSS?

Yes, it is possible. Newborn screening tests do not detect mild degrees of permanent hearing impairment. Passing the newborn hearing screening doesn’t mean that a baby’s hearing is perfect. It is possible for a baby to pass the newborn hearing screening and still have a mild hearing loss or develop a hearing loss later.

Delayed-onset hearing loss can happen for a number of reasons, including:

  • Illness
  • Injury
  • Genetics
  • Exposure to loud and prolonged levels of noise

This is why regular hearing check-ups are so important. Ask your doctor to refer you to an audiologist for further testing if you’re concerned about your baby’s hearing or if your baby has risk factors for delayed-onset or progressive hearing loss.

NEWBORN METABOLIC SCREEN

When your baby’s body cannot successfully metabolise certain substances in food/milk such as fats, protein or sugar, they may accumulate and become toxic to the body. This can lead to serious health problems. A screening test can show whether your baby is at high or low risk of having such a disorder.

The Newborn Metabolic Screen looks for more than 25 metabolic related disorders in 3 categories:

  • Organic Acid Disorders
  • Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders
  • Amino Acid Disorders

A small blood sample is taken from your baby to be sent to the National Expanded Screening Laboratory for analysis. A few drops of blood are collected on a special filter paper by gently pricking the heel. Blood samples can be extracted from your baby any time between 1 and 7 days old. The best time for collection is between 1 to 3 days old.

One of the following will occur when the results are available:

  • Negative results for all the disorders: More than 99% of babies fall under this category. This means your baby is at very low risk of having these disorders. The results will be filed into your baby’s medical record. On rare occasions, a disorder may not be picked up on the metabolic screen.

A second sample is needed for about 1 in 100 babies. This means that the first sample showed borderline results and it was not possible to tell whether or not a problem exists. You will be contacted to arrange for another sample test to be taken.

  • Positive results for one of the conditions: This does not necessarily mean that your baby has a disorder. It means that further testing is required. You will be called to make arrangements for a metabolic physician to review and investigate the analysis. Your baby will be given appropriate treatment right away if a diagnosis is made.

Most babies in Singapore are screened negative. It is important to note that rare but life threatening disorders can normally be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment.