1st pregnancy - Anxious!

M

Marufa

Registered User
The doctor just confirmed that I am pregnant. In a while, I am due for my antenatal checkups.

What really worries me is that this is my first pregnancy in Hong kong. I have an ID card, even though I am a foreigner. My husband is a parmanent card holder. We wanted to have our first baby in Queen Mary Hospital since we know others who have had their babies there. But, since we live in Tung Chung, we have been referred to go to Princess Margaret Hospital for the delivery.

Now, what bothers me is that I havent heard of Princess Margaret hospital before. Can anyone recommend this hospital for good doctors, medical services, etc. In an earlier thread, I read that the nurses treat the patients very carelessly, especially if they are not local. Is that true? Since this is going to be our first baby, we are really anxious.

Also, if we would wish to opt for a c-section, is it possible to do so in Princess Margaret hospital? If not, what are the costs that can be incurred in a private hospital?

Please advice!
 
if you are going to a public hospital using the ultra-cheap services (as you are entitled to with a HKID card, regardless of whether you are a foreigner or not) you DO NOT get to choose your doctors.

if you want the "luxury" of choosing your doctor you need to go through the private system and pay through the nose for it!

in the public system you cannot "choose" to have a c-section... they will only perform them for medical reasons.

i have had two c-sections, although at QMH. one was an emergency and the second was an "elective" only in that due to my VERY complicated medical problems we/they chose to perform it rather than wait for another emergency to happen.

if you want to choose a c-section, you also need to go through the private system.

good luck and relax! it isn't as bad as you think!
 
Sounds a bit like the UK!

My recommendation would be to go and visit the hospital if you can (if they have ante natal classes there it might help or is there an external ante natal group you can join?)

Also think carefully before you opt for a C section. I'm not an "earth mother" type but I have seen the difference on a general ward where mothers had had a C section and other hadn't (including me) - the mothers who had a C section had problems picking up their baby which you don't generally get with a vaginal birth.

I wish you lots of luck.
 
I live in TC and I gave birth to my 1st at PMH by way of C section of of breech position. I find the entirely staying there very acceptable although the nurses are overworked but they are very supportive whenever they have a minute with u. Go visit yourself and have questions in hand to ask. I did as everyone there so I have no question at all to ask and I don't mind things too much. More so I saved a big big buck - paid only $600 for EVERYTHING!
 
PMH is fine - the level of English was above acceptable, and the medical care just as good as what you would get at QMH. (I delivered at QMH due to high risks, but ended up at PMH in early labout at 33 weeks, which they managed to stop). I met two doctors there who were educated in Australia and the UK. I wouldn;t have a problem going there..........
 
Thanks so much ladies. I feel much better already. I am terrified of normal delivery and was hoping a c-section would be quicker and painless during the birthing process. My sister opted for a c-section and though she was taken care of by my mother afterwards and took a longer time to heal, she was comfortable with it. I have heard others who have had stitches too after normal delivery and they say c-section is better since having stitches on tummy is better.

All in all, i just want to have a healthy baby by the grace of God. However, there is one more thing I am confused about. Is the antenatal checkup done at PMH too? I was told to have it done at a local clinic. I am scheduled for my antenatal checkup at FuTung clinic at Tung Chung. Is that the norm?
 
i'm a first time upcoming mom too! i'm going to have mine at 'french' hospital, can't recall english name. it's on kowloon side. private and will probably cost an arm and leg (around 45k?). starting to regret having paid deposit now can't back out and find a public hospital!

i'm terrified of needles/stitches so am opting for 'normal' delivery, bring on the pain! *fingers crossed* Have definitely heard that c-section takes way longer to heal though.
 
marufa, yes, it is perfectly normal to have your check-ups at the clinic. if there are any problems, THEN you have the check-ups at the hospital itself.

you're lucky... i've had all of my check-ups at the hospital (QMH) over two pregnancies... plus been hospitalised 13 times...plus check-ups every 2-4 weeks for the entire pregnancy.

if there are any problems or concerns, the nurses/doctors will let you know.

now... relax! worrying so much isn't good for the baby, LOL!
 
Thank you ladies. Got to get myself mentally prepared for the pain, stitches or no stitches. This morning sickness is really bearing me down and I am having nightmares at night. Perhaps because I have never been to a hospital before in my life, except when I took my vaccinations when I was a baby. I am just terribly anxious now.

I feel for you Carang, I hope I really dont have to go through all those checkups. Wish me luck! What does an antenatal checkup comprise of? Are they going to take long? Do I need a scan? ( I am about six weeks pregnant)
 
if you go to a private doctor it might be a little different, but at the public clinics they:
1)test urine for protein, glucose etc
2) check the blood pressure
3) as you get bigger measure the tummy
4) feel the tummy
5)perhaps a vaginal exam

once you get to about 11 weeks or so, they'll listen for the heartbeat

in the public system, if everything is going according to plan, then you'll have a scan around 12 weeks and a major scan around 20 weeks. if there are complications, then you will have more scans. i've heard from friends that have gone private that they had a scan every time they had an appointment.

the actual appointment doesn't take long, but the wait can be up to 2 hours! so, take a book!

as for morning sickness, if it is REALLY unbearable, as mine was (lost 20lbs+ in the first 3 months!) ask the doctor for something to take the edge off. it doesn't eliminate the sick feeling but it does take the edge off, so at least you can eat.

good luck!
ps> when i look back, it doesn't seem so bad... i got 2 absolutely wonderful children out of it! that's a fair price in my opinion.
 
Thanks Carang. I feel so much better knowing that the first test is not that complicated at all. I was loosing sleep over it.
 
Dear Marufa,

Im pregnant and live at Tung Chung as well. This is my first baby, and Im also away from home, Im from Canada. Anyways if you want to consider a Private Hospital, Im going to use the Baptist Hospital, I already went to go look at it and its a very nice hospital and not too far of a care ride from Tung Chung. the prices for the packages for natural delivery are Standard room: $15,880.00, Standard plus 19,800.00, Semi Private 23,880.00 Private 33,800.00 the charges include the room for 3 nights/4days and all natural delivery charges for the doctor and hospital. You will also need to choose a doctor the one Im using is at Quality Health Care at maritime Square, he is very good and caring, Dr.Lam Man Ho. If you want a c section you have the choice at a private hospotal but at a public hospital you have to go natural unless an emergency occurs and they have to perform a c section (that is what I have heard anyways) but at a private hospital you have the choice before hand but keep in mind a c section is very expensive packages starting from 17,800-38,000.00 HK dollars. I hope this has helped.
 
Thank you, this has really helped. My husband wanted me to go Fu Tung Clinic near the citigate for the antenatal checkup but the first time I went there to get an appointment I was not very comfortable.

I also wanted to get acquainted with a hospital too as soon as possible and therefore suggested to my husband that I could have my antenatal checkup. Since we are opting for Princess Margaret for the moment and I am still petrified of a normal birthing process, I think getting acquainted with a private hospital too is a safe bet. I guess Baptist hospital should be nearer than the Sanatorium and the prices seem reasonable too.

I had no idea that Maritime Square has a clinic too. Since you liked your checkup there, perhaps it might be better for me to go there than the Fu Tung for an antenatal checkup until we can decide on whether to go for prenatal at Princess Margaret or a private hospital.

My husband thinks its better to be acqainted with a clinic closeby for emergency purposes and therefore suggested Fu Tung. I am still not comfortable but do you think its necessary to have acquaintance with a nearby clinic? In my country, once you get an antenatal checkup done, you can call the doctor anytime in case of discomfort during the entire pregnancy period. How does it work here?
 
stopping stretchmarks

I am pregnant and want to know if anyone has had any luck with skin care for stopping stretchmarks? I have heard that some are not safe to use and can harm my baby but I am so confused by which ones are ok and actually work to prevent stretchmarks, as I happily grow into my 9 month bump!
 
Do read up about your birth options so that you can make an informed decision, rather than doing something that worked for someone else but may not necessarily work for you. I had a normal delivery and took advantage of an epidural, which basically took away my labour pain. I had very little discomfort afterwards, despite an episiotomy, and just needed a few doeses of regular paracetamol for the first couple of days whilst still in hospital. I was able to breastfeed my baby right after birth, whereas it would be very difficult after a C-Section when you need assistance and in the public sector; they're not going to be able to do that and your baby will be whipped off to the nursery no doubt instead of happily nursing with Mum.
 
would be strange if a product specifically made for a symptom of pregnancy would be harmful to pregnant women.

stretch cream is basically just a moisturising cream....

remember, when you buy them to also apply to your boobs, as they stretch too, that's where most of my marks are.
 
Don't waste your money; you're either lucky or you're not where stretch marks are concerned. Think the best way to avoid them is to eat sensibly and try, if you can, to keep your weight gaining at a constant rate and within parameters.
 
Polly,
i NEVER had any problems with BF either or my babies in the public hospital. i just made it known that i REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to BF.

i had two c-sections and although it hurt afterwards, the pain killers that they gave me worked VERY well and i had no problems picking up my baby to BF. if i did have problems, i simply called for a nurse to help. they always came and assisted.

with my first, i NEVER used the nursery. with my second, i had no choice as i had general anesthesia (not an epi or spinal) and could not physically keep my eyes open. but even so, the nurses would come and wake me up to BF if i slept too long and other than the first two feedings when there was NO WAY i could BF after waking from the GA, my daughter was exclusively BF for the first 6 months.

to anyone considering giving birth in the public hospital, what you need to know is this:

1) remember that the staff is all over worked and underpaid.
2) make sure that YOU ask any questions and not wait for someone to explain every procedure
3) make sure that YOU make your wishes known
4) remember that every pregnancy is different as is every delivery. there is NO one "right way" to do it. if you choose a natural delivery, it doesn't make you any better or worse than someone who chooses to have a c-section
5) remember that you can plan every aspect of the delivery and know exactly what you want and then when the moment comes it all goes out the window for one reason or another. this doesn't mean that your "birth" is ruined.

and lastly:
6) REMEMBER THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE SAFE ARRIVAL OF YOUR LITTLE ONE... nothing else REALLY matters! (except of course, your own health)
 
Dear Murefa, to answer your question about calling the doctor, my doctor Dr.Lam Man Ho at Maritime Square has no problem with you calling him, when I was at the clinic I got his busness card and my husband and I had to call him on his cell phone twice already because we had some problems with bleeding. He doesnt mind at all and he says that THAT is what he is here for. I do agree with your husband about having a doctor close to where you live, and that is why I choose Maritime Square because its such a short MTR ride from Tung Chung. I actually didnt know there was a doctor at Tung Chung for pregnancy, I was referred to my doctor by Quality health care at tung chung. How far along are you and when is your due date? You will need to hurry if you want to go private as it is hard to reserve the space in Hong Kong and you need to do it right away.
 
I use belli products too and love the way they smell and feel. I'm pregnant now, so can't say until later whether or not the oil worked, but I had bad acne and their face wash really helped clear it up. It was the only acne wash I could find that is safe for pregnant ladies- the main ingredient is lactic acid. I bought a bunch of the other products because I was so satisfied!
 
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