Medically Challenged
Unfortunately here in Sgp you have to pay for medical care even if you're a local. Locals are subsidised because they have paid taxes all those years whereas we expats just turn up for a few years then leave! Fair enough, we can't expect our own welfare states to follow us around the world, but it's still irritating to those of us on the (not) receiving end!!
I'm 36 weeks pg and completed my last flight last week. It was only 4 hours, but I was quite uncomfortable, and it took me a day or so to get over it. Airlines won't let you fly after 35 weeks unless you have a seriously valid reason and medical certs etc etc. Too much paperwork and still the possibility they will not let you board! For a long haul you might want to think twice about it.
I guess you're from Australia or NZ with the options you gave. I do know people who flew back to the UK (a longer flight than Aus/NZ) at 7 months because they weren't willing to pay the Sgp rates. If you don't work and have family to stay with, then I would certainly consider that idea. You can arrange the birth beforehand and have check-ups etc when you arrive there. That way you just have the necessary check-ups here before you go. Why not find a doc back home (talk to your old GP as a start) to talk to about it, and see if he/she would be willing to take you on? If they are, then you can plan from now and they can tell you when to go for what scans etc.
It's easy to get scans done at Asia-medical etc even with a note from a doc overseas, or you could get an obs here to oversee it (with you second-opinion-ing with your chosen doc back home). There is a fab screening/lab place in Cairnhill Tower or Place which is accessed from the car park (floor 10 I think). They have great equipment and doctors and would be happy, I'm sure, to help you out.
That way you just get scans and tests which are necessary, and pay for them as you go.
I am told that an obs is required for a delivery in Sgp, and I know they don't get paid unless they deliver the baby! I also have a midwife friend who works here and she said often a lot of the bigger names (and my obs is one of them!) just breeze in and out for the last short time of delivery, leaving the rest to the midwives. If I was paying myself and money was tight, i would be a bit peeved at that!! Also, if you have a quick delivery, they may not even get there on time! My friend is trying to get a licence to do home deliveries (as midwives can do in the UK and Aus), but she is finding it hard to get insurance. Sgp govt has just said this practice will be allowed, but so far no midwives are offering it.
I've been doing a quick sum of the costs we have incurred and what for and what we are likely to incur for delivery, and I think the minimum you can get away with is $5000 from conception to post-delivery. My biggest worry, paying for it myself and with no insurance, would be if something happened away from what is considered "normal", or I had complications, or the baby needed ICU/treatment immediately after birth. In my job I have seen invoices for prem babies who have had 3 weeks of ICU hospitalisation and they are $20k. The highest I have seen so far was $48k!!! Scary figures, and very low probability, but a fact all the same.
Just one last idea - have you tried talking to the midwives at Mother & Child, as maybe they could help you out if you are wanting to go for a delivery back home? After all, they are Brits/Aussies and in both those countries they would be the person you saw for check-ups and not an obs.
It's a tough decision, if you want to talk it through, email me alibags@hotmail.com
