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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Thailand - Childbirth - Private Hospital - our experiences

    Experiences of childbirth in a middle level Private Hospital.

    What to expect in terms of
    • costs,
    • service,
    • value for money,
    • competence
    • what to take to the Hospital
    • after delivery services
    How to choose the right place.

    Written from a Male perspective.

    Not an exhaustive list, but it gives you a feel for things to discuss.

    I'll give our experiences, but please jump in at any time and share your experiences also.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Background.

    Myself and my Thai partner were expecting our first child earlier in 2014.

    When I say 'first child', that extends into the fact that neither of have had kids before so one thing I can't compare are Private Hospitals in the West as compared to Thailand.

    When comparing Private Hospitals in Thailand, the one popularly talked about is the Bumrungrad Facility in Bangkok. It has a real international feel about it ... but that comes with a cost. For example, their quote (at the time of writing) for a C-section birth is Bt 93,000. We paid close to 1/2 that.

    Then, the next level down would be Hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital.

    I'm not expert on Thai Hospitals mind you.

    So, then you have middle level Private Hospitals such as the Facility we chose.



    Photo credit and credit


    The Paolo Memorial Hospital Samut Prakan is a 237 Bed facility located on the fringe on the South Eastern fringe of Bangkok.

    A list of Thailand Hospitals can be found here at Wiki

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    How the Hospital / Doctor was chosen?

    There was a strong thought that choosing the Doctor is equally as important as choosing the Hospital ... that was certainly true for us.

    The Doctors for consideration were basically gleaned from my partner's friends and relatives personal experiences. That was then confirmed by searching on-line.

    The Hospitals for consideration was a mix of that above, plus also proximity to the 3 'F's ... Family, Friends and Face.

    Face plays an important role in the decision of many Thais ... the place chosen to have your child does not escape that.


    We did consider the wonderful Siriraj Hospital which is a Government Hospital, the oldest and largest in Thailand ... but it was 3 hours travel by Public Transport.

    It's important to have the support of Family and Friends at this special time. The Hospital was about 30 - 40 mins drive from where we lived.


    What were my thoughts on the process?

    I was happy to go with what my Partner decided as long as they were within Budget (I did say a male perspective).

  4. #4
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD
    What were my thoughts on the process?
    Good question?

    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD
    I was happy to go with what my Partner decided
    Up to you darling.

  5. #5
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    Samitewej hospital (spelling) on sukhumvit 43. Insurance paid.

    Bumrungrad has a 90% c section rate. (WHO recommends 10-15%)

    Proximity to home is also important.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Costs

    This was interesting concept for me ... 'birth packages'.

    The concept that Healthcare is bundled up and 'packaged' was new to me, but when in Thailand ...

    So, the reviews of the Hospitals undertaken in the post above also included their 'packages'.

    At Paolo Memorial Hospital Samut Prakarn, there was a choice of two.

    The Basic and the 'Gold' (essentially the Basic +)


    The Basic was a 3 night/4 day package - Bt 42,000

    Unfortunately the promotional brochure was in Thai so I can't reproduce it for you.

    From memory, inclusions were ...

    3 nights in a private room

    Choice of Birth options (Push or C-Section)

    A free pre-natal consultation

    Some freebies from the Big Pharma side of babies (baby formula, pretty bag, magazine etc)

    That plaque thing were they have the babies photo, their foot print, astrological info.

    Birth Certificate

    The list was quite extensive ... though, my memory less so.

    I'll refer to the other bits as I recall them.


    As for the room ... it was fine.

    Initially we were allocated a room on the 10th floor (nice views from the balcony).





    But got reassigned a room on the same floor as their ICU area as we had a few issues.



    You are allowed to sleep in the room ... I was there 24/7 and while there is no 'bed' for you, that couch in the rear of the shot was more then comfy. They supplied both Blankets and a pillow for me.



    ^ All the things you need. Functional.




    You even get a gift pack. (Make sure you souvenir those small towels ... they come in handy for cleaning the babies mouths after a milk spill.)

    Even the fridge came with some freebies, coke, bottled water some pastry thing.


    Your Hospital maybe be different ... indeed, I'm sure it will be ... these are just our personal experiences.

    I'm sharing them because I had no idea what to expect and hope to make the journey easier for the new Dad in Thailand.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    First of all I'd like to say that my three children were born in a government hospital. I, and my wife, really don't/didn't see the advantages that a private hospital would give us. After all the same doctors work both.

    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    Bumrungrad has a 90% c section rate. (WHO recommends 10-15%)
    May be the reason behind that is because the wife will have been to the temple and asked a monk for a 'best day' for the baby to be born on. The doctor will have given her a 7ish day window to work on. Public holidays will be taken into consideration as well due to the doctor wanting to go away. This is Thailand.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pragmatic View Post
    First of all I'd like to say that my three children were born in a government hospital. I, and my wife, really don't/didn't see the advantages that a private hospital would give us. After all the same doctors work both.

    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    Bumrungrad has a 90% c section rate. (WHO recommends 10-15%)
    May be the reason behind that is because the wife will have been to the temple and asked a monk for a 'best day' for the baby to be born on. The doctor will have given her a 7ish day window to work on. Public holidays will be taken into consideration as well due to the doctor wanting to go away. This is Thailand.
    Yes, the children weren't to be born on a Wednesday, certainly not a Wednesday night. Heck, many Barbers/Hairdressers are closed on a Wednesday ... bad luck to get your haircut on that day!

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    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Sorry I forgot to include costs. For a private room 1,200 a night. Tea money for the doctor who provides a 24 hour coverage was 1,500.
    Birth and care of the child, free.

  10. #10
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    AHC

    Paid as I went for 9 months then 40,000+ on the day

    All great experience

    Had a great vaccination programme available using quality branded drugs
    I only learnt this after I returned to uk for the summer (@8months)and registered with the NHS
    Seems the big NHS wheel takes around 7 years from a WHO recommendation until it's on the shelves!
    will not put up wiv the "Nanny state" so don't push it on me.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Prenatal (the stuff before the baby is born)


    The doctor who does the medical imaging and general consultations was the attending doctor/surgeon who was there running the show in the operating theatre on the day my partner gave birth.




    Affable chap, conversational English, was happy to explain any detail I asked.

    Can't recall his name, will get that later for you.


    Each visit was Bt600, and when you consider that this is the same guy who will operate ... I think great value.

    But here's the catch. Available only Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. While the attending physician at Bumrungrad (apparently from other reports) was available everyday ... but I'm sure he charged a lot more then Bt600.


    It was monthly visits to check on the progress till the 7th month then it went to every 2 weeks.

    Essentially you sit in the comfortable waiting room with the other Mum's to be, the Nurse does her bit BP etc then await the call to the doctors room. There they do the ultrasound.






    Certainly has all the gear.

    There was a TV that replayed what the Doctor was viewing, which also allowed the patient (and me) to watch what he was doing.

    Explained everything in English.

    After that, off to his office to discuss the results etc.


    There were sometimes some medication to be bought ... we purchased it at their in-house pharmacy.

    Being a Private Hospital, I'm sure there was a mark-up to that price you could buy the same on the street ... but the stuff we had to buy wasn't that expensive, so we bought in-house.

    Oh, if you don't want to know the sex of your child, discuss this early on your both your partner and the Doctor. It's not a big thing for them seemingly and they are excited when they know what sex the baby is ... so, as a Mum to be, or a Dad ... discuss this early.

    BTW ... we had twin identical boys.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Planning for the big day

    For some reason, Thai Doctors, rightly or wrongly seem to have a stronger predisposition to Caesarean Birth, then we do in the West.

    We were having TWINS and one of them was anticipated to be in the wrong position come the birth ... so it was always going to be a C-Section or, as the Thai fondly call it ... 'Expressway' ...

    A full term birth is typically around 40 week* date, we were having TWINS so that bought it back to about 36 weeks ... so we discuss with the Doctor when is a good time for this to happen.

    Guys, if you have a Thai Partner, don't be surprised if a 'Wednesday' birth is declined. It's old school thinking, but still around that it's considered by some as 'Bad Luck' to have your baby born on a Wednesday, worse even a Wed night. Not everyone thinks like this, but that thinking is still out there.
    For example, the guy who cuts my hair closes on a Wednesday.

    So the big date is set, all we hope is that the twins co-operate.

    HUH ... fat chance of that. 5.30 on the Saturday morning (week 33) I get a tap on the Shoulder ...

    For the Mum ... we really didn't need to take anything apart from the phone, charger and the like (but they will pack heaps more), Hospital supplies most things, but for yourself, have a small bag pre-packed with what you'll need for 4 or 5 days.

    I had that sat in the corner, but not completed as we were weeks away from the due date.

    For me, in the early morning rush, the biggest thing I had to try and assemble were the stuff for the Baby and what to take them home in ... now, I wish I hadn't ... but more on that later.

    So, pitch dark outside, excitable Father running round trying to remain calm, checking everything, remembering to take everything.

    Bag for Mum, bag for Dad ... camera, phone and charger sorted and on the bed.

    Out the door we go ... I got both bags, even remembered to bring the Mum to be along! But the camera, phone and charger ... left behind on the bed ...

    Oh well, best laid plans of mice and men.

    *counted from the woman's previous menstrual cycle, not when the baby was conceived ... took me a while to get my head around that bit of info. OH ... if I get any of the medical stuff incorrect, please pull me up on that, I want this to be as factual as possible.

  13. #13
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    Great read David.

    This sounds a silly question at first, but isn't when you think about it. How and when did you know the boys were identical?

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    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD
    We were having TWINS
    One thing I recall quite clearly was during the first ultrasound and the doctor remarking that she could hear a good heartbeat, moving the probe thingy and saying 'there's another heartbeat'.

    My initial stunned thought was 'WTF, it has got two hearts?!'.

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon View Post
    Great read David.

    This sounds a silly question at first, but isn't when you think about it. How and when did you know the boys were identical?
    Mate, not a silly question at all.

    As AntRobertson mentions above, we found out through the ultrasound.

    Initially, we had 1 heartbeat on the ultrasound and then, about 4 days later, we, well the doctor heard a second ... so, either we were giving birth to Dr Who or having twins!

    So, to answer your direct question, in the ultrasound, the growing embros are contained inside the same Amniotic sac, and that was apparent on the ultrasound.

    The original embryo 'split'.



    Or, as Thai's quite amusing say ... they were in the same house (sac/placenta).
    Last edited by David48atTD; 31-05-2016 at 10:28 AM.

  16. #16
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    patsycat's Avatar
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    David, I'm still waiting for my quarterly video!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by AntRobertson
    My initial stunned thought was 'WTF, it has got two hearts?!'.


    exactly the same!!!

    18 years ago the choice of hospital was presented like this. Doctor " I do rounds at Chulalongkorn, Samitiwej, and Bumgrumrat, which would you prefer?"

    What are some differences? " At the two private hospitals you can get KFC or McDonalds easily, 24 hour a day"." At Chula you can be sure there is a doctor for any emergency right there 24 /7."

    We went with a private room at Chula and it was just great. 3 nights and back home.

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    we chose sukhumvit hospital as they always seemed nice and professional when we started trying.

    60k natural birth (i think). in and out in a day. included a years worth of immunizations and check ups i think.

    managed to have a beer at Bourbon Street while baby and mother were resting too
    I'd like to see what morning looks like
    Don't wanna drink pint after pint
    I wanna wake up without feeling sick
    But I can't cuz I'm a drug-abusing alcoholic

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bogon
    This sounds a silly question at first
    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD
    Mate, not a silly question at all.


    Yes it was
    The daft fukker was wondering when you first noticed that they looked the same

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong
    60k natural birth
    I got a baby and a big pair of plastic tits for that

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    I had the tits already. But both of my nippers were C section at AEK udon, yes, Thai doctors are pre disposed to the C section but looking at the ultrasound in both cases there was no denying that there was a big fooker in there, and after consulting the monk my first lad was born at 9 o clock in the morning on the ninth day of the ninth month. Lucky bastard eh, all up I think the damage came to about 60 000 baht for a 3 night stay in a lovely room, only complaint was my mother in law and the aunty got the sofa while I kipped on the floor , aided by a couple of dozen Leo's, best bit was the company I worked for then paid the bill. Should a had twins

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly View Post
    Samitewej hospital (spelling) on sukhumvit 43. Insurance paid.

    Bumrungrad has a 90% c section rate. (WHO recommends 10-15%)

    Proximity to home is also important.
    had the last one at bumrungrad, no talk of a C section at all willy; doctor was very good, and all around great expereince.

    total cost was around 60k i think

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by reinvented View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly View Post
    Samitewej hospital (spelling) on sukhumvit 43. Insurance paid.

    Bumrungrad has a 90% c section rate. (WHO recommends 10-15%)

    Proximity to home is also important.
    had the last one at bumrungrad, no talk of a C section at all willy; doctor was very good, and all around great expereince.

    total cost was around 60k i think
    Great value !

    How long ago was that?

  24. #24
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    Done the same as AO and went to Chula for my twins.

    No complaints about the treatment (or price), but needs a couple of quid spent on it to spruce it up. Starting to look it's age.

  25. #25
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    There's a poster on TD (now in Canada I believe) whose wife left their private Thai hospital with both a baby and HIV.

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