Confused - paedtrician advice

Posted by popsicle (420 days ago)

Have two weeks until baby due, however hadn't realised that I needed to select a paediatrician to be at the birth (C sect) and hospital check ups. I picked up a card from my OB, however he seems sooooooo expensive.

Not sure how it all works - do you need to have a Paed. at the birth? Do they do the vaccinations as well? Is this included in the cost? How many visits do they typically make for a 5 day hosp stay assuming bub has no problems?

Can anyone recommend a good paed that is a reasonable price that is familiar with the Oz/ NZ vaccination schedules etc.

As exciting as it is to be having bubba #2 - all these costs just keep coming and coming - It really is hard to digest and quite depressing!!!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by GisaJob (420 days ago)

Hi Popsicle,

I haven't been told to nominate a particular paediatritican and just assumed that a doctor resident at the hospital will carry out any routine checkups while we are both still in hospital. Maybe this is yet to be sprung upon me by my OB!

Without knowing what your particular package is, it's hard to know if this could already be included in what you are paying the hospital for the delivery. It is included in my insurance so I haven't looked into it too much.

Once you leave hospital however you are free to use your local GP, or mother and baby clinic, for any further care. Unless there are problems, a specialist pead shouldn't be necessary.

One thing I do know (from reading other posts on this site) is that your baby is entitled to free vaccinations in HK at government clinics - which is what I'm planning to use.

You may find that the schedule of jabs is different to those in Oz/NZ and will have to pay for any extra you want but this should save both of us a fortune compared to going privately.

Hope this helps a little.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by popsicle (419 days ago)

Thanks Gisajob, there just seem to be so many 'layers' in this whole process! It seems with 'healthcare' fees it is assumed that all expats are on big packages with full insurance cover....

Will look into the govt clinics for sure.... and pay extra through them should I need to.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by waffle_hk (419 days ago)

This was a suprise to me the first time I delivered too!

Normally, if you deliver in a private hospital, your OB/GYN will work with a paediatritican. The hospital does not 'provide' one. You may elect to have a different one, but you'll have to arrange this beforehand.
If you have a C-section, the paediatritican will be present at the birth, visit you and your baby every day you are in hospital and give your baby the essential jabs at birth and any needed in the following few days. For this, they charge heftily. And this is not usually included in your OB/GYN package.

You can switch to the gov clinic for jabs or your local GP once you have been discharged.

Best to ask your OB who their preferred paediatritican is and decide if you want to use him/her. If not, start looking around for another one. There's lots of comments in these forums.
Good luck!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by popsicle (419 days ago)

thanks waffle.....

Can anyone recommend a good and reasonably priced paed then???

Thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cd (417 days ago)

I've had 2 born here as a private patient in a public hospital (admittedly not recently), both midwife delivery, no doctor or paediatrician present, new born jabs were done by the nurses on the wards. None of my friends that have had babies here, many at the Matilda have ever mentioned having to have a paediatrician as well as a doctor present. I think I'll have to ask them specifically if they had one, seems strange to me, just another way of getting more money.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by popsicle (417 days ago)

yep, for c section it is mandatory I am told.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by popsicle (417 days ago)

as a follow up to above post - just found out that a paed at delivery is Mandatory at the Matilda, although optional at Canossa.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sydexpat (417 days ago)

Hi Ladies
I had elective c-sections at the Adventist hospital 2yrs ago and 4 yrs ago. A paed was not present for the birth of either of my children, although the paed administered the usual tests and jabs post delivery.
Regards Roz

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Verellene (417 days ago)

So why would they require a paed to be present during the delivery of a c section anyone know?

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by popsicle (416 days ago)

Sydexpat - thats right, and still stands, I meant to write adventist not Canossa......baby brain!!

The OB prefers to have a paed on stand by for the C section, so he can concertrate on the mother soley.

I had a c sect in Sydney and the midwives looked after the baby - no paed present, and had only 1 x in hospital visit...no probs

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by joey2 (416 days ago)

I have had 2 C sections at the Matilda and was not required to have a paed there either time (one emergency, one elective). The paed came later that day to check over the baby. Maybe this is a new requirement? (my youngest is 18 months now) I did have to specify who I wanted as my paed before delivery and give his contact details, then the hospital informed him once the baby was born.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by firsttimemom (415 days ago)

I had a long long labour and I didnt know it, but my gynae who has a paed in her practice put the paed on "standby". They suggested her, I agreed, but they didnt tell me she was on standby and would charge me by the hour!!! for two days! I got the shock of my life when I saw the bill for 11K HK! So if you are in a long labour make sure you know and agree if the paed is on standby and what the charges are.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Lena HK (415 days ago)

I also had a c-section (emergency) at Matilda and was very happy that there was a paed on standby - so he could resuscitate my bub while my OB continued my surgery... But I did not have to pick a paed beforehand, I guess I just went with the one who is in the same practice as my OB (Ghosh & Thundop). Did not realize having a paed at your c-section was compulsory!
Have stayed with Thundop so far - he is good but not cheap. I like that he does not give medication unless it's really necessary, but he is a very busy man...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by winter9 (413 days ago)

I had a c-sect at Adventist, before I gave birth my gyn did tell me that I needed a paed, anyway they don't have to be present when you are actually giving birth, but they will give your baby the required injections after birth. My cost for the paed came around to hk6000( around 1000 for a day) hope this info will help!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Scuba chick (408 days ago)

Typically the OBGYN will have a Pead on his list. I didn't use the one recommended by my Dr, but asked the Adventist to provide thier on duty Pead when I had my C-Section. Was about 4 to 5K. About half the cost of the PEAD recommended by my Dr. Just ask at your hospital. But you will absolutely need one.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Nuri (408 days ago)

cd, what does it mean to be a private patient in a public hospital? How much does it cost, do you book it beforehand, why did you choose that option?

(I am based in Hong Kong)