Way too many areas.
Should just be ;
Work
Cunt
Beer
New father to be!
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- I've got nothing better to do
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I wanted to follow up and share some of my experiences at Samitivej.
First off, I know that everyone is curious about the price. To be honest, I cannot tell you from start to finish how much it cost. We were going for monthly checkups, which included a sonogram. Those each ran in the $150 range. Towards the end (in the last month), it was weekly, with a "non stress test", which brought the total over $200 a visit. So, before birth, we probably racked up about $1500-$2000 in total visit charges (rough estimate).
The birth itself came in packages: natural birth, c-section, and a 3 or 4 night stay. The natural birth was 95,000 baht I think ($3,000), with a 3 night stay, and the c-section was 119,000 baht ($4,000) with a four night stay. What they failed to mention was that if you went in for a natural birth, but it then turned into a c-section, you had to pay the c-section price (obviously), plus a fee for using the natural birth room, so the total came to 145,000 baht ($5,000).
Costs didn't stop there, though. The additional costs after birth, but during the stay, included about $1000 for normal checks on the baby -- I would have thought they were included in the package, but no. Then of course there's the fees for the birth certificate and translations, and some other random fees. All-in, after four nights in the hospital our total bill was about 200,000 baht ($6,500).
So, I would roughly estimate that it cost $8,500 to give birth at Samitivej. I don't know the real numbers, nor care, as I didn't pay a penny, but our health insurance did. On that note, I would point out two things: 1) If it's a new policy you need to wait 12 months before she can get pregnant (unless you get added to a large group plan, but check that first); and 2) most plans limit birth expenses to $6,500, which we would have clearly been over, however if there's an "emergency" they'll cover more.
Now, the experience itself. All of the checkups were great, but I do think they were adding more than necessary to rack up the bill. On the day of the birth I was very unimpressed with how a few things went down, which all centered on a lack of communication. However, they did a great job with the actual procedure and medical care, just lacked in the bedside manner. The nights in the hospital were also great, with the nurses really taking care of everyone and providing great support. Once, when walking through a door, a nurse said to me: "customer's first". This sums up a lot of their thinking - we were customers, not patients.
In the end, we felt 1000 times safer doing it there than here. I know there are good facilities here, and even if an emergency happens I am sure they could get the baby out -- but there we felt that the mother was also in very safe hands, and that had something gone really bad, they have all of the facilities for both baby and mom. In Cambodia you might find a great doctor, but what if he's busy at that moment? In Bangkok we knew there was also excellent back up, plus a great Neonatology unit. Also, before the birth, there were classes in English that I don't think exist here, and support networks, dulas, etc.
Another thing to consider on the costs are the flights, hotels, etc. So, even though the hospital was free, we did have plenty of out of pocket expenses. You would need to account for her being there a month early, and 3-4 weeks after. Secondly, I know of a friend that gave birth here at a top facility, and the total cost was about $5,000. I know, I know, plenty of $200 options, but for the "comparable" level the prices weren't so off.
If we were to do it again in a year, I think we'll go down the same path, if not for the peace of mind alone. Plus, some time in Bangkok never hurt anyone... too badly.
Thanks for all the advice above.
First off, I know that everyone is curious about the price. To be honest, I cannot tell you from start to finish how much it cost. We were going for monthly checkups, which included a sonogram. Those each ran in the $150 range. Towards the end (in the last month), it was weekly, with a "non stress test", which brought the total over $200 a visit. So, before birth, we probably racked up about $1500-$2000 in total visit charges (rough estimate).
The birth itself came in packages: natural birth, c-section, and a 3 or 4 night stay. The natural birth was 95,000 baht I think ($3,000), with a 3 night stay, and the c-section was 119,000 baht ($4,000) with a four night stay. What they failed to mention was that if you went in for a natural birth, but it then turned into a c-section, you had to pay the c-section price (obviously), plus a fee for using the natural birth room, so the total came to 145,000 baht ($5,000).
Costs didn't stop there, though. The additional costs after birth, but during the stay, included about $1000 for normal checks on the baby -- I would have thought they were included in the package, but no. Then of course there's the fees for the birth certificate and translations, and some other random fees. All-in, after four nights in the hospital our total bill was about 200,000 baht ($6,500).
So, I would roughly estimate that it cost $8,500 to give birth at Samitivej. I don't know the real numbers, nor care, as I didn't pay a penny, but our health insurance did. On that note, I would point out two things: 1) If it's a new policy you need to wait 12 months before she can get pregnant (unless you get added to a large group plan, but check that first); and 2) most plans limit birth expenses to $6,500, which we would have clearly been over, however if there's an "emergency" they'll cover more.
Now, the experience itself. All of the checkups were great, but I do think they were adding more than necessary to rack up the bill. On the day of the birth I was very unimpressed with how a few things went down, which all centered on a lack of communication. However, they did a great job with the actual procedure and medical care, just lacked in the bedside manner. The nights in the hospital were also great, with the nurses really taking care of everyone and providing great support. Once, when walking through a door, a nurse said to me: "customer's first". This sums up a lot of their thinking - we were customers, not patients.
In the end, we felt 1000 times safer doing it there than here. I know there are good facilities here, and even if an emergency happens I am sure they could get the baby out -- but there we felt that the mother was also in very safe hands, and that had something gone really bad, they have all of the facilities for both baby and mom. In Cambodia you might find a great doctor, but what if he's busy at that moment? In Bangkok we knew there was also excellent back up, plus a great Neonatology unit. Also, before the birth, there were classes in English that I don't think exist here, and support networks, dulas, etc.
Another thing to consider on the costs are the flights, hotels, etc. So, even though the hospital was free, we did have plenty of out of pocket expenses. You would need to account for her being there a month early, and 3-4 weeks after. Secondly, I know of a friend that gave birth here at a top facility, and the total cost was about $5,000. I know, I know, plenty of $200 options, but for the "comparable" level the prices weren't so off.
If we were to do it again in a year, I think we'll go down the same path, if not for the peace of mind alone. Plus, some time in Bangkok never hurt anyone... too badly.
Thanks for all the advice above.
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Nope, we had our motorbike with us since we came to PP early and were waiting for the birth - stayed in Sen Sok to be close to Royal hospital. So I drove her to the hospital at about 12:30 am. That was last year.gavinmac wrote:How do pregnant wives of expats get transported to the hospital when their water breaks? Tuk tuk?
This year, we just had our 2nd child. And my wife wanted to stay near riverside as she said nothing to do in Sen Sok last year. So we did. She was overdue and one afternoon said she wanted to talk to the doctor as she was worried (from speaking with friends - all of whom had no medical qualifications whatsoever - and we had just seen the doctor two days before). So I told her to go ahead. So she took a tuk tuk out to the hospital. About three hours later some guy is at my hotel door telling me my wife is calling on his phone (it was a tuk tuk driver). I take the phone and its a nurse saying she is in labor. So I grabbed our son and the box of prepared clothes and head to the hospital.
In true Cambodia tuk-tuk fashion. We get to the hospital. I asked the driver is my wife had paid for her ride. He looks at me and says NO. I stated it again just to be clear he understood - he again says no she didn't pay. So I paid him for her ride, for the ride back to the hotel, and our ride. Later that night in the delivery room after birth it came up in conversation and my wife was not happy - she had paid him.
But our son was born healthy, so all is well that ends well.
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Congrats to the OP, glad everything went well.
We had our 2nd child recently.
We had moved to outside Siem Reap from a small town after our 1st child was born. So we had initially gone to Bangkok Hospital in Siem Reap for my wife's checkups. And for our son's vaccines.
My wife saw a female OBGYN. Once. Then she was gone. So she went to a local nurse/doctor for her checkups. Used Siem Reap Bangkok hospital once in Dec/Jan I believe as she wasn't feeling well and I insisted she go. Saw a male Thai doctor who I thought was solid. But my wife preferred to stick with her female doctor. Finally, in May SR Bangkok hospital got a new female OBGYN so we went back and saw her. The woman is Khmer and is a solid doctor IMO.
At the same time, we cycled through 4 pediatricians at the same hospital for my son. 1st was a good female doctor - she lasted 3 months. Then a male Cambodian doctor we saw one time, then another female Thai doctor - again a good doctor. Finally, a male Cambodian doctor that frankly I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw him (and a few times it would have been pretty far).
As we neared the time for birth I simply overruled my wife's desire to have the baby born in SR. Even at SR BKK hospital the facilities are sparse - one OBGYN on call at night - and there was zero chance I was trusting any issue/problem with the newborn on the current pediatrician for our son.
So we went back to PP Royal Hospital. Saw her previous OBGYN (female Khmer), had a check up. Had some medical files transferred and waited for birth.
I was a bit disappointed they wouldn't offer us the package deal. But they were upfront about it - didn't matter that we had tried to use SR BKK hospital and they are part of the same chain.
Birth was good. Took longer this time - baby larger by 1kg. She was in labor for probably about 3-4 hours. Not too much pain. Again I was pleased with the delivery, the nurses, and the care for the baby in the nursery. Again we had some difficulties with the certificate of birth - they wanted to switch first name/last name on the form (compared to the 1st one we got). After much debate they produced it so it matched the previous one in terms of format for the baby's name.
My wife was in the hospital one day less this time so they've eased up on the "you have to stay three nights after delivery no matter what" that was told last time.
The total hospital cost was $3K. $2K for delivery and my wife's care - and $1K for the nursery/pediatrician care. Thought the nursery was a bit much for a couple of days but whatever. Had we gone each month - the packaged price was $1800 for normal delivery. Last time they had tacked on another $300 or so on top of the packaged delivery for things "not included". So it cost us about $900 extra for not qualifying for the delivery package.
So Royal PP 2 for 2 for us and I was generally pleased both times with the level of care.
We had our 2nd child recently.
We had moved to outside Siem Reap from a small town after our 1st child was born. So we had initially gone to Bangkok Hospital in Siem Reap for my wife's checkups. And for our son's vaccines.
My wife saw a female OBGYN. Once. Then she was gone. So she went to a local nurse/doctor for her checkups. Used Siem Reap Bangkok hospital once in Dec/Jan I believe as she wasn't feeling well and I insisted she go. Saw a male Thai doctor who I thought was solid. But my wife preferred to stick with her female doctor. Finally, in May SR Bangkok hospital got a new female OBGYN so we went back and saw her. The woman is Khmer and is a solid doctor IMO.
At the same time, we cycled through 4 pediatricians at the same hospital for my son. 1st was a good female doctor - she lasted 3 months. Then a male Cambodian doctor we saw one time, then another female Thai doctor - again a good doctor. Finally, a male Cambodian doctor that frankly I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw him (and a few times it would have been pretty far).
As we neared the time for birth I simply overruled my wife's desire to have the baby born in SR. Even at SR BKK hospital the facilities are sparse - one OBGYN on call at night - and there was zero chance I was trusting any issue/problem with the newborn on the current pediatrician for our son.
So we went back to PP Royal Hospital. Saw her previous OBGYN (female Khmer), had a check up. Had some medical files transferred and waited for birth.
I was a bit disappointed they wouldn't offer us the package deal. But they were upfront about it - didn't matter that we had tried to use SR BKK hospital and they are part of the same chain.
Birth was good. Took longer this time - baby larger by 1kg. She was in labor for probably about 3-4 hours. Not too much pain. Again I was pleased with the delivery, the nurses, and the care for the baby in the nursery. Again we had some difficulties with the certificate of birth - they wanted to switch first name/last name on the form (compared to the 1st one we got). After much debate they produced it so it matched the previous one in terms of format for the baby's name.
My wife was in the hospital one day less this time so they've eased up on the "you have to stay three nights after delivery no matter what" that was told last time.
The total hospital cost was $3K. $2K for delivery and my wife's care - and $1K for the nursery/pediatrician care. Thought the nursery was a bit much for a couple of days but whatever. Had we gone each month - the packaged price was $1800 for normal delivery. Last time they had tacked on another $300 or so on top of the packaged delivery for things "not included". So it cost us about $900 extra for not qualifying for the delivery package.
So Royal PP 2 for 2 for us and I was generally pleased both times with the level of care.
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