Choosing a gynae

Key points

- comfort level, gender, friendliness, waiting time, prenatal packages, delivering hospital, pro-natural birth / pro-breastfeeding

My grandmother’s gynae delivered me and my two babies. WOW! He's my mum's gynae actually, whom my grandma went to as well. I didn't think about going to him initially as it felt rather strange to see mum's gynae, n one who delivered me no less! But my pregnancy came suddenly and i was so sick i just went ahead when mum said to go see Dr A L Lim at Thomson Medical Centre. I never looked back and now he's delivered my second baby, like a proud grand-daddy doctor. Ive been wanting to take a picture together with him and my family cox this is such a rarity and interesting situation to be in!

Dr Lim is steady, patient, and very warm to patients. He can be very fierce for the benefit of his patients, as seen during my 2 labors. First time, i didn't know better and kept rejecting the nurses' offer of injection during labor pains as i didn't want epidural. Dr Lim came and saw me and said they should have adviced me since I'm inexperienced, that there's other pain relief alternatives.. he scolded them, i got my pain relief, another pair of nurses came in, and labor progressed faster thereafter. Second time, another mummy was delivering at the same time but sufficiently ready for birth yet the attending nurse called the doctor in and he rushed down from a patient examination. Nurses got scolded, but i was ready and i could hear him scolding amidst my delirious state from the pain relief in between my screaming..

Dr Lim has no prenatal packages, i have waited up to 3 hours despite appointment, but still i would stick with him. If possible, i would recommend my daughter to him in future too. But domt think he has disciples to take over him im future when he retires.. He's pro-natural birth amd through both pregnancies told me my babies are big. Regular scans n comparison with other mummies do indeed indicate so, and their tummies always looked round, thankfully their birth weights were around 3kg eventually.

-Pre natal checks, scans n tests n vitamins

Initially appointments are scheduled 2~3 weeks if your pregnancy is stable, second trimester comprises of monthly checkups, then going back to 2-3 weekly scans again. Around 37 weeks onwards, weekly checks.

There is the Oscar Scan between 10-13 weeks of pregnancy to test of down syndrome danger, a more detailed scan is the Harmony test. At about 5 months, you would also go for a detailed scan to determine gender and have a look at the major organs of your baby. Super exciting, it is! Any additional tests would likely be subjected to your condition. For me, I had a scare about 1~2 weeks after my detailed scan with some infection and pre-term contractions. After that gynae ordered a cervical length scan to check if my cervix is strong enough to hold the baby to full term. And it was super strong. 😃

Gynaes would also prescribe vitamins, you can save a little by ordering your own from iHerb.com after finishing a bottle or two at the gynae's to see if you are ok with the prescribed vitamins.

Mummies may wanna refer to this link too where other mummies have shared how to choose a gynae as well..

http://www.heartknowsbest.com.sg/qna/QuestionDetail?qid=86

There should be more information out there as well, so google away or just ask around your relatives or friends for recommendations.. after all, it's a log journey once you choose your gynae. He or she would be the one to check on you bi-annually henceforth for pap smears and other female conditions, so choose wisely..

😘😘😘