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FamilyToBe
Talker
Joined: Dec 05, 2006
Posts: 96
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 04:48 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Pregnant and moving to Shanghai! Help! |
We are moving over to Shanghai in January and will be 5 months pregnant with our first child.
I was wondering if anyone could offer any suggestions in relation to the hospitals/maternity/birthing centres/obstitrition over there as we haven't booked anything as yet and are really in the dark as to which are the better places to give birth.
I'll most likely have to have a C Section and have contacted The World Link birth center (I think at Ruijin Hospital) and they have quoted $12,000USD for the process although all scans and visits are on top of this and not cheap. Hubby's business has agreed to pay the expencises as we did not have internat. insurance in place in time although I don't want to abuse the offer. Is this amount about right? It is not so much about the money as it is about about the safe and uncomplicated birth of our first Bub!
I'd love to hear other experiences - both good and bad!
Also wondering if there are any clubs or groups for pregnant women over there as hubby will be at work every day and would love to make some new friends quickly!
Many Thanks in advance
Jo |
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IAmNotYao
Reacher
Joined: June 16, 2005
Posts: 226
Location: Lost
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 09:16 AM |
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| Post subject: Re: Pregnant and moving to Shanghai! Help! |
We have decided to give birth in Shanghai instead of going back to the US. The hospital we have chosen is Shanghai United. The facilities are top notched I believe, and so far we have had good experiences with our doctor. I know many who have giving birth in Shanghai United and HuaShan Hospital, and a few at Worldlink. I think you will find in the services and quality of these hospitals comparable to the US standards. The price is about right, but ask if they have discounts or packages. Good luck. |
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rachel_milne
Barker
Joined: Oct 13, 2006
Posts: 170
Location: Wei Hai Road
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 09:18 AM |
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Hi Jo! Peace Maternity and United Hospital are also good according to friends who have given birth here in Shanghai ( I'm due to give birth in March and will be giving birth in Peace Maternity) and it is not as expensive as World Link.
There is pre natal yoga at Breeze Yoga. Try the other threads and you will find clubs/groups for expectant mothers/ expats or send an email to this ad: imsgshanghai@hotmail.com
Welcome to Shanghai! |
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latina
Ranter
Joined: Aug 24, 2006
Posts: 557
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 09:26 AM |
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Hello,
Well, worldlink is one of the hospitals in Shanghai that are too expensive (including Shanghai United), I'm also pregnant and i am going to International Peace Maternity (910 Hengshang Rd) tel. 6407 4887 and the prices for C-section are:
Room A: 4370 USD (bigger)
Room B: 3745 USD (medium size)
Room C: 3433 USD (normal size with couch-bed for partnert) those prices not include pregnancy check-ups, but for the whole pregnancy you will expend around 1000 USD (because you will pay for your test or exams every time you have an appointment). Only the problem is that according to chinese policies they will not tell you the gender of your baby (is the law for chinese people but they are now appliying to expats as well), so you will have to do an ultrasound in another hospital (like worldlink or Shanghai United) if you want to know in advance.
But there are also Huashan Hospital wich have a floor for expats. It depends where are you going to live because the traffic in Shanghai is terrible. Those hospitals are located in downtown.
I hope it helps. |
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hammerforlife
Fire-eater
Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 2701
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Dec 06, 2006 - 09:27 AM |
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Yes we had a great experience at the Peace Maternity and I hear that United is good too. Worldlink is the most expensive by a fair distance so it should be expected that the standard there is very good.
There are plenty of other threads about this so look around. |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 09:58 AM |
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Familyto Be, I sent you a PM, please check your mailbox  |
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SaraC
Barker
Joined: Oct 17, 2004
Posts: 197
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 10:17 AM |
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I had my second child at Peace Maternity a few weeks ago (the first was also born at Peace). The cost for arriving after 1 am, having a natural birth, and then staying the next night in the mid-priced room was less than RMB 6000. We were able to check out after one night -- although they wanted us to stay another day.
I had very good experiences with Peace both times around -- but there are a few criticisms that you should prepare for -- these are:
- Our baby #2 had possible meconium poisoning and they whisked her to the NICU for monitoring after birth for 3-4 hours. We were not given any updates on her status during these hours -- despite buzzing the nurse repeatedly. This is probably because it was the middle of the night on a weekend -- but it was annoying.
- Peace still is not so great about breastfeeding. I had nurses questioning me about giving formula or water to baby #2. One nurse tried to lift up my top annd squeeze my breast to see if anyhting would come out. They did not seem to understand that it takes a few days for milk to come in and that squeezing my breasts proved nothing. So if you go to Peace, buy a breastfeeding book and be confident and just shoo away any nurses who try this stuff. (In 2004 they were actually much more supportive of breastfeeding than this time around.)
I still recommend Peace Maternity highly and have a lot of good things to say about it. Their midwives who deliver the babies are great and supportive of natural birth without unwanted interventions. If I have a third and am in Shanghai -- I will go back again. |
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Damn
Reacher
Joined: Sep 11, 2006
Posts: 337
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2006 - 03:41 PM |
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Is making babies that expensive?  |
_________________
Don''t mess with me |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17971
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Dec 06, 2006 - 04:18 PM |
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FamilyToBe
Talker
Joined: Dec 05, 2006
Posts: 96
Status: Offline
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Dec 07, 2006 - 03:07 AM |
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Thanks for all that info guys - how like me to look at the most expensive one!!
Just a few more questions in relation to communication as neither hubby nor myself can understand Marndarin
Do the nurses/mid wives generally speak English?
How about the Obstetrician and most importantly do you get to see the same one each time you visit?
As it's our first I guess I'm going to need a little guidence
I really want to try to breast feed and might need some type of class. Do other hospitals allow you into their courses - if there are any??
I wish that I'd been a little more organised and attended here in Australia!
Who has the 4D scanners?
Do I need to make appointments to view the hospitals prior to arriving or can we just organise it when we get there?
Cheers
Jo |
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Georgie
Raver
Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 461
Location: In hell
Status: Offline
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Dec 07, 2006 - 09:12 AM |
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Hi - congrats on your pregnancy! I can only give you my experience of Worldlink. I had my baby by planned c-section here in July. Worldlink Clinic in Xintiandi is 'attached' to a local hospital, where the c-sections are carried out.
There is a very good ob/gynae there called Dr Lu Ferguson, she is chinese american and therefore speaks fluent english. All her supporting staff also speak good english. If you decide to use Worldlink you will see her each time you visit.
She carried out the c-section with a supporting team made up from Worldlink staff and the local hospital. I think there were around 10 in all, some of whom spoke engish some did not, but this was not a problem as Dr Ferguson was leading. It was all very efficient, and went like clockwork. They have a team of 3 pediatricians waiting to take the baby once delivered.
I can't fault the actual procedure -although obviously c-sections are all very clinical. Once over which took about 50 mins, you are moved back to your room at Worldlink (just a lift ride). Rooms are nice, with ensuite bathrooms, and the care is good. There are twice daily visits from the Worldlink Pediatrician - American and really nice. All the midwives speak english, so there is no communication problem, and they are on call 24 hours a day. The baby stays with you in your room, and there was an extra bed in my room so that hubby can stay, which is a must on the first couple of nights when you fill find it hard to move. You will be allowed out after 4 days if everything is ok with you and the baby.
The only criticism I had with the procedure was as soon as the baby was out, the anaesthetist pumped me full of painkillers which knocked me out. I really didn't need this as I was under epidural anyway. I missed out about an hour or so just after the baby was born. If you decide to use Worldlink, make sure you mention this to Dr F if you don't want it.
Worldlink also has 4D scanners, I know this because we helped them trial several to decide which one they wanted to buy. It's absolutely amazing to see your baby's face in detail, and have pictures as well.
With regard to BF, there is a La-Leche club in Shangai - http://www.lalecheleague.org/Shanghai.html - and also there is an International Mothers Support Group, one in Pudong and one in Puxi, the Pudong one meets the first Friday of each month in the Seasons Villas Clubhouse. One important thing when starting to breastfeed which someone has mentioned above is that the main milk doesn't arrive until 3 days after birth. So you need to be insistent about not feeding your baby with formula even if they want you to. BF takes time and practice and particularly after having a c-section it can be difficult to position your baby because your stomach will be very sore.
I hope this helps. Good luck with the move and the birth. |
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janlynn
Wonder Wit
Joined: July 19, 2005
Posts: 3593
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Dec 07, 2006 - 09:21 AM |
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Doctor Lu is my OBY/GN and I couldn't ask for a better one here or in the States. No babies mind you, but great care when I had problems. |
_________________
Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead |
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MinniMe
Barker
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 164
Status: Offline
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Dec 07, 2006 - 04:06 PM |
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Worldlink is a "pro breast feeding" clinic, they really support you to breast feed you baby. Our baby was born there 8 weeks ago and I was never offered formula. I told once when we arrived when they ask about the feeding that I will breast feed my baby, and that's it 
Worldlink also have an one day info session for parents who are going to have their baby at the clinic. It was very informative and useful, and I didn't need anything more.
At worldlink you can contact Alice To to make an appointment to see their facilities.
alice.to(at)worldlink-shanghai.com |
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