A tough dilemma isn't it? Giving birth in Jakarta or Singapore has its pros and cons. We know of many expats and affluent Indonesians moms would fly down to Singapore to have their delivery there. After all Singapore's healthcare is unarguably one of the best of the region and the entire country runs efficiently. The price difference between delivering in Singapore's hospitals and the prestigious hospitals here in Jakarta is not that huge either; and of course Singapore's hospitals are definitely way better maintained so it does seem like a very attractive idea to deliver in Singapore.
There's couple of considerations when hubby G and I were debating to give birth in Jakarta or Singapore.
1. Medical Care. How comfortable and confident we feel about the local hospital facilities?
2. Logistics. If I were to give birth in Singapore, it means I have to be there a month before I am due and only be able to fly back a month after I deliver. Plus minus..I would probably be in Singapore for 3months. It means hubby G and I would need to do long distance for 3 months; furthermore who is going to take care of my toddler? I can't get my Indonesian nanny into Singapore for more than a month.
3. Expenses. Some expats are covered by comprehensive global insurance which is great because it doesn't matter where they choose to deliver, everything is paid for- accommodation, flight, hospital bills, etc. However we do not have such a coverage which means everything will be out of our own pocket. Short term rent in Singapore is a killer, a one bedroom apartment near the hospital for e.g Mount Elizabeth hospital, will cost from 2.5kusd upwards. The whole delivery plus accommodation will cost approximately 13k-15kusd, not inclusive of hubby's flight every weekend.
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Out of the three considerations, logistics was our key concern as neither of us wants to be separated from each other nor with our toddler (we are one mushy clingy family ;p). And so, hubby G and I were quite determined to find a hospital that we are going to feel confident with.
Many friends and acquaintances directed us to Medistra Hospital at Kuningan and we popped down there to check it out. I was utterly surprised; maybe I was spoilt by Singapore's healthcare and facilities standards...I found Medistra Hospital to be poorly maintained and not what I expected of Jakarta's most renowned hospital. Hubby G's description of Medistra was "it looks like a good setting for a haunted movie."
...thanks...like that comment would make me feel better if I were to deliver there. We went to the maternity ward and asked for a tour; no nurses could speak english and nobody seemed interested to help us find someone who can. O.M.G. Finally we found one nurse that can at least somewhat speak couple of english words and she showed us the rooms. Green walls. GREAT. Green sofas in the VIP room. WIN HANDS DOWN.
I am probably being fussy and particular but well..I am going to be in delivery for hours, be overwhelmed and exhausted and the last thing I want is to feel totally uncomfortable in a room with green walls and furniture.
I was worried. If the most renowned hospital in Jakarta looks like this, how about the rest? I really want to deliver in Jakarta to spare all the logistics trouble. I spoke to couple of friends and one suggested I go check out Pondok Indah Hospital (Rumah Sakit Pondok Indah). Hubby G and I drove down the very weekend and we arrived at the hospital which architecture looks like it's out of the 60s.
Although my heart fell slightly when I saw RSPI's exterior, I held hope that it would look much better inside.
When we set foot into RSPI, I was relieved; it was well renovated and maintained. We approached the receptionist to ask for directions and details about the maternity wards, she spoke almost fluent english and was very hospitable. We went up to the maternity wards and looked for a nurse who can take us around for a tour. Not all nurses could speak english but they were helpful enough to find us one who can speak enough english to communicate. We saw the wards; nothing fancy but it was very clean, well maintained and everything in the room was put together nicely. No jarring walls nor furniture. We also checked out the NICU facilities (just in case) and it looked well equipped.
I am perhaps being dramatic but I think my heart sang after the tour in RSPI. Yay..I have found a hospital which I can deliver in Jakarta and then the next mission was to find a gynae who can deliver in RSPI.
Read about my hunt for a Gynaecologist/Obstetrician in my previous post-
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