It's difficult to raise a child, especially in Singapore. There are numerous expenses associated with raising a child, so you must be prepared for them as soon as you decide to become a parent.
In reality, there are a lot of things to think about, such as the pregnancy and birth costs in Singapore. This post will discuss pregnancy costs, delivery costs in Singapore, and how to better manage your birth expenditures for a less stressful pregnancy.
The cost of pregnancy in Singapore
The price of prenatal screenings in government hospitals and private hospitals differs noticeably.
You'll need to set aside money for the following expenses as a prospective parent:
Preconception and pregnancy expenditures
It's quite normal to bring up having a child as a young couple starting the next stage of your family life.
A pre-pregnancy check up can help you determine whether your body is in excellent shape to have a child, which is the first thing you'd want to accomplish. One or more of these tests, recommended by your doctor, could help determine whether you're physically capable of becoming pregnant:
TEST TYPE | PURPOSE |
Pelvic Examination | Check for sexually transmitted illnesses or disorders |
Rh Test | to determine whether you or your partner have the Rhesus factor, as this could make your blood unsuitable for your unborn child. Further safety measures are essential for the pregnancy if this is detected |
Blood Test | Find out if you have thalassemia, which could harm your unborn child and require blood transfusions. Also aids in screening for diabetes, genetic disorders, rubella, and hepatitis. |
Vaccination Records (existing) | To check your immunity to diseases including rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B |
Pap Smear | For a better understanding of the condition of your endocervical canal |
Ultrasound Womb Scan | Recognize any anomalies that can reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. |
Sperm Analysis (Optional) | For the purpose of calculating the sperm count and identifying any associated anomalies |
Urine Test | To check for infections |
Also, your doctor may like to know whether you or your spouse have:
Underlying health concerns (caused by either your current health or the health history of your family)
History of substance abuse, alcohol consumption, or smoking in the past or present
Recent consumption of medicine or experience of significant medical procedures
How often you experience periods
Prenatal genetic tests cost S$1,600, but pap smears cost only S$40 in Singapore. The cost depends on two things:
If you decide to go to a public hospital, a private hospital, or even a specialty clinic
The kind and quantity of tests you and your partner are subjected to
Prenatal exams are not required, but they do improve the pregnancy process for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or other underlying medical issues. In this situation, starting at the beginning of your pregnancy adventure, your doctor would be able to provide you with pregnancy planning guidance. If issues do occur, the doctor can then decide on the best course of action to handle them.
Prenatal examinations
Going on to the next stage, prenatal examinations.
You may already be aware that gestational months and trimesters can be used to estimate your pregnancy's stage. How much would you need to shell out for these examinations?
First trimester: 0-12 weeks
Close monitoring is necessary during the first trimester because there is a higher risk of problems (and even miscarriages). Naturally, you'd want to consult a doctor to confirm the pregnancy once you receive positive test results from an at-home pregnancy kit.
It is best to work with a specialist gynecologist during this time so they can keep an eye on both your health and the health of the fetus.
Now let's talk about expenses. Each doctor appointment might cost you up to S$147, not including prenatal supplements. You should plan on visiting your gynecologist at least once a month if everything is going well
As a Singaporean, you are welcome to visit a government hospital for discounted prices on your checkups, but you should be aware that you won't always have the same doctor treating you.
The cost of a subsidized visit might range from S$30 to S$56
An additional piece of advice for soon-to-be parents is that the Marriage and Parenting Schemes' MediSave Maternity Package covers pre-delivery medical costs as well, regardless of whether you go to a private or public hospital.
The amount of Medisave that can be used for this purpose is capped. It adheres to the withdrawal cap or the amount of the actual bill (whichever is lower).
In addition, the Medical Maternity Package provides:
A S$750–$2,000 additional surgical removal cap based on the type of delivery procedure type
For hospital stays, up to S$550 may be paid per day for the first two days of admission, and then S$400 from the third day on.
Second and third trimesters: thirteen to forty weeks
You have reached the halfway point of your pregnancy when you reach week 13. Your gynecologist visits would still be once a month, but if necessary, they might become fortnightly near the conclusion of the trimester.
At this stage, you could register for a prenatal package that would provide additional scans and testing in addition to the standard ultrasounds and supplements. The cost of these packages varies depending on whether you choose the government hospital option with subsidies, which ranges from S$400 to S$800, or the individualized, private hospital care, which can cost up to S$2,000.
You essentially lock in your decision to continue with your present gynecologist by signing up for a pregnancy package. This would be the ideal moment to change doctors, if you feel like it.
Fetal abnormality tests available in Singapore
About all hospitals in Singapore offer fetal abnormalities tests. Take a look at the details about the different test kinds, what they look for, and potential costs in the table below.
TEST NAME | PURPOSE | COST, SAMPLE TYPE AND TIMEFRAME FOR RESUTLS |
Detailed foetal anomaly scan | Checks for structural abnormalities within the foetus, including heart structure abnormalities, spine structure and facial clefts, etc. | - Around S$280 - Requires a fetus ultrasound - Done within Week 18-21 |
OSCAR test (One-stop Clinic for Assessment of Risk for Fetal Abnormalities) | Identifies fetal abnormalities (especially Down’s Syndrome). Tests include a Nuchal Translucency(NT) scan (which shows genetic diseases as well as chromosome disorders) and a blood test. Can expand into further invasive testing - Chrionic villus sampling or Amniocentesis | - Between S$300 to S$400 - Requires sample blood from mother and also an ultrasound scan - Results could take up between 2-3 days. |
Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests (Harmony and Panorama Tests) | Detects Down Syndrome by using the mother’s blood to get the baby’s DNA sample with a high accuracy rate | - NIPT test Singapore price costs at around S$1,200 for a Harmony Test and about S$1,400 for Panorama tests. - Requires mother’s blood sample - Results can take up to 2 weeks - Harmony test: Week 10 onwards - Panorama test: Week 9 onwards |
Dating scan | Checks if you have more than one fetus, abnormality of baby’s bone’s an organs, identifies pregnancy stage and due date | - Cost depends on your doctor - Done in Week 6-12 |
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test | Identifying gestational diabetes, as pregnant women who develop this form of diabetes have a bigger risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes. | - S$20-S$50 Requires overnight fasting and two blood tests, one taken after the fasting period and another after ingesting 75g of glucose and is done after 2 hours of the glucose drink. |
3D/3D Scans | You can get either a 3-dimensional view of your baby in the womb, or get a 4D video of it. More for memories than medical-related! | - S$250-S$350 - Ultrasound scan |
Other tests may include:
TEST TYPE | PURPOSE | TREATMENT |
Cardiotocograph (CTG) | Test during labour to monitor the frequency of contraction and the baby's heartbeat | Can be done during the 3rd trimester to monitor the baby's health |
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) test | This bacteria could affect the baby as it goes through a vaginal delivery via the birth canal | A vaginal swab at around 35 weeks is done to identify, and if the mother is GBS positive, antibiotics are necessary. |
Delivery cost in Singapore
Singapore's delivery costs are determined by three factors:
Kind of procedure (Vaginal or Caesarean)
type of Ward
Duration of stay
Delivery costs in private VS public hospitals
PUBLIC HOSPITAL | UNSUBSIDIZED WARD | SUBSIDIZED WARD |
National University Hospital, NUH | S$5,881 | S$1,317 |
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, KKH | S$5,894 | S$2,162 |
Singapore General Hospital, SGH | S$6,153 | S$2,119 |
PRIVATE HOSPITAL | 1-BEDDED WARD | 2-BEDDED WARD |
Raffles Hospital (RH) | S$8,816 | NA |
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, MNH | S$11,703 | NA |
Mount Alvernia Hospital,MAH | S$10,439 | S$8,315 |
Thomson Medical Centre (TMC) | S$10,177 | S$8,354 |
Parkway East Hospital (PEH) | S$9,184 | S$7,057 |
Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH) | S$11,844 | S$9,334 |
Gleneagles Hospital (GEH) | S$12,503 | S$9,897 |
Room costs for government hospital, vaginal delivery
You can choose between 5 ward categories in government hospitals: A, B1, B2, and C.
These are the variations between the level of treatment provided by each ward and its associated cost.
The Singapore General Hospital could charge within the following amounts per room:
WARD TYPE | BENEFITS | COST PER ROOM (PER DAY) |
A | Single room with en-suite bathroom, sleeper unit for accompanying adult, toiletries, telephone, fully automated electric bed, tv, meal choices available | S$540 |
B1 | 4 beds per room, semi-automated electric bed, attached bathroom and en suite toilet, TV, meal choices available | S$268.92 |
B2 | 6 beds per room and a semi-automated electric bed | S$57 |
C | 8 beds per room | S$37 |
Caesarean delivery - price comparison between private and government hospital
A caesarean section will cost significantly more than a normal birth because it requires serious surgery and you might need more time to recover. Following a Caesarean section, you typically need to remain in the ward for up to 3 to 4 days for additional checkups.
The higher end of the caesarean delivery expense spectrum is represented in the table below for both private and public hospitals in Singapore.
HOSPITAL | WARD TYPE | NUMBER OF DAYS | COST (HIGH) |
Parkway East (private) | 2-bedded | 3 | S$12,100 |
Gleneagles (private) | 2-bedded | 3 | S$15,932 |
Thomson Medical (private) | 2-bedded | 3 | S$10,651 |
SGH (government) | A | 3 | S$10,886 |
KKH (government) | A | 3 | S$10,269 |
NUH (government) | A | 4 | S$10,886 |
Maternity insurance
As a pregnant mom, you’d want to ensure that you and your baby are covered every step of the way, even during the pregnancy stage.
There are maternity insurance plans in particular that can help you during your pregnancy journey. Feel free to reach out to me at 9790 1583 so that we can discuss more about the best plans for you and your child.
Post-Birth/Confinement
It's time to settle into the confinement phase once you've checked out of the hospital and arrived at your home. During this time, you'll learn to live with your newborn while it learns to navigate its new environment.
Confinement nannies
Getting help from a confinement nanny during your first month allows you to rest easier because confinement is no simple task. You would need to set aside at least S$3,000 for a month to get additional assistance from a confinement nanny to get through this time.
What, exactly, would you be paying for?
Cooking assistance, babysitting assistance while you get the much-needed rest, and housework that is done out of your sight. Depending on whether you employ a part-time, live-in, or freelance confinement lady, prices can reach S$4,000.
Post-natal massages
Many moms out there are vouching for the advantages of post-natal massages because they help them manage their aches and pains and even help them restore their figure thanks to the soothing body pushes they receive.
Your body (and your mind) will appreciate you in the long run even if a good 60-minute massage can cost you roughly S$100.
During pregnancy, there are many things to think about and get ready for. Having sound financial planning will make the adventure of raising a child more joyful. You can text me at 9790 1583 to learn more about how you can better prepare yourself for your baby.
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