Home / Guest Blogs / Giving birth in Hong Kong: The lowdown

Giving birth in Hong Kong: The lowdown

Posted in : Guest Blogs on by : Around DB , , Comments: 0

By Cathee Jackson

As a DB-based doula, I am often asked about the local hospitals and the ‘real’ experience of birthing here in Hong Kong. Writing with my professional hat on, and as a mother of three who’s used both the public and private systems, here are some answers to the more common questions I hear.

Question: Do I have a choice of hospital and doctor?

The answer is yes and no. You can choose between the public or private systems, and if you choose the private route then you can indeed hand pick your doctor and hospital. If you opt for the public route then you will see whichever midwife/ doctor is available and will be assigned a hospital based on where you live. DB-based patients usually get Queen Mary while Lantau residents will often get Princess Margaret.

Public check-ups are initially at Tsan Yuk and then either at the more convenient Tung Chung Medical Centre (if you are low risk) or your hospital (if you are deemed high risk.)

Be prepared that the visits can be long (so snacks, water, entertainment and a sense of humor are essential!). You will have routine scans at 12 and 20 weeks with monthly check-ups monitoring blood pressure, checking for protein, listening to the baby’s heart beat and of course the all important weigh in.

Some people choose to supplement or even replace these public appointments with private checkups and scans.

Top Tip: A useful hint is to see if your local gp will do a private gesticular diabetes test – saving you time.

The main private hospitals are Matilda, Adventist, Sanatorium and Canossa. It is worth listening to recommendations about your doctor but of course it is a hugely personal decision, so meeting to discuss your needs and to get an understanding of their approach is key. I would also recommend researching c-section rates / natural delivery stats, opinions on episiotomies, and their general approach. It’s also a good idea to visit the hospitals to see which best support your birthing goals as well as your budget and location.

What are the public hospitals really like?

From personal and professional experience, I would say the public hospitals are very good. They offer great, safe medical care and as a whole the doctors and midwives do try to meet the different cultural expectations and cater to the needs of patients. A lot depends on your expectation and also communication. The key is to be empowered with knowledge about what you want and also what can happen during the whole labour process – something antenatal classes can massively help with.
Having a birth plan and a partner willing to ask assertive but polite questions can also help to make the difference between a frustrating or positive experience. The tricky part is often in the early labour ward when you are separated. There are ways around this, for example using communal waiting areas to labour together, labouring at home for as long as you feel comfortable (and it is safe to do so), and being vocal but respectful about wanting to be together.  You may also find taking a female friend/ relative or hiring a doula to support you in the labour ward can help, as I find we are more likely to be allowed in.
Once you get into the delivery room, you can create your own space. You can also make your experience better by specifically requesting that only English be spoken, and you can use smells, sounds and positions to help you through your contractions. Just remember that labour is a journey, so it is hugely beneficial to be flexible to whatever course it takes.

When should I go into the hospital?

A lot depends on you. For example, if your waters break early, you are strep B positive, had a previous ‘fast’ labour or have any complications you will be advised to go in early.

A lot also depends on how you feel at the time. If you are comfortable at home and progressing nicely (i.e. increased intensity and frequency of contractions) then home can be a great place to stay. If however you are worried about getting to the hospital then this ‘fear’ may delay your labour, therefore getting to the hospital sooner may help. It is also worth doing a dummy run so you know how long it will take to get to the hospital and also where to go when you get there.

How can I get to the hospital from DB / Lantau?

In the UK, hospitals often recommend low-risk patients arrive at 3-1-1 (i.e. when they have been having contractions every 3 minutes, lasting for 1 minute, for 1 hour). Here of course we have to think about catching ferries, taxis and buses so we need a little longer.

Top Tip: I would recommend your partner downloads a free contraction-timing app to their phone to keep an eye on your contraction length and frequency, but not to obsess too much about the numbers.

It is more important to start the journey in when you are mentally ready, able to walk and are having regular strong, long and intense contractions. They may be lasting 1 minute every 5 minutes or 45 seconds every 7 minutes. A lot depends on when you feel ready to move and what else is going on in your labour.

There are actually many options within DB and Lantau with taxis, buses and ferries.  What you choose may depend on how quickly things are progressing, how much energy you have, how you feel, and also the time of day.

If you’re worried about missing a ferry and then find you’ve gone too early, break up the journey into parts – don’t rush straight in. The ferry is a good option because you can move around, while taxis are a more direct option should you need it.

Top Tip: I would recommend you download the ferry timetable and have taxi booking numbers in your phone and $400 travel money in your delivery bag.


Cathee Jackson is a birthing doula and breastfeeding counsellor, based in Discovery Bay. For more information visit Cathee’s DB Doula website (www.dbdoula.com) or call her on 5993 3699.

Image: parabebes.com

Tags: , ,

Add New Comment

Rating

× Thank you for your comment. Your feedback has been submitted to an administrator for approval.