With about a month to go to the nation’s 50th birthday, some hospitals are already seeing an increase in the number of babies delivered this year, compared to last year.
NATIONAL DAY BABIES
Couple Fiona and Xavier Yang got married in early-2014 and were eager to start a family. They were keen to have a child born in 2015, as they felt it would be special to have a SG50 baby, and they soon found out they were expecting a girl on Aug 24.
But due to her baby’s size, Mrs Yang was medically advised to have a C-section earlier, which falls on Aug 9.
“We feel very excited and are looking forward to this day, because we are going to celebrate the nation’s birthday with the newborn,” she said. “It marks a new chapter of our life. By giving birth on National Day, it marks a memorable day for her.”
The delivery suite at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. (Photo: Sara Grosse)
Similarly, Dr Sim Wen Shan, who works in a delivery suite at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), will also be having her own SG50 baby, with her estimated date of delivery on Aug 9.
“Of course we were very excited about it,” she said. “However, we do understand that we may not be able to deliver on National Day itself. We look forward to the progress of events in August, and hopefully it will just happen on National Day.”
RISE IN 2015 BABIES
As National Day approaches, some hospitals Channel NewsAsia spoke with, say they have already seen a rise in deliveries in the first half of this year, compared to the previous years.
They speculate it could be due to more parents wanting to have their babies born in the SG50 year. But regardless of whether there will be a spike of deliveries in August, hospitals say they are well-equipped to manage the patient load.
The National University Hospital (NUH) says it has delivered more than 1,800 babies from January to June 2015, a 7.6 per cent increase, compared to the same period in 2014. NUH added that about 86 women are due to deliver in the first two weeks of August, of which 7 women have their projected due dates falling on Aug 9.
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital commemorative coin and plush toy for the first 50 babies born on Aug 9. (Photo: Sara Grosse)
Meanwhile, KKH has seen a slight bump in deliveries for the first six months of this year. It estimates an increase in deliveries of 5 per cent by the end of the year and says they are well prepared to manage patient load, especially in August.
“In expectation of this bumper crop this year, we have increased the number of doctors who are on duty, as well as the number of nurses and midwives on duty in the labour ward,” said Associate Professor Tan Thiam Chye, Head of Inpatient Service at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KKH.
COMPARABLE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR
On the other hand, there are hospitals who say the number of deliveries they have had this year so far is comparable to the previous year. Raffles Hospital says it sees an average of 1,000 to 1,100 deliveries each year.
“We don’t see a rise at this point,” said Director of Inpatient Operations at Raffles Hospital Lilian Yew. “In terms of the surge in the month of August, and in terms of managing these patients, we will be able to handle them. We will increase our manpower in terms of managing them.”
Raffles Hospital says so far, they have two patients who are due to deliver on Aug 9, and an average of 30 patients who are due within the first two weeks of August this year. This is the same compared to previous years.
Gleneagles Hospital also says its numbers are comparable to last year, and expects to close the year with close to 3,000 deliveries. So far, the hospital has close to 100 patients who are due to give birth in August.
A suite at Gleneagles Hospital. (Photo: Sara Grosse)
Said Gleneagles Hospital CEO, Dr Vincent Chia: “Currently looking at the picture, there doesn’t seem to be a sharp climb or sharp increase, but we are keeping close watch. We have staff on standby and they will be recalled back to help out with the current operations or the present operations if needed.
“Moreover, if our labour ward rooms are full, then our post-natal wards can be converted to actual labour wards to be used as well.”
GOODIES
Nonetheless, hospitals are giving out additional goodies to parents who have a baby on National Day.
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital commemorative coin for the first 50 babies born on Aug 9. (Photo: Sara Grosse)
For Gleneagles Hospital, this includes a free upgrade to a suite, a gift hamper, a fresh bouquet of flowers and a celebratory meal, while Raffles Hospital is offering a hamper and celebratory meal, as well as a suite upgrade.
To mark SG50, KKH is giving a special coin and a plush toy to the first 50 babies born on Aug 9.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
