One year of visits to Pediatrician and TCM

The most expensive category after infantcare, and it is not just cost, but also can be emotionally and physically expensive for both baby and parents. Living in Singapore, a brewing pot of culture and race, you get a lot of options and of course recommendation. We use both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for both baby and mother.

Western:
Baby had jaundice a couple of days after he was born and he had to stay an additional night at the hospital to undergo light therapy. His Jaundice level was close to 15ml, which was on the high side, and eventually after the 1 day of intensive light therapy, the level was down to a more managable 11ml. Mummy was devastated to leave baby in the hospital while she discharge. It was also devastating on the wallet. For the one day, the cost was $1162.60. Sunbathing in a 5 star hotel in some exotic place can be alot cheaper. But we were just glad that he was fine.

Then there are the usual immunisation that baby need to go through. You can see from the table the type of vaccine that were administered. Nobody likes needle, including baby, and his protest can rock the house down. Now, at 1yr+, his U shape mouth become 'n' with a pout whenever we see the doctor. He already recognise the place at such a tender age, so you can imagine it is traumatic for him. The topic of vaccination is debatable and different mummy's have different opinion, but we went with the notion of doctor knows best. In terms of cost, it is cheaper to go to polyclinics and the only reason we went to Raffles Hospital is because vaccination is covered by my company insurance and his PD is there.

First 6 months Raffles Vaccination package and what vaccination baby receive: https://www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com/docs/default-source/package/vaccination-package-for-baby-39-s-first-6-months.pdf?sfvrsn=2

9 to 18 months Raffles Vaccination package and what vaccination baby receive:
 https://www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com/docs/default-source/package/vaccincation-package-for-9-18-months.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Babies are also typically not born perfect. People say dimples are a form of deform. Baby had dimple (I use 'had' because it seems to disappear as he become older) and Neuvas Sevecus as well as Nevus of Ota (diagnosed after 2nd opinion). Neuvas of sevecus is a small growth and usually appear on the head. Baby has one on the top left and initially we all thought it was because the gynae accidentally scrapped his head when she broke mummy's waterbag during labour. The PD was more knowledgable and told us the condition. There is no medical threat except a small % probability of cancer, and it is covered by his hair so he can still look handsome. He can decide when he is older if he wants it removed.

Then there is Nevus of Ota. It's appearance is quite similar to mongolian bluespot, but usually happen on the face and is a pigmentation. Baby has it around his left eye socket, and given how active he is, some people thought he knock himself and have a bruise on his head. It also resemblance a panda, ableit blue-ish not black. So this is likely to create some social stigma when he grows up and if we are not careful a potential factor to have low self esteem. I scout through the internet and found that laser treatment actually has a high success rate with little to no known side effect. Indeed that's the case. After 6 treatments with Dr Lynn, the pigmentation is no longer obvious.

The biggest drawback for putting baby in infantcare is that he fall sick a lot more often. The babies in the centre don’t like to share toys but they definitely like to share their viruses, and so everyone gets their turn to fall sick including baby. Being so young, there are not many medicine in western doctor's arsenal, and mummy found this TCM place (Yu Guo - they are now at Kembengan Plaza) where they specialise in treating babies/children. They are so popular that it is always crowded and the wait can be as long as 1-2hrs. Also, typically you have to go back 3 times for Tui Na (massage), so it is time consuming. But it is effective on baby and that's what matter. Somehow, baby doesnt like the idea of someone massaging him and he will cry his lungs out. 

For those mummies who just gave birth, we got 4 packs of medicine to brew for mummy that will supposedly improve mummy's constitution after labour. You can try it at Ban Choon Chan which is situated at Marine Parade.