What is the difference between private and public hospitals in Bangkok?
Private hospitals are well set up to cater to foreigners and medical tourists, with a greater number of English-speaking staff and translators available for a number of languages. Facilities and rooms are more luxurious and modern, and there are more support staff available to respond to your needs.
Public hospitals in general are not specifically geared towards providing services to foreign clients. However, although public hospitals may not have as luxurious facilities, they can also be quite comfortable. More importantly, they have much lower cesarean section rates. Midwives (qualified as obstetric nurses) usually assist the birthing women and deliver the baby if all is normal. Doctors are only called in for complicated cases, which certainly contributes to the lower c-section rates. If you are Thai or your partner is a Thai woman who is expecting, and trying for a vaginal birth is important to you, you may wish to consider this option.
If you are an expat woman who does not have Thai language skills, then a private hospital is probably the best way to go.
How do the facilities and birth procedures compare at different hospitals in Bangkok?
We’ve are working an overview of the facilities and procedures that seem to be currently in place at a few of the key hospitals in Bangkok. Please check back later!
Thank you for the information! I want to have a natural childbirth in Bangkok, but not sure, which hospital is the best. I am afraid of C-section (if it’s not ABSOLUTELY necessary). At the moment I go to BKK Christian Hospital for usual check-ups, do you have any information (or experience) about the c-section rate there and about childbirth at Bangkok Christian Hospital in general?
I hope to find some help here. Thanks in advance!
Sarah
Sarah, unfortunately we don’t have a lot of information about C-section rates at many of the hospitals here, though we’re working on collecting it. I suggest you ask the hospital directly for their overall c-section rate, and also ask your doctor his or her rate (the attitude of individual doctor is even more important than the hospital). Ask him or her how many times he has delivered babies vaginally, and if he has ever done a natural childbirth (without epidural). It is much better to have this conversation early in your pregnancy – you can read this mother’s story, where she found out only in her 7th month that her doctor though natural childbirth was ridiculous and laughed at her! She ended up switching doctors.
In general, natural childbirth is not well supported at most hospitals in Bangkok, there is not a lot of awareness of how it works. At the moment, Samitivej is the only hospital that offers special active childbirth rooms, with tub. Bumrungrad is planning to renovate and offer an active childbirth room in the future.
If you have questions about natural childbirth, I suggest you attend a Meet the Doulas. This is open to any pregnant woman or couple, whether or not you are interested in hiring a doula – it can be a very informative Q&A session about the childbirth scene here in general.
I am considering having baby in Bangkok. both me and my husband are foreigner, i really expect a guidance which private hospital in Bangkok can help us. I mean we nearly cannot have baby in natural ways..
Dear Sir,
I am from Bangladesh , wouid like visit your maternity hospital in between 17th Oct. to 20th Oct.2012,with three of my officers.We are running a famous Maternity Hospital in Dhaka,Bangladesh since 2001.The main purpose of our visit will be exchange of knowledge and views.I would be highly obliged if you kindly arrange a short visit for us at your famous maternity hospital within above mentioned time period according to your convinience.With best regards.Thanks.
Sincerely Yours
Dr.Jobaidul Islam Bhueyan.District Manager.BAVS,Maternity Hospital.7/5/1,Main Road,Borobagh,Mirpur-2,Dhaka-1216.Bangladesh.