So this is my first polyclinic visit. After researching a little, we have decided to go public.. For now! Yay to the Singapore medical system.

I am not sure what else I should be doing but I do want to make REALLLL sure that I am pregnant before going to a hospital. Over the last 2 nights, the constant nudging of “what if it is a false positive and you end up being happy for nothing” kept floating in my mind.

So after a few clicks on google, and reading if I REALLY need a private gynae, I’ve decided to just go to the polyclinic first to, one, confirm my pregnancy and calm my mind before I go crazy, and two, to talk to people so that I can see what my options are.

I’m constantly gagging and tired the last 2 days. It is starting to affect my sleep and my brain is going on a rampage.

So off to a polyclinic I go!!!

So I decided to go to the nearest polyclinic from our office!!! I asked Dan to stay in the office as we were in the middle of a project and I needed him to stay and finish his work.

I went to woodlands polyclinic as it was the nearest to the office and braced myself for a long wait.

My brain is obsessed with coffee at the moment.. zzz

Tip 1, Avoid the lunch time slots.

And it was my fault for coming right before lunchtime so after registering, the nice lady at the counter told me I can actually go have lunch first then come back at 1.30 pm. GREAT!!! Coffee I’m coming!!!

So after a quick lunch, I went back to the clinic early to attempt to get my work done (hey hey cloud-based business) and I waited. Quite surprised it was quite fast! The bell rang and it was my turn.

Tip 2, Most things are like clockwork, so be independent! Put that big girl pants on!

Urine test! The instructions were “pee in this cup then follow the marking on the floor to drop off.. toilet there, no need too much ah! thanks!”

Wookie! Pee in a cup that’s easyishh.

Followed the markings on the floor to the loo, then the markings that tell you where to drop the samples off! Then dropped the samples into a tray and back to waiting. Easy peasy!

Tip 3, Keep your day free for your own sanity.

Less then 30 mins later, dingggg.. That did not take as long as I though it would, judging by the amount of people waiting at the lobby!

Enter the room. When I got in, a middle-aged female doctor greeted me kindly! She congratulated me and told me I was 5 weeks pregnant! Yuppp.. that sounds about right!

Here comes the kicker! Decision time!

The Doctor then and asked me if I wanted to go to a government hospital or a private hospital. So I asked the pros and cons.

So she told me, basically my choice if I want to see only one doctor and his/her team or am I open to a team of doctors and having a different doc every time.

Lets break it down!

The pros of private is

  • Doc knows me, I will go to the hospital the doc is at for delivery
  • If I had a doc I was already visiting, good to stick with him or her
  • Shorter appointment time per visit

And the pros of public is

  • First available appointment date
  • Financially more affordable due to subsidies
  • Second, third, forth… many opinion

So she told me no rush, I can always go into private if I choose public first. So public it is!

Between KKH and NUH, I preferred KKH, so KKH I went!

Last bit of waiting

It took about 10 mins for the doctor to get the referral letter done and with a last word of congrats, and last warning to not carry anything heavy, go to the A&E straight if I bleed or get any spotting, and keep taking my folic acid, im done!  

And hello morning sickness… I’m hungry again.

Payment and cost!

Final steps now!!! Go to the self-service kiosk to pay (big girl pants remember) and I’m all done! In and out. About 3.5 hours plus an hr in between due to lunch break, total bill of $17.20, that’s not too bad!

Maybe it is a good idea to go public!

I will write about my KKH experience once I get my appointment! hehe.. but hello smol smol, you are no longer a figment of my imagination!

Love, Samantha