Prince Court Part 3 - Cost of baby delivery

My wife delivered our baby in Prince Court Medical Centre back in June 2011 costing roughly around RM 4.9k (self pay GLC probably double) 

View from the front. Image credit to PCMC FB page

THE VIEW from our room

Stayed 4 days 3 nights since our baby needed medical attention. 

I even asked the cashier 3-4 times on the total bill as it was below our expected budget.

Natural delivery without epidural: 

RM 3k+

Baby Handling Cost: 

RM 1K +

How a standard room looks like.
*Picture credit to PCMC official website

Single Standard Room - RM 150* / per night = RM 450

*Comes with 4 meals Breakfast / Lunch / Tea /Dinner. The food was marvelous too, salmon as lunch and tiramisu as dessert to name a few. For the record you can hardly get a decent room around Bukit Bintang or KLCC area inclusive food with this range or RM 150.00 seriously. 
* Room rate as of 2011.

(Below is their latest room rates)

*Above rates are linked to PCMC website

Miscellaneous pediatrician visit + hearing test bla bla bla: RM 500+

(Our baby was suspected to suffer from a hearing problem on the left ear which needed her to go through some follow up tests. This sort of test is not normally done at normal hospitals this early but being a new parent we just don't want to risk it)

Night view from the room

Dr Paul Tay is THE BEST you can find in the hospital for consultation + charges wise. 

Even internally (I've asked personally) the nurses in PCMC preferred Dr Paul Tay (Their employee delivery are covered by the hospital and they can pick a doctor too. Awesome). 

The charges he estimated prior to delivery (natural) is around 5k or could be more subject to delivery. 

Piece of advise, always ask your doctor for detailed charges like delivery during weekend charges, public holiday, after hours, complication and c-section. 

I know a number of private hospitals are charging each of the thing mentioned above, separately, which will lead to a bill of more than RM 10000+.

I've asked Dr Paul exactly for the above condition, his reply "We can't control when the baby wants to come out unless if it's via c-section, regardless the time and date my charges are the same." 

There and then we are sold with the idea.

The rooms are 1st class and the midwife are excellent too. 

Switching our consultation from Ampang Puteri to PCMC was the BEST DECISION EVER!!! 

Imagine, Ampang Puteri charges nothing less than RM 180.00 regardless with or without medication and most of the time it is more than RM 250+.  

I feel that the docs hardly gave any useful advise / something new. 

Our 4 visits to Ampang Puteri is blown to pieces just by 1 visit to Dr Paul Tay. 

*Lots of parking for visiting family + private room + flexible visiting hours are added benefit. (You can also have visitors till late at night).

The only bad experience is with Pediatrician Dr. Sharmila who appears not professional at all! 

Doing her rounds late and appear messy with long untied hair. 

She was having flu and holding and inspecting babies without a mask which is chargeable at Rm 300+! (True story).

Anyway, we switched to Dr Anthony James (who is really REALLY good!). 

The follow up consultation fees were a bit steep but we were more than happy to go.

For the husbands, here are a few things you can do to calm down or to kill time. 

Lots of beautiful sculptures around + nice architecture too.

*For the ladies, my wife will be responding to your questions if any.

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Can I Bring A Camera to the Hospital Delivery Room?

She is a strong lady and will always love her

Is digital camera allowed in the labor room? 

Can I document the delivery procedure? 

Is the doctor alright with me recording the operation? 

Can I take a video during delivery? 

Any specific restrictions for cameras during delivery? 

Can I take the picture with my camera phone when my baby arrives?

I believe these are some of the questions asked by first-time parents and those who have digital toys at their disposal. 

This was the main reason why we chose a hospital which allowed cameras to be brought into the labor room.

For the record, both Ampang Puteri Hospital and Prince Court Medical Centre allows the husband to record the entire delivery procedure on the digital camera of your choice; DSLR / video camera / mobile phone. 

However, I did not ask if a professional photographer or other family members were allowed to be in the labor room.

They didn't even allow my in-laws to enter the delivery room (PCMC).

Even if you were allowed to bring in a camera, will you be able to handle the recording yourself? 

Would you be able to remain calm and composed whilst your other half is fighting for her life delivering your baby? 

Can you concentrate? 

Is your wife OK to be left in the care of the doctor and nurses? (she's not screaming for you to be next to her)

If all the above is a YES, good for you, buddy! 

Congratulations and good luck in taking your baby's arrival pictures! 

As for me, I have all the above ticked but my conscious told me that I need to be next to my beloved and offer support and encouragement. 

The best part was when the doctor had a huge spotlight switched on during the procedure while he was seated between 2 nurses. 

It felt so surreal as the lighting and the scenario is just so picturesque, I felt like grabbing my camera to shoot. 

Only for my conscious to get the best of me to stay put and not go anywhere.

She is just a few minutes old when this picture was taken

Once the baby is out, that's when you have to be quick and smart. 

Kiss the wifey and azan the baby (for Muslims) while shooting a video at the same time. 

I had the opportunity to record the historic moment and definitely going to treasure this for years to come. 

So, to all fathers out there, make full use of your digital equipment to freeze time and capture your own timeless event. 

Good luck and break a leg!

What I am missing ...

9pm: I was still at work when I called home. 

My lil' angel repeatedly said "Ummi" upon hearing my voice. 

My heart sank. 

All I wanted was to be next to her, hug her & kiss her ... Alas, I was quite a distance from home & it was raining heavily. 

It would take me an hour to reach home with the massive traffic :( 

Today was a crazy Monday and everyday, I vow to go home early around 5pm or 6pm but always end up leaving around this time ... 

By the time I reach home, she was fast asleep on the sofa with her daddy ... 

 I could only cradle her & hug her while listening to stories from hubby on the activities they did earlier in the evening.