Last Updated on June 27, 2023 by Parentology

Getting pregnant in Singapore is a very costly affair

From visits to the gynecologist to purchasing insurance and supplements to the actual process of giving birth, each step of the way will set your wallet back by a significant amount of cash.

To illustrate, according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the average cost for prenatal genetic tests can range from S$650 to over S$1,500. To add on, hospital births usually begin at around S$1,200, and can go all the way up to above S$13,000 at private hospitals,

These are just two examples of the types of costs that can chalk up during your maternity journey. This article will highlight some of the other costs that parents will have to incur when preparing to welcome a newborn into the family.

 

Prenatal check ups in the first trimester

You can pick a gynecologist based on the hospital you would like to deliver at, or just simply any doctor you would like.

A public hospital is generally a cheaper option, and there are also subsidies rates for consultations and hospital stays. However, this might mean that you will get a different gynecologist each time you visit.

 

On your first consultation, the gynecologist will provide you with an estimate of your due date. At a public hospital, prices for the first consultation will range from around S$110 to S$150 for an unsubsidized check up. Subsidized check ups will cost around S$30 to S$60.

There are also various tests that you will have to undergo within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and you can expect to see the gynecologist around once or twice. The cost of the tests can range from around S$120 to S$350, while prenatal supplements can go for around S$100 to S$450.

 

Prenatal check ups in the second trimester

In the second trimester of your pregnancy, you can sign up for a package with your gynacologist which includes monthly checkups.

At public hospitals, the packages go for as low as S$400 for subsidized patients. Packages at private hospitals can go for as much as S$2,000.

 

Maternity insurance

It’s always good to be prepared, especially in the case of pregnancy, where you are more susceptible to accidents and emergencies.

The insurance can also cover prenatal care, delivery costs, complications during the birth, and the baby’s illnesses.

There are a variety of plans, and you can expect to pay upwards of S$350 a month.

Besides all the essential tests and insurance, you will also need to purchase maternity clothes. In preparation for the baby, you will also need to spend on equipment such as cots and prams.

Some parents also opt to go for prenatal classes to understand how to better care for their baby. All these costs add up, and can be a hefty sum.

This begs the question – how much MediSave savings can be used to pay for maternity expenses?

The Medisave Maternity Package

The Medisave Maternity Package (MMP) was created to help ease maternity costs and promote child-rearing in Singapore.

Under the MMP, parents can use their MediSave for pre-delivery and delivery expenses. They can withdraw up to S$900 for pre-delivery expenses such as consultations and ultrasound scans.

For delivery, they are able to withdraw up to S$550 per day for the first two days, and up to S$400 for each subsequent day in the hospital. There is also an additional surgical withdrawal limit between S$750 and S3,950 depending on the type of delivery procedure.

MediSave may be used at both public and private hospitals. To claim pre-delivery charges, parents can simply present the bills incurred for pre-delivery medical care to the hospital where the baby was delivered.

 

Baby Bonus

Singaporeans can also benefit from the Baby Bonus scheme, which gives out cash in five installments over 18 months, a CDA First Step Grant, and also a government dollar-for-dollar matching contribution for each dollar you save for the child.

Below is the breakdown of how much you will receive based on the birth order of your newborn.

Birth order	Cash gift and CDA First Step	CDA dollar-for-dollar matching
First and second	$8,000 + $3,000	Up to $3,000 & $6,000
Third and fourth	$8,000 + $3,000	Up to $9,000 & $9,000
Fifth and beyond	$10,000 + $3,000	Up to $15,000

While the MMP is unable to cover all the maternity costs, it can help to ease some of the burden off parents.

At the same time, parents can consider other cost-saving methods, such as having their birth process carried out in a public hospital as compared to a private one, or taking pre-natal classes in groups.

 

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