Giving Birth In Chiang Mai

[Nikki321]

Hi I'm looking for mums who have recently given birth in chiang Mai to give some advice! I'm due at the beginning of January and living in chiang rai but considering chiang Mai for the birth as haven't found a doctor im happy with here. Some of the methods seem very outdated!!

Am keen to have an active birth without episiotomy done as standard. I have been recommended Dr. Suppachai Sirisukkasem at chiang Mai Ram hospital so any opinions/experiences anyone's had with him or another doctor would be great to hear. Thanks in advance!! Nikki

[eyecatcher]

Good luck...but you wont find many "mums" offering advice on here.

A few dads maybe that can advise on the waiting areas and quality of tv programmes.in the different hospitals

[elektrified]

I'm not a mum (and I doubt you will find too many on this forum to advise you) but this is the guy who delivered my child 3 years ago:

(From the pinned thread)

Sompong Trungtawatchai, M.D.

He is Professor or Associate Professor (I forget) at CMU and works mostly at Sripat but I see he now works at Ram too. Great guy, keeps you informed every step of the way, good bedside manner, good English. One of the most popular OB/GYN docs in C.M. with the Thais. He delivers a LOT of babies.

Good luck!

[TommoPhysicist]

If you go to a private hospital they will almost certainly find a reason for a C-section at the last minute.

So they can charge more, watch out for that.

Government hospitals might be a better choice for a traditional birth.

Congratulations and good luck with the baby.

[elektrified]

If you go to a private hospital they will almost certainly find a reason for a C-section at the last minute.

So they can charge more, watch out for that.

Government hospitals might be a better choice for a traditional birth.

Congratulations and good luck with the baby.

The day my child was born (13 babies born that day at Sripat), only one was an emergency C-Section. All others were normal vaginal birth. I believe Dr. Sompong delivered about 9 of them!

I would avoid a government hospital.

I forgot to say that there is only one quirk with Dr. Sompong. He does not allow cameras or videos in the delivery room. Maybe one photo from the doorway - that's it. Video is non-negotiable.

[tfc]

Dr. Supreeya who works out of Sripat hospital is very good and the only one I know of who promotes natural and active births. There may be others but I don't know.

Lori Rowe is one of 3 expat nurses who run a support group for pregnant women. From memory 2 of them are American nurses and midwives and other is UK nurse. One of them is also a lactation specialist. They offer free birthing classes and support after birth too. It is worth calling Lori as she is a wealth of knowledge.

053 262 660

[pom si tong]

Hi Nikki,

I will be giving birth this week in Chiang Mai. I was in you shoes recently when my husband and I were based in Chiang Rai. We were quite unhappy with the doctor we met at Sriburin—mandatory episiotomy, no mirrors allowed at delivery, expensive visit at his private clinic, he administers epidurals and not an anesthesiologist (weird?)—so we relocated to CM several weeks ago to find an OB more on board with our birth plan. We went immediately to Chiang Mai RAM and a female OB suggest we meet with Dr. Suppachai Sirisukkasem. We knew immediately this was our guy. I highly recommed Dr. Suppachai and suggest not waiting until several weeks before you delivery (!) to start regular prenatal visits with him. He is very professional, has pleasant bedside manners and speaks good English. He promotes breastfeeding, episiotomies are considered case-by case but certainly not routine and he is pro-natural birth. And while epidurals are not common in CM there are other pain medications available during labor and birth. Also, RAM provides newborn 'rooming-in' which we very much wanted. The birth and delivery department is clean and modern. We asked to take a tour of the facility during our first visit to RAM and were pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and kindness of the staff.

Also, TFC above suggests contacting Lori Rowe and I too would recommend contacting her. I've been in touch with her and she has been incredibly helpful and supportive. She's involved with the Chiang Mai Raintree Resource Center. They have a very informative manual called "Giving Birth in Chiang Mai." Their latest version is from 2010 and she can email you a PDF if you don't have time to pick up a hard copy. They recommed OBs in CM and Dr. Suppachai is actually first on their list. Their 20-page document is enlightening and I'm sure you too would find useful.

I hope this helps!

[hellodolly]

Well I am not a mother and have no intention of being a father again. But based on what I have read on this thread if it was to happen I would be right down in Chiang Mai talking to the people recommended here. If a doctor is working out of both Ram and Sripat would go for the Sripat as it would be cheaper. The service at Ram can be a lot better private room with TV and Micro Wave sink to wash dishes. And your husband can stay in there with you. Don't know about that at Sripat

[brebs]

Sripad also has rooms with a TV, microwave and sink. Also a fridge. This is on floor 15 - highest floor.

The husband can get exercise by taking the stairs instead of the lift

[kurtmartens]

Am actually writing this from our room in Chiang Mai Ram. The whole experience was okay. Certainly not up to the hospital standards at BNH in Bangkok, but we knew this when we relocated to Chiang Mai last year.

The baby was delivered via c section, which was my wife's (Thai) choice ... come to find out it was the right choice as the baby was a bit big to pass through naturally.

Private room on the 6th floor. It's okay, again its not BNH where I had surgery last year, but its fine. Dingy wallpaper (they really should use paint), but clean. Towels are a bit frayed in the bathroom, but again clean.

Nurses on this floor and the nursery speak a little English, but not much. The care level to my wife and baby seems good and genuine.

Checking out tomorrow and for four days plus c section the bill is 77,000 Baht. Which is fine as We are lucky our insurance is covering up to 80,000 Baht.

[elektrified]

Congratulations on the baby! But seriously now, complaining about wallpaper and frayed towels? And the ability of the nursing staff to speak English? This is Thailand where they speak Thai.

[babyexplore]

I am looking for the same. My husband and I are Americans living in China wanting to come to Thailand to have our baby. I want to have a natural birth with no interventions. I would like my doula to be there as well as my husband in the room with me for delivery. Good English-speaking doctors and nurses. We really want to have the baby in Chiang Mai. I heard about a medical visa for 60-90 days. Does Sriphat offer visa services for their expat patients? How has your experience been with this hospital? Also, is Lori Rowe still in Chiang Mai?

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, babyexplore said:

doula

Googles 'doula' ..........

Then notices thread revived from 2012.

[eyecatcher]

I see some desperation in Thai visa as threads over 5yrs old were always archived and dead.

Now seems they are able to dig up the dead.

Nice to see some old names on there BM2, and my sarcasm of course!