We’ve been on a hiatus (kind of) as we have just welcomed our little one, Tofu E, to the tofu house!
It’s been a hectic period but we finally found pockets of time to update and share more about the journey.
One of the biggest questions we had when preparing for Tofu E’s arrival was how much it would actually cost to give birth in a private hospital in Singapore.
We’d decided to deliver at Thomson Medical Centre (TMC), largely because Tofu V’s obstetrician, Dr Tan Kai Lit, practised at Thomson and delivered at either Thomson Medical Centre or Mount Alvernia Hospital. We were comfortable with our gynae and preferred to continue with the same doctor, even though we knew that choosing a private hospital would be considerably more expensive.
We’d also opted for a Premier Single Room, hoping for a little more privacy and comfort during recovery.
What we hadn’t quite expected was how much the final bill would differ from the straightforward maternity packages we’d initially looked at.
Tofu V was admitted for induction on 16 December 2024, gave birth naturally with an epidural the following day, and was discharged on 19 December. There were additional expenses along the way, including repeated induction attempts, an epidural top-up and treatment associated with substantial blood loss during delivery.
By the time we received the final bills, the combined amount for mother and baby came to S$17,448.61 before MediSave deductions.
After S$4,250 in MediSave deductions, the remaining balance was S$13,198.61.
That’s certainly not a small amount, particularly when you consider that we’d already spent several thousand dollars on prenatal consultations, scans and other pregnancy-related expenses.
We’re sharing our actual Thomson Medical Centre bill, including the itemised hospital statements, because we found it quite difficult to understand what we might realistically need to budget for when we were expecting our first child.
This isn’t intended as a general estimate of what every family will pay at TMC. It’s a record of our December 2024 experience, including the circumstances that made our delivery more expensive.
If you’re more interested in what the rooms, food, nursing care and delivery experience were actually like, we’ve covered those separately in our Thomson Medical Centre birth review. For this article, we’re focusing primarily on the financial side.
How much did we pay to give birth at Thomson Medical Centre?
Here’s the breakdown of our hospital expenses for Tofu E’s birth in December 2024.
| Expense | Before MediSave | MediSave deduction | Remaining balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother’s hospital and doctor fees | S$14,611.12 | S$3,150.00 | S$11,461.12 |
| Baby’s hospital and paediatrician fees | S$2,837.49 | S$1,100.00 | S$1,737.49 |
| Total | S$17,448.61 | S$4,250.00 | S$13,198.61 |
These are the amounts shown on our final hospital statements. The remaining balance is the amount after the recorded MediSave deductions, before considering any other payment arrangements outside those statements.
Our delivery involved a three-night hospital admission, a Premier Single Room and a vaginal delivery with an epidural. The final bill also reflected the additional medical care Tofu V needed during labour.
The figures are therefore specific to our circumstances. Someone delivering without an epidural, staying in a different room type or having a shorter admission could receive a very different bill.
Likewise, a Caesarean delivery, additional complications or extra care for the baby could change the final amount significantly.
Our Delivery Details
| Detail | Our experience |
|---|---|
| Hospital | Thomson Medical Centre, Singapore |
| Delivery date | 17 December 2024 |
| Admission date | 16 December 2024 |
| Discharge date | 19 December 2024 |
| Length of stay | 3 nights for Tofu V |
| Room type | Premier Single Room |
| Delivery method | Vaginal delivery with epidural |
| Obstetrician | Dr Tan Kai Lit |
| Anaesthesiologist | Dr Yvonne Lim |
| Paediatrician | Dr Ang Ai Tin |
| Total hospital bill before MediSave | S$17,448.61 |
| Combined MediSave deductions | S$4,250.00 |
| Balance after MediSave | S$13,198.61 |
We requested separate, itemised bills so we could understand the charges and arrange the applicable MediSave claims.
The hospital produced separate statements for Tofu V and Tofu E, with their own hospital charges, doctor fees and deductions.
This distinction matters because the bill for giving birth isn’t necessarily just one maternity package charged to the mother. There are also expenses associated with the baby’s care, medical tests and paediatrician.
Our Thomson Medical Centre mother’s bill: S$14,611.12
The mother’s bill accounted for most of our hospital expenses, coming to S$14,611.12 before MediSave.
This covered Tofu V’s hospital accommodation, delivery package, labour ward services, medications, medical supplies, equipment usage and doctor fees.
We requested the detailed statement in addition to the summary bill, which turned out to be particularly useful.
Rather than simply seeing one large figure, we could understand exactly where the money had gone. Some charges were fairly predictable, such as the Premier Room accommodation and obstetrician fees. Others were much less obvious when we first considered how much it would cost to give birth.
Breakdown of the Mother’s Hospital Charges
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Normal delivery with epidural package | S$2,189.00 |
| Premier Room accommodation | S$2,394.00 |
| Daily treatment fees | S$690.00 |
| Labour ward services | S$280.00 |
| Medications | S$857.60 |
| Medical supplies | S$513.00 |
| Medical laboratory fees | S$215.00 |
| Procedures | S$624.00 |
| Use of equipment | S$1,330.00 |
| Accommodation discount | −S$837.90 |
| Hospital charges before GST | S$8,254.70 |
| GST | S$742.92 |
| Hospital charges including GST | S$8,997.62 |
| Doctor fees | S$5,613.50 |
| Mother’s total bill | S$14,611.12 |
| MediSave deductions | −S$3,150.00 |
| Balance after MediSave | S$11,461.12 |
The table above is based on our actual December 2024 hospital statement rather than advertised maternity package rates.
How much were our gynae and epidural fees?
One of the more substantial parts of the bill was the professional fees.
Our summary statement showed S$4,578.00 for Dr Tan Kai Lit, comprising the delivery operation fee and attendance fee. Dr Yvonne Lim’s anaesthesiologist fee was S$1,035.50.
Together, the doctor fees came to S$5,613.50.
It’s worth remembering that the fees quoted by an obstetrician’s clinic may not necessarily represent every professional or hospital-related charge associated with the delivery.
In our original research, Dr Tan’s indicative delivery fees varied depending on the type of birth:
| Delivery method | Indicative fees quoted at the time |
|---|---|
| Normal vaginal delivery | S$3,200–S$4,200 |
| Assisted vaginal delivery | S$3,500–S$4,500 |
| Caesarean section | S$4,200–S$5,700 |
These were the ranges we had when planning our 2024 delivery, not verified current quotations. Actual charges can also vary according to the circumstances of the birth, associated procedures and professional attendance.
Our own final fees were towards the higher end of what we’d anticipated, particularly because the delivery involved heavier bleeding and additional stitches.
When budgeting for a private delivery, we’d recommend asking your obstetrician’s clinic about the possible professional charges separately from the hospital’s maternity package.
What else did we pay for?
We were particularly surprised by some of the additional hospital charges.
Our itemised bill included S$857.60 in medications, S$513 in medical supplies, S$624 in procedures and S$1,330 for equipment usage. These were expenses we had certainly not spent much time thinking about before delivery.
For example, the detailed statement included charges related to induction, foetal monitoring, IV equipment, laboratory tests and the medications administered during our stay.
Tofu V underwent three induction attempts, received an epidural with a top-up and needed treatment following significant blood loss, including tranexamic acid and a blood transfusion. We were grateful that the necessary care was available, but these expenses also made it clear why an advertised delivery package should only be treated as a starting point.
A package might cover a standard set of services, but the actual circumstances of labour can affect what else appears on your bill.
The unexpected S$798 room charage
One of the hospital charges that frustrated us most was the first night of accommodation.
Tofu V was induced at around 12.45pm on 16 December 2024. We knew that induction could take time, but we hadn’t expected her labour to progress in a way that meant she would spend that night in the labour ward. She eventually developed strong contractions and was transferred there that evening, remaining in the labour ward until the following day. As a result, she didn’t actually get to sleep in the Premier Single Room on the night of 16 December.
Nevertheless, the room had already been allocated to her, and we were charged the daily accommodation rate of S$798.
The detailed bill shows three Premier Room charges of S$798 each, totalling S$2,394 before the separate accommodation discount.
We understand that the hospital had checked Tofu V in and reserved the room, but it was still rather frustrating to pay for a night when she wasn’t actually able to use it for rest. It’s something we’d encourage parents to clarify before a scheduled induction, particularly if you’re booking a private room and expect that labour may take some time.
Ask the hospital when room charges begin, what happens if you’re transferred to the labour ward overnight and whether any adjustments apply. We wouldn’t assume that the same arrangements or prices still apply today.
For a closer look at the Premier Room itself, including the companion’s sofa bed, room facilities and food, you can read our Thomson Medical Centre review.
Our baby’s Thomson Medical Centre bill: S$2,837.49
The other part of our final hospital bill was for Tofu E. The baby’s bill came to S$2,837.49 before MediSave, with a further S$1,100 in MediSave deductions, leaving a balance of S$1,737.49.
We hadn’t expected the newborn’s hospital charges to be quite so substantial, although looking through the detailed statement helped us understand what had been included.
These expenses covered the baby package, daily care, medical supplies, laboratory investigations, procedures, equipment usage and paediatrician fees.
Dr Ang Ai Tin was Tofu E’s paediatrician during the hospital stay.
Breakdown of Our Baby’s Hospital Charges
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Baby package | S$352.00 |
| Baby care services | S$336.00 |
| Medical supplies | S$144.20 |
| Medical laboratory fees | S$543.00 |
| Procedures | S$464.00 |
| Equipment usage | S$40.00 |
| Retail medical product | S$4.00 |
| Hospital charges before GST | S$1,883.20 |
| GST | S$169.49 |
| Hospital charges including GST | S$2,052.69 |
| Paediatrician fees after discount | S$784.80 |
| Baby’s total bill | S$2,837.49 |
| MediSave deductions | −S$1,100.00 |
| Balance after MediSave | S$1,737.49 |
Newborn Screening and Other Tests
Some of the charges that stood out were related to newborn screening and medical tests. We opted to pay for additional screening, including metabolic screening and a hearing test.
The detailed statement shows S$383 for metabolic screening and S$176 for the newborn hearing test, along with other laboratory and procedure charges.
We’d recommend discussing which tests are included in the hospital’s standard newborn package, which are separately chargeable and what screening your paediatrician recommends. It’s also worth asking whether the paediatrician’s professional fees are included in any quoted package or billed separately.
These are easy expenses to overlook when you’re primarily focused on the mother’s delivery charges.
How much did MediSave cover for our delivery?
Our combined hospital bill was S$17,448.61, but we didn’t have to settle that entire amount without any MediSave deductions.
The final statements show that S$3,150 was deducted from the mother’s bill and S$1,100 from the baby’s bill.
This brought the combined remaining balance down to S$13,198.61.
We had also requested the relevant bills to be separated so that the applicable MediSave claims could be arranged.
One important point is that MediSave is a way of paying eligible medical expenses using savings in a MediSave account. It’s not the same as receiving a government cash subsidy or a discount from the hospital.
The actual amount that can be used depends on the type of delivery, eligible hospital charges, the applicable withdrawal limits and the circumstances of the claim.
What Does the MediSave Maternity Package Cover?
Singapore’s MediSave Maternity Package allows eligible parents to use MediSave savings for certain pre-delivery expenses, the delivery procedure and hospital charges.
Under the rules published by the CPF Board in 2026, the maternity package includes:
- Up to S$900 for eligible pre-delivery expenses, such as consultations, scans, tests and medication.
- A delivery-procedure withdrawal limit that depends on the type and complexity of delivery.
- Up to S$1,130 per day for the first two days of hospitalisation and S$400 per day from the third day onwards for eligible inpatient hospital charges.
These are the published limits at the time of this article’s 2026 update, rather than a reconstruction of how each deduction on our 2024 statements was calculated.
The hospital can generally help submit the relevant claims, including eligible pre-delivery bills. We’d recommend retaining the original receipts for prenatal consultations, tests and scans, particularly if you’ve been seeing a gynae outside the hospital where you eventually deliver.
For current details, refer to the CPF Board’s MediSave maternity guidance.
Our prenatal expenses before giving birth
The delivery bill was only part of what we spent during pregnancy.
Long before Tofu V was admitted to Thomson Medical Centre, we’d already paid for obstetrician consultations, ultrasound scans, prenatal testing, blood tests and vaccinations.
The costs can add up surprisingly quickly, especially when you’re seeing a private gynae and choosing additional screening.
Here’s the breakdown of the expenses we originally recorded during Tofu V’s pregnancy. We’ve preserved the individual figures from our earlier article, with GST included.
Prenatal consultation, scan and test costs
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| OBGYN consultations | |
| First consultation | S$141.70 |
| First ultrasound | S$119.90 |
| Subsequent consultations and scans (3 × S$218) | S$654.00 |
| Antenatal package (10 consultations, scans and urine dipsticks) | S$1,035.50 |
| Scans and tests | |
| Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) | S$1,068.20 |
| OSCAR screening | S$428.70 |
| 20-week anomaly scan | S$261.98 |
| Comprehensive antenatal blood test | S$196.20 |
| Glucose tolerance test | S$70.85 |
| Lower vaginal swab culture | S$65.40 |
| Urine tests (6 × S$5.45) | S$32.70 |
| Vaccination | |
| Boostrix Tdap vaccine | S$63.22 |
| Sum of the listed expenses | S$4,138.35 |
| Total reported in our original article | S$5,346.75 |
Editorial clarification: The original article reported S$5,346.75, but the individual expenses displayed in its table add up to S$4,138.35. The S$1,208.40 difference has not been reconciled against the original receipts. We’ve retained the published figures rather than assigning that difference to an expense we can’t verify.
These were the amounts we paid during our pregnancy, rather than current consultation or screening prices.
For us, the most significant testing expense was NIPT at S$1,068.20, followed by the antenatal package and the various consultations and scans.
Screening choices will differ from one pregnancy to another, so we wouldn’t suggest that everyone needs to budget for exactly the same combination of tests.
It’s worth discussing which investigations are medically recommended, which are optional and whether any are already included in your gynae’s antenatal package.
Other pregnancy expenses we hadn’t included
There were also additional expenses that weren’t included among the individual amounts listed above.
These included unscheduled check-ups, including visits to our obstetrician and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, as well as extra blood tests. Tofu V underwent two liver tests during her pregnancy.
We also spent money on prenatal supplements, including DHA, folic acid, calcium and iron, along with prescribed medication such as Utrogestan. We estimated that these other expenses amounted to more than S$1,000 over the course of the pregnancy.
What Surprised Us Most About the Cost of Giving Birth Privately
We did choose a Premier Single Room and a private obstetrician, both of which naturally affected our expenses. But the final amount was also influenced by circumstances that weren’t entirely within our control.
The induction took longer than we’d expected, resulting in an additional night of admission. Tofu V also required further medical care during delivery, which contributed to the medications, supplies and professional charges. The baby also had a separate bill, including newborn screening and paediatrician fees.
Individually, many of those charges seemed understandable once we reviewed the itemised statements. It was seeing everything added together that came as a bit of a shock.
If we were preparing for another private hospital delivery, we’d be more careful about treating maternity package prices as an indication of the final bill.
We’d ask the hospital and gynae about the likely charges under different delivery scenarios, including a longer induction, epidural use, additional days of admission and complications requiring further treatment.
We’d also keep a buffer in our budget rather than assume everything would go exactly according to plan.
Of course, it’s not possible to predict every medical circumstance, and the priority during labour should always be appropriate care for mother and baby. Our point is simply that it’s worth understanding how the charges work before you receive the final statement.
How to budget for giving birth at Thomson Medical Centre
Based on our experience, we’d suggest looking at maternity costs in three separate stages rather than focusing only on the advertised delivery package.
The first is prenatal care. This includes your obstetrician’s consultations, routine scans, antenatal packages, screening, blood tests, medication and any unscheduled visits.
The second is the delivery admission itself. This covers the hospital room, delivery package, obstetrician and anaesthesiologist fees, procedures, equipment usage, medicines and other medical supplies. The final amount depends heavily on the type of delivery and any additional care required.
The third is your newborn’s hospital bill. This can include baby care, screening, paediatrician charges and any extra investigations or treatment.
We’d also check the following before confirming a private maternity package:
- Whether the quoted package includes GST and all professional fees.
- When room charges begin and how an induction affects the length of stay.
- Whether epidural administration and subsequent top-ups are billed separately.
- What happens if a vaginal delivery becomes an assisted or Caesarean delivery.
- Which newborn screening tests and paediatrician fees are included.
- How MediSave claims are submitted and what portion of the final bill may remain payable.
- Whether you have applicable insurance coverage and what it actually pays for.
For a more meaningful comparison between hospitals, Singapore’s Ministry of Health publishes actual hospital bill information by procedure and ward type through its Bill Information and Fee Benchmarks pages.
We’d use those figures alongside hospital quotations rather than assume that another family’s final bill will accurately predict our own.
Frequently asked questions about Thomson Medical Centre delivery costs
How much did we pay to give birth at Thomson Medical Centre?
Our total hospital bill for Tofu E’s birth in December 2024 was S$17,448.61 before MediSave. After S$4,250 in combined MediSave deductions, the remaining balance on the mother’s and baby’s bills was S$13,198.61.
How much was the mother’s bill at Thomson Medical Centre?
Tofu V’s bill came to S$14,611.12 before MediSave. This included her Premier Single Room accommodation, normal delivery with epidural, medical treatment, equipment, medications and doctor fees.
How much was the baby’s hospital bill?
Tofu E’s bill was S$2,837.49 before MediSave, including newborn care, screening, procedures and paediatrician charges. After S$1,100 in MediSave deductions, the remaining balance was S$1,737.49.
How much did a Premier Single Room cost at Thomson Medical Centre?
Our December 2024 itemised statement showed a rate of S$798 per night for the Premier Room, before the separate accommodation discount on the bill. We were charged for three nights. This was our historical room rate, not a current quotation.
Why were we charged for a room when Tofu V was in the labour ward?
Tofu V had already been checked into her Premier Room when she was transferred to the labour ward during induction. Although she didn’t get to sleep in the room that first night, the hospital charged for the allocated accommodation. We’d recommend clarifying current charging arrangements directly with TMC if you’re planning an induction.
Are gynae and anaesthesiologist fees included in the maternity package?
Not necessarily. Our hospital bill showed separate doctor fees for Dr Tan Kai Lit and Dr Yvonne Lim. When comparing maternity packages, ask which professional charges are included and what may be billed separately.
Does induction make a private hospital delivery more expensive?
It can, depending on the additional medication, monitoring, procedures and length of admission required. In our case, induction began on 16 December, but Tofu V delivered on 17 December and was discharged on 19 December. The extra night and medical care contributed to our overall bill.
Can MediSave be used for private hospital delivery in Singapore?
Yes, subject to eligibility, applicable withdrawal limits and eligible expenses. The MediSave Maternity Package covers specified pre-delivery expenses, delivery procedures and inpatient charges at public and private hospitals. The hospital can help process the relevant claims.
Can MediSave cover prenatal check-ups and scans?
Yes, eligible pre-delivery medical expenses can be claimed up to the prevailing limit under the MediSave Maternity Package. CPF’s published 2026 guidance states a limit of S$900 for eligible pre-delivery expenses. Keep your original receipts and submit them through the hospital where you deliver.
How much did we spend on prenatal care?
Our original article reported S$5,346.75 in major prenatal expenses, excluding some additional tests, medication and supplements. However, the individual amounts displayed in that table add up to S$4,138.35, so the reported total needs to be checked against the original receipts before being treated as a fully reconciled figure.
Is Thomson Medical Centre cheaper than other private maternity hospitals?
We wouldn’t draw that conclusion from our bill alone. Actual costs depend on delivery method, ward type, doctor’s fees, length of stay and medical circumstances. We’d compare current maternity quotations and Ministry of Health bill benchmarks for similar delivery procedures and ward types.
Would we choose Thomson Medical Centre again?
Our overall experience was mixed but generally satisfactory, particularly in terms of the private room, food and much of the nursing care. There were also aspects of the induction and hospital operations that we found frustrating. We’ve discussed those in considerably more detail in our Thomson Medical Centre birth experience review.
Our final thoughts on giving birth at Thomson Medical Centre
Giving birth privately in Singapore is a significant expense, and our experience at Thomson Medical Centre certainly reinforced that.
We knew that choosing a private hospital, a Premier Single Room and our preferred obstetrician would cost more than a subsidised delivery at a public hospital. What surprised us was how the individual charges accumulated once we factored in the induction, additional medical treatment, three-night stay, epidural and baby’s care.
Our final hospital bill came to S$17,448.61 before MediSave, with S$13,198.61 remaining after the deductions shown on our statements.
There were certainly things we’d have liked to understand better beforehand, especially the additional room charge when Tofu V spent the night in the labour ward and the various medication and equipment charges that weren’t obvious from the standard maternity package.
At the same time, we recognise that every birth is different. Our delivery involved heavier bleeding and medical interventions that won’t necessarily apply to another mother.
If there’s one thing we’d recommend to parents considering a private hospital, it’s to budget beyond the advertised maternity package and ask for an itemised breakdown of what is and isn’t included.
We found it useful to see the actual bills from other parents when we were preparing for Tofu E’s arrival, which is why we’re sharing ours in detail.
And while we hope nobody has to deal with unexpectedly high medical expenses, we think having a realistic idea of the possible costs makes planning that little bit easier.
For the non-financial side of our stay, including TMC’s Premier Room, food, nursing care, induction and overall experience, read our full Thomson Medical Centre review.
Disclosure: This article documents our personal delivery experience and actual hospital charges from December 2024. It is not sponsored by Thomson Medical Centre. Fees, MediSave rules and hospital arrangements may change, and individual medical circumstances can affect the final bill.
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