6th & Final Consultation with Obstetrician & Gynaecologist - Dr Tan Ee Ping

I am now 39 weeks pregnant! No sign of baby coming anytime soon yet but I am feeling more and more whale-like everyday. Walking is strenuous , getting up from bed or a chair is a herculean effort, standing ardous...ok I guess you all get the picture...

It was just supposed to be the standard weekly check up with Dr Tan but because I went to see her the last time and was in a lot of pain, she asked me to come back two weeks later. So essentially it was either I would already have given birth or be at 39 weeks pregnant.

Hubby and I were extremely surprised that when we arrived there the clinic was less than half full. Considering all our other visits, where the clinic was so crowded, you literally had to fight for a place to sit or stand. We only waited around half an hour to 45 minutes after all the necessary urine test and ultrasound. Baby #2 is now estimated at 3.2 kgs! I really thank God my weight did not change from the last visit 2 weeks ago, so I am still at 70 kgs give or take 200-300 grams more.  But no significant weight gain.

Hubby hadn't eaten lunch yet and I told him that I would be ok to see the doctor on my own so he could go next door to the middle eastern sandwich restaurant and get something to eat. I got called in and started chatting with the doctor. I had a few questions pertaining to what I wanted during my delivery such as delayed cord clamping, delayed bath and I wanted to room in with my baby so that I could breastfeed him exclusively. I also asked her about whether my SPD condition as per my previous posting here would have any effect during the delivery process. She explained that I might experience pain after the delivery rather than during the delivery. We chatted a little more and then I mentioned, I should be alright since you are going to be there and are aware of all the complications that I have had so far.

It was at this point that she dropped a BOMBSHELL on me! I can't remember what her exact answer was, but it was along the lines of "most probably not". Chances are she would not be able to deliver my baby because she herself was going in for surgery and was going to be on medical leave from 1st of February onwards for the next 3 months! I was shocked and dismayed when I heard this as I am only one week from my due date of 3rd February! I was on the verge of tears and then got a little angry and told her how come I was not informed at all?  According to her all her patients were told as she had made a decision somewhere mid January, because I was in so much pain the last time I saw her, this little very important information had slipped her mind! She said that I was probably her only patient that didn't know!! I felt like crying really...after all these months, the main reason that I started seeing her was because I felt comfortable that she would be the doctor who would deliver my baby and also provide me with a different birth experience from Chapati!! She then recommended another doctor called Dr Eee and said that I should probably make an appointment to see him as soon as possible. I got really angry then...why in the world would I take the time to go see her and go through all the rigmarole of tests, ultrasound and discuss what I wanted during delivery? Why didn't anyone say anything to me?? I was so so so mad I tell you...

I took the recommended doctor's information and expeditiously left the room. The best part was, they had the gall to charge me the normal fees for the ultrasound and consultation!!

I understand that we are all humans and our bodies do break down and need to be looked after...even for doctors but I felt that they didn't even bother to make sure that something so important was communicated to ALL their current patients. Especially those who are so near their due dates. Malaysian "tidak apa" (couldn't care less) attitude at its best??!! I really hope not. I realised that with Dr Tan, you really have to make the effort to ask, check up on things...whilst she is pro-natural and is an experienced specialist, she has somewhat forgotten that personal touch and connection with her patients. Can you imagine that something so important they can forget to inform ALL their patients? I hardly have time to make other arrangements! It was a case of, if you deliver now, great!She can still be my doctor, a few days later I get some unknown doctor that I have not even met and doesn't know the first thing about me! What's the point of seeing a private specialist and spending thousands of ringgit (I mean literally 5 to 10 thousand ringgit) when I can get the same kind of treatment at the government hospital for maybe a few hundred ringgit all in for the 9 months including delivery? Yes, I was really upset.

Anyway, I hastily paid the bill and left to look for Hubby. I am now half wondering if I should have just walked out and refused to pay the bill...I think that I would be less angry...I can't even believe that I was so nice to the nurses there when all I wanted to do was give them a piece of my mind.

Consultation        = RM80
Ultrasound          = RM40
Total                    = RM120

I lamented and cried all the way home whilst Hubby was surprisingly calm, caring and utterly at peace. He assured me that whilst it was upsetting, he was sure that everything will work out for our good and that God is always looking out for us and will not let anything go wrong or allow us to experience anything less than the best. He told me to quickly arrange an appointment to see the other doctor the next day and leave all my anxiety in God's hands. 

I felt much better after that, and proceeded to make the appointment to see Dr Eee...but I was still worried and decided to do a little more research and to reach out to members of the The Gentle Birthing Group Malaysia from whom I got the recommendation for Dr Tan. However, I didn't get any responses with regards to any reviews or experiences with Dr Eee and the only thing that I could find was Dr Eee's Women Specialist Clinic FB page with reviews in it. Now I am praying and hoping that he will be the right doctor for me.