environment for breastfeeding”. And
some MCHCs offer excellent support
regarding breastfeeding; however,
staff at other centres have scared new
mothers into balls of nerves if their
babies are not achieving charted
weight goals. Rather than addressing
the root of the problem when the baby
is not gaining weight, in some clinics,
the goal becomes “fixing” the weight
issue itself, typically by giving babies
formula powder, despite the Health
Authority’s own guidelines. I’ve also
heard of cases where mothers receive
headmistress-like tut-tutting because
a baby isn’t eating his congee for
breakfast.
If you find that you’re not happy
with the first centre you visit, try
another. I’ve heard good reports from
patients of the MCHCs in Sai Ying
Pun, Sai Wan Ho, Wan Chai and
Tseung Kwan O. But, that doesn’t
mean you should restrict yourself to
these few centres. Different patients
will have different expectations and
experiences.
Precious time
While your postnatal care is free, you
will pay with your time. The typical
government appointment system
works in two-hour blocks, where a
certain number of mothers are given
an appointment time of between, say
9am and 11am. Within that block of
time, patients will queue to be seen,
first-come first-served. Your best bet is
to book the first block in the morning
or the first one after lunch, when you
won’t encounter a backlog. Your next
best option is to arrive early for your
block and get the first appointment in
the queue. Or, if you find yourself with
a wait on your hands, settle in and
enjoy snuggle-time with your baby.
Some centres have a separate and
comfortable breastfeeding room that’s
usually quieter than the waiting room.
Some mothers are able to go
with the flow with the government
system, just relaxing while they wait
and thinking about how they’ll use
the money they’re saving for a really
nice family outing… or ten. Especially
if you supplement the free offerings
with other help when you need it –
regarding postnatal issues that are
specific to your culture, for example –
you can enjoy a positive experience.
Those supplemental services
might come from private clinics, such
as Annerley. Their patients often
use the free government system for
If you supplement the free offerings
with other help when you need it, you
can enjoy a positive experience.
services like immunisations, while
topping up with a bit of private
care for the more holistic aspects of
babycare, like breastfeeding, sleep
support and general advice. Private
clinics also offer a greater degree of
convenience, with services such as
home visits for weighing the baby and
removing the stitches. Mothers who
are looking for a second opinion or
even affirmation that they’re doing
the right thing and that their baby is
perfectly healthy and normal, often
find the support they’re looking for in
private clinics.
Because the focus of the
government system is to provide the
best care, at the best price, for the
majority of the population in its care,
if you fall outside the curve and need
extra services or support, sometimes
the only option is to go to a private
midwives’ or doctor’s practice.
We’re very lucky that Hong Kong
provides such an excellent healthcare
system, at a great price, that more
than covers the basics for postnatal
care. And we’re also lucky that we
have options – both public and
private – that mothers can mix and
match to get the best care to suit their
family’s needs.
