Pregnancy FAQ
Answers to the questions Singapore pregnant mums ask most - from the first positive test through to labour and delivery at KKH, NUH, or TMC.
When does morning sickness start and how long does it last?
Morning sickness (nausea and sometimes vomiting) typically starts at weeks 5–6 of pregnancy - just after your missed period. It peaks around weeks 8–10 and resolves for most women by weeks 12–14.
Despite the name, it can strike at any time of day. Triggers in Singapore's heat: cooking smells, petrol fumes in MRT stations, food courts, and bus journeys can all worsen nausea.
Managing nausea in Singapore's climate:
- • Eat small, frequent meals - every 2–3 hours. An empty stomach worsens nausea.
- • Cold or room-temperature foods (avoid strong-smelling hot food)
- • Keep a fan directed at your face in humid conditions
- • Ginger tea, ginger candies, or ginger capsules (250 mg 4x/day) - evidence-backed
- • Vitamin B6 (10–25 mg 3x/day) - first-line medical recommendation
- • Sea-Bands (acupressure wristbands) available at Guardian and Watsons
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is severe vomiting with weight loss and dehydration. If you can't keep any food or fluids down, attend KKH or NUH A&E for IV fluids and anti-nausea medication. HG affects about 1–2% of pregnancies and is a medical condition that requires treatment. See our full pregnancy symptoms guide.
Read the full guideHow much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines, which KKH and NUH follow, base recommendations on your pre-pregnancy BMI:
| Pre-pregnancy BMI | Category | Recommended Total Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18.5 | Underweight | 12.5–18 kg |
| 18.5–24.9 | Healthy weight | 11.5–16 kg |
| 25–29.9 | Overweight | 7–11.5 kg |
| >30 | Obese | 5–9 kg |
| Twin pregnancy | Healthy weight | 17–25 kg |
Track your gain with the Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator. Weight gain is slow in the first trimester (0.5–2 kg total) then accelerates to about 0.4–0.5 kg/week in the second and third trimesters.
Read the full guideWhat should I pack in my hospital bag for delivery in Singapore?
Pack your hospital bag at week 36 - before you go on maternity leave. Singapore hospitals (KKH, NUH, TMC, Mount Alvernia, Gleneagles) provide some items but others you should bring yourself.
- •IC/passport + Blue Book
- •Insurance card
- •Birth plan (optional)
- •Maternity pads (hospital usually provides)
- •Comfortable nightgown or sarong
- •Slippers
- •Phone charger
- •Snacks for labour partner
- •Button-front pyjamas (for breastfeeding)
- •Nursing bras x3
- •Breast pads
- •Toiletries
- •Comfortable clothing for going home
- •Pillow if you want your own
- •Car seat (mandatory to drive home)
- •Going-home outfit
- •Muslin swaddle cloths x2–3
- •White socks
- •Hospital usually provides diapers, formula if needed
- •NRIC/passport
- •Gynae referral letter
- •Baby's pre-registration (some hospitals)
- •Insurance pre-authorisation
- •Emergency contacts list
See the complete hospital bag checklist for Singapore mums with a downloadable PDF version.
Read the full guideWhich hospital should I deliver at in Singapore?
Your choice of hospital depends on your gynaecologist's admitting privileges, your insurance coverage, budget, and location. Here's a quick comparison:
Singapore's largest maternity hospital. Specialist in high-risk pregnancies. NICU on site. All ward classes available. Can choose private OB or see hospital doctors.
B2 ward from ~$2,500; A ward ~$8,000–15,000
Strong academic centre. High-risk expertise. Well-equipped NICU. Combined care with NUS Medicine.
Similar subsidy structure to KKH
Popular private option. Known for personalised care. Many private OBGYNs have rooms here.
S$8,000–15,000 per delivery
Smaller hospitals with boutique feel. Higher cost. Choice for those with private insurance.
S$10,000–20,000+
MediSave can be used for delivery costs: S$450 (normal delivery), S$900 (caesarean) per day. Check your insurer's maternity riders for additional coverage.
Read the full guideWhat are the early signs of pregnancy?
The most reliable sign is a missed period confirmed by a positive pregnancy test. Many women notice other changes before that, typically from 4–6 weeks:
One of the earliest signs. Starts around 3–4 weeks as progesterone rises.
Extreme tiredness in weeks 5–10. Progesterone and increased blood volume are the cause.
Starts weeks 5–6. More common in the morning but can occur at any time.
Increased blood volume means kidneys filter more. Starts early; worsens in third trimester.
About 25–30% of women. Light pink or brown spotting 6–12 days after ovulation.
Strong smell sensitivity starts in the first trimester. Common in SG: aversion to hawker smells.
See the full guide: 14 Early Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms. A digital pregnancy test from Guardian or Watsons confirms pregnancy from your missed period date.
Read the full guideHow many prenatal appointments do I need in Singapore?
The MOH recommends 8–12 antenatal visits for a low-risk singleton pregnancy. Your schedule will typically look like this:
Booking visit: confirm pregnancy, blood type, FBC, HIV, Hep B, rubella immunity. First scan (transvaginal) to confirm heartbeat.
First trimester screening: nuchal translucency scan + blood test for chromosomal risks. OSCAR/combined test.
Anomaly scan (TIFFA): detailed anatomy scan checking 20+ structures.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for gestational diabetes. Full blood count repeat.
Monthly visits. Group B Strep swab at 35–37 weeks.
Weekly visits. Cervical assessment. Baby's position checked. Planning for induction if overdue.
Schedule visits with the Prenatal Appointment Scheduler. Polyclinics offer shared care (alternating visits with KKH/NUH) which significantly reduces cost.
Read the full guideWhen do I go to the hospital during labour?
For first-time mothers, the general guideline is the 5-1-1 rule: contractions every 5 minutes, each lasting at least 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. For subsequent deliveries (faster labours), go in at 7-1-1 or when contractions are uncomfortable and consistent.
Go immediately (call 995 or go to A&E) if:
- • Your waters break (with or without contractions)
- • You have heavy bright red vaginal bleeding
- • Baby's movements have significantly reduced or stopped
- • Severe headache, visual disturbance, sudden face/hand/feet swelling (pre-eclampsia signs)
- • You are under 37 weeks and having regular contractions
Use the Contraction Timer to track frequency and duration. KKH and NUH have 24-hour labour ward helplines you can call to discuss your symptoms before coming in.
Read the full guide