Having a Baby in Thailand: A Step-by-Step Guide for Expecting Parents

Having a Baby in Thailand A Step-by-Step Guide for Expecting Parents

There’s something unforgettable about having kids. But there’s something even more unforgettable about having kids in Thailand.

When I first wrote this guide back in 2016, my wife and I had little experience as parents. 

Fast-forward all these years later, we now have two kids and have lived in Thailand for more than nine years. I’ve picked up a few more things about having kids in the country — if not from our own situation, then from friends and family.

This guide shows you how to pick doctors and find good hospitals, how childbirth is handled in Thailand, how much having a baby will cost if you don’t have insurance, plus much more.

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Pregnancy Tests

If you or your partner feels sick, tired, sensitive to smells, irritated, then it’s time to get tested. You can take a pregnancy test at home before you go to a clinic or hospital.

At-Home Pregnancy Tests

You can buy over-the-counter pregnancy tests from most pharmacies in Thailand. Pharmacies are located either as stand-alone shops or in supermarkets such as Big-C or Foodland. Most of these supermarkets have a pharmacy inside. 

You can even order a pregnancy test online from Lazada or Shopee.

Pregnancy tests cost about THB150. 

After you get the blue stripes or pink-plus symbol or smiley face or any other tell-tale sign that you or your pregnant is pregnant, follow up with a doctor.

Clinical and Hospital Tests

Most doctors in Thailand work out of hospitals and clinics. 

Clinics are what we’d call doctor’s offices in the West. Clinics are good if you only want to confirm you or your partner are pregnant. Bria Lab is a popular clinic in Bangkok and offers pregnancy screenings.

If your ultrasound and blood work come back positive, get checked at a hospital. Hospitals have better equipment to help you through your pregnancy.

Cost to Deliver a Baby in Thailand

Once you know for sure that you or your partner are pregnant, here’s how much you could spend on delivering a baby in Thailand. These costs will help you budget accordingly.

Pregnancy Packages

Most hospitals offer expecting parents childbirth packages for one flat rate. The cost of the package covers all normal delivery services. Some packages could include prenatal checkups, but it’s best to ask before you pay for the package.

If the mother or baby has problems before, during, or after delivery, the cost goes up.

An important note about private hospitals: private hospitals offer childbirth packages for a set price. But it’s not unusual for new parents to walk away with a bill for three-times the amount of the package.

Hospitals sometimes add services and costs without parent’s consent. If you choose to deliver your baby at a private hospital, ask them what the package includes and what other services and costs you should expect to pay for.

For example, private hospitals can add the cost of extra nursing care for mom, emergency care for your newborn, and some medicines. 

Ask hospital staff to get your approval before doing anything your package doesn’t include. Also, make sure you have a member of the hospital go over your costs line-by-line to be sure you actually receive the services it charges you for.

Below table is an example of private hospitals in Thailand that provide pregnancy packages.

Bangkok

NameAreaNatural BirthC-SectionContact
Hua Chiew HospitalBamrung Mueang Rd52,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)66,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2223-1351 Ext. 3126
MedPark HospitalKhlong Toei98,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)111,990 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2023-3333
Vejthani HospitalLat Phrao60,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)82,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2734-0000 Ext. 3200, 3204
Paolo Hospital (Phaholyothin)Phahonyothin Rd
(Samsen Nai)
62,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)82,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2271-7000 Ext. 10498-99
Vimut HospitalPhahonyothin Rd
(Samsen Nai)
59,900 baht (3 days 2 nights)75,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2079-0066
Paolo Hospital (Kaset)Phahonyothin Rd
(Sena Nikhom)
55,900 baht (3 days 2 nights)65,900 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2150-0900 Ext. 5420
Phyathai 2 International HospitalPhahonyothin Rd
(Sanampao)
71,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)108,000 baht (4 days 3 nights0-2617-2444 Ext. 3143, 3164
Bangkok HospitalPhetchaburi Road100,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)138,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2310-3005
Dr. Panya General Hospital (Phaetpanya Hospital)Ramkhamhaeng34,400 baht (3 days 2 nights)42,100 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2314-0726 Ext. 1138
Ramkhamhaeng HospitalRamkhamhaeng52,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)72,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2743-9999, 0-2374-0200
Bangkok Christian HospitalSi Lom59,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)83,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2625-9000 Ext. 30230-1
Phyathai 1 HospitalSri Ayutthaya Rd
(Phayathai)
45,000 baht (2 days 1 nights)72,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2201-4600 Ext. 3465, 3466
Bumrungrad HospitalSukhumvit (Soi Nana Nua)139,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)159,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2011-2361, 0-2011-2365, 0-2011-2366
Samitivej Sukhumvit HospitalSukhumvit (Soi 49)89,900 baht (3 days 2 nights)119,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)0-2022-2222

Other Provinces

NameProvinceNatural BirthC-SectionContact
Lanna HospitalChiang Mai23,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)37,000 baht (4 days 3 nights)052-134-724
Samitivej HospitalChonburi53,900 baht (3 days 2 nights)60,900 baht (4 days 3 nights)033-038-888
Krabi Nakharin International HospitalKrabi36,500 baht (3 days 2 nights)49,500 baht (4 days 3 nights)075-626-555 Ext. 1142
Bangkok Hospital
(Phuket)
Phuket64,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)83,000 baht(4 days 3 nights)Call Center 1719 Ext. 1021, 1022
Bangkok Hospital
(Hua Hin)
Prachuap Khiri Khan46,000 baht (3 days 2 nights)69,000 baht(4 days 3 nights)032-616-884

Prenatal Costs

Prenatal costs aren’t always included in the pregnancy package, so be sure to ask the staff at the hospital if yours will be included or not. 

That said, aside from the delivery costs, you also have to pay for:

  • ultrasounds 
  • routine checkups 
  • fetal tests 

Tack on another THB20,000 to THB30,000 for these visits. 

If you have insurance, routine checkups might be 100 percent covered. Or you might have a co-payment. Check with your insurance company. 

Our family’s biggest cost outside of the childbirth package was the ultrasound and blood work to test our baby for Down Syndrome. That cost us THB16,000. 

Related article: Health Insurance in Thailand: What You Need To Know as an Expat

Doctor’s ‘Side-Fee’

Some people may pay their doctor a side-fee for extra care, a private delivery room, and other amenities that they might not otherwise get. 

This isn’t done on the record or through the hospital. It’s something you and your doctor agree to on the side. I don’t recommend doing this. But you should know ahead of time that these things do happen in Thailand.

The 30-Baht Thai Healthcare Card

Thailand has a 30-baht healthcare card for Thais who qualify. If you’re a native Thai woman or married to a native Thai woman, the government may give you or your wife free or discounted healthcare. 

Each visit to the doctor is free up to five visits. But you have to go to a hospital within the 30-baht healthcare card network. 

The downside to the 30-baht healthcare card is longer wait times during checkups and the inability to pick your doctor.

Researching Hospitals

Now that you have a budget in mind or you’ve spoken to your insurance company, it’s time to look for hospitals in Thailand

Consider the steps in this section and the section on finding a doctor something you should do at the same time.

Private Hospitals

Private hospitals are a convenient choice when planning to have a baby in Thailand. However, many doctors care for patients at both public and private hospitals. 

The biggest differences between the hospitals aren’t the doctors, but rather the equipment, wait times, convenience, delivery choices, and prices.

Private hospitals also offer more perks, like cozy rooms, better food, or the rights of the father to be in the delivery room if you’re having a C-Section.

Below is a list of popular hospitals in Thailand for childbirth. 

NameProvinceArea
Bumrungrad International HospitalBangkokSukhumvit
BNH HospitalBangkokSilom
Phyathai 2 International HospitalBangkokPhaya Thai
Bangkok HospitalBangkokMRT Phetchaburi
Samitivej HospitalBangkokSrinakarin
Chiangmai Ram HospitalChiang MaiMueang Chiang Mai
Bangkok Hospital PhuketPhuketMueang Phuket 

Public Hospitals

Your cheapest choice for having a baby in Thailand is a public hospital. Public hospitals have good healthcare for the cost. But you wait longer to see the doctor — all day long. 

You also don’t get to choose your doctor. In other cases, doctors at public hospitals might have less experience or they may be apprenticing under senior doctors. 

Below is a list of popular public hospitals in Thailand for childbirth. 

NameProvinceArea
Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital BangkokPhatum Wan
Rajavithi HospitalBangkokRatchathewi 
Ramathibodi HospitalBangkokDusit 
Siriraj HospitalBangkokBangkok Noi
Priest HospitalBangkokRatchathewi
Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai HospitalChiang MaiMueang Chiang Mai
Vachira Phuket HospitalPhuketMueang Phuket 

Premium Clinics

Premium clinics are part of Thailand’s public hospitals. But the service you get at premium clinics is a major step up from public hospitals. 

For example, you get to pick a doctor. And most doctors who work at premium clinics also work at private hospitals. Wait times are shorter than wait times at public hospitals as well. 

The cost of having a baby at a premium clinic is cheaper than private hospitals but cost more than public hospitals. But you get great healthcare for the value.

My wife had a lot of problems during her first pregnancy. So, she decided to deliver our second daughter at a premium clinic in Ramathibodi Hospital

Ramathibodi has one of the best NICUs in Thailand, and her doctor had a lot of experience with high-risk pregnancies.

Taking Tours

Once you’ve slimmed down your choices, take a tour of the hospitals on your list.

On the tour, you should visit the delivery ward — and, just in case — the NICU. Ask plenty of questions just like you would back home. 

Remember, things aren’t always done the same way in Thailand as they are in your home country. It’s better you know what to expect ahead of time so you’re not surprised on the big day.

Here are some important questions to ask:

  • Are special services available for high-risk pregnancies? 
  • Who can be in the room during delivery (natural and C-Section)? 
  • Is your partner or newborn allowed to stay with you overnight? 
  • Does the hospital offer private rooms? Do I have to pay extra for a private room? 
  • Does this hospital deal with your insurance company? 

You can get a good feel for a hospital and its staff by asking these general questions and more. 

Finding Doctors

While you’re looking for the perfect hospital to welcome your baby into the world, you’re going to want to find the perfect doctor as well. 

You should find a doctor who has either studied, worked, or lived abroad. Or at least find a doctor who understands Western culture because cross-cultural misunderstandings can happen easily.

In Thailand, social hierarchy is important. It’s not always okay to question doctors. I learned this the hard way when my wife was pregnant. 

One doctor got offended more than once about the questions we asked.

One day, the doctor felt my questions insulted her expertise. “You know,” she said, “Thailand has smart doctors, too.”

I had to explain to her that the questions I was asking her were the same questions I’d ask any doctor in America as well, and that it wasn’t about Thailand having smart doctors.

The same doctor wouldn’t support my wife’s desire to push naturally because my wife’s first delivery was done through C-Section. 

But strangely enough the doctor told us that had I been Indian — not American — my wife could probably deliver our baby naturally.

But even if this is your first pregnancy, expect doctors to push you to have a C-Section. It’s more convenient for the doctor, and in some cases, makes more money for them and the hospital. 

Doctors from the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Foundation of Thailand have fought tirelessly to change these policies.

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To avoid some of the challenges we faced when finding a doctor, here are some important questions to ask potential doctors:

  • Are you board certified? 
  • Will you listen to me and answer my questions? (Always be sure the doctor is open to answering your questions.) 
  • Are open to working with me and the outcome I expect? For example, if I want a natural birth after having a C-Section the first time, will you support my decision? 
  • Are you accessible? Can I reach you in an emergency? 
  • Are you affiliated with the hospital I’ve chosen? Most doctors in Thailand work at several hospitals. Make sure he or she works at the hospital you decide to deliver at. 

When looking for a doctor, find one who is open minded and used to working with Westerners. It’ll save you a lot of headaches later on.

Monitoring the Important Stuff

The next nine months will be the craziest, most nerve-wracking time of your life — especially if this is your first child. 

Pregnancy-related health problems are common and, in most cases, you can avoid them. Especially if doctors detect them early. So it’s important for you and your growing baby to get health checkups.

Ideally though, you should get your checkup before getting pregnant. But if you’re already pregnant, get one done as soon as possible. 

During a health checkup, doctors may recommend that you change or stop taking certain medicine that may be harmful to your baby, and they can detect and treat any health problems early on.

Doctors may want to test you, your partner, and your growing son or daughter a few times over the next nine months. Here are a few of the major tests.

Ultrasounds

In Thailand, doctors give expecting moms ultrasounds during every visit to the office. Each ultrasound tells the doctor something different about the baby’s progress. Here are a few major ultrasounds you’ll have.

Ultrasounds are just one of many tests you’ll need when pregnant.

First Trimester:

  • predict due date by measuring heart rate and fetal length 
  • check for Down Syndrome 
  • check for Trisomy 18 
  • check for heart defects 

Second Trimester:

  • scan body and organs 
  • check baby’s sex 

Third Trimester:

  • check body and organ growth 
  • check for heart defects 

Each case is different so you may or may not have these tests and others.

Down Syndrome

This is the first of two serious tests. The older the mother is, the greater the risk of the child being born with Down Syndrome. 

Doctors consider the risk enough to do an amniocentesis test. During this test, doctors check your baby’s skin-fold at their neck to see if they might have Down Syndrome. Mothers may have to give blood as well.

Your Baby’s Heart

It’s not unusual for babies in the womb to have holes in their hearts during their growth. Our first daughter had a hole in her heart when she was in the womb.

If the doctor tells you about a hole in your baby’s heart, don’t panic. It usually closes up before you deliver the baby. 

Just to be sure, though, your doctor checks your baby’s heart through regular ultrasounds.

Your Baby’s Anatomy

During the second trimester doctors do a full anatomy scan of your baby. Doctors check your baby’s limbs, toes, fingers, facial features, and internal organs to make sure they’re growing correctly.

Your Baby’s Sex

At the 20-week mark, you get to find out what you’re having. Now you can start thinking of your baby’s name.

Tests for Parents

Mothers and fathers aren’t free from tests. Doctors may test one or both parents for sexually transmitted diseases. And if your partner or you are Asian, doctors will test for Thalassemia.

Doctors may want to test both parents, especially for Thalassemia if one parent is Thai.

There are two types of Thalassemia: major and minor. 

Thalassemia minor is when you are a carrier of the disease but show no symptoms. Thalassemia major is when you have symptoms of the disease, which can lead to anemia. 

Thalassemia is most often found in people from Southeast Asia, as well as Italy.

Doctors test women for the disease during their pregnancy, or, if it’s a planned pregnancy, they test before conception. 

If the mother is a carrier then doctors also test fathers. If both parents are Thalassemia carriers the baby might be at risk for anemia.

Scheduling Your Delivery

After doctors finish testing you or your partner and your growing baby reaches the important milestones, you’re ready to schedule your child’s birth. 

You can deliver your baby naturally and you can find doctors who’ll support your choice, but don’t be surprised if doctors try to sway you toward getting a C-Section.

C-Sections

You schedule the C-Section in the last month of your pregnancy. Doctors use your due date and ultrasound measurements to see which week would be best for your baby to enter the world. 

In Thailand, doctors like to schedule births and prefer C-Sections over natural delivery.

My wife begged her doctor to let our second daughter come when the baby wanted to, but my wife’s doctor insisted she schedule the C-Section. The doctor said it would be easier and less risky for everyone, but it sounded to us like it was more convenient for her.

In the end, though, our daughter came a week early, so we still had the surprise factor.

Natural Delivery

If you plan on delivering your baby through natural childbirth, you won’t have to schedule anything. 

You should ask your doctor if he or she will be the one delivering your baby. Bangkok is not an easy city to get around in. If your baby decides to come out during rush hour, your doctor might not reach you in time. So, find out which doctor will help you in an emergency.

Preparing the Right Documents

If you or your partner are Thai, you only have to bring your Thai ID card to check into a hospital when delivering a baby. If neither of you are Thai, you should bring both of your passports and Thai ID cards if you own them.

Most of the documents you’ll need for your delivery, such as test results and so on, the hospital will already have on hand, assuming the hospital is where your delivery doctor practices.

For non-Thai or half-Thai children, most of the documents you’ll need translated will be for when you apply for your child’s citizenship at your home country’s embassy in Bangkok. 

For more about his, jump the section below on Citizenship

Packing Your Bag

As a general rule of thumb, have a hospital bag ready when you or your partner are pregnant. Even if you’ve scheduled the delivery, surprises happen. 

When my wife was pregnant with our second daughter, for weeks my wife kept telling me to pack a hospital bag. One Saturday, it was too late and we had to rush to the hospital empty handed. 

This wouldn’t have been too bad, except this wasn’t the first time I did this. When our first daughter was born, I also neglected to pack a bag. When she came one month early, we also had to rush to the hospital empty-handed.

If you have a car, keep your hospital bag in the car. If you’re going to take a taxi, keep the bag by your front door. Make sure the bag is light enough to throw in a taxi. This means packing just what you need.

Must-Haves

Make sure you have these things packed in your hospital bag. You can buy everything else at stores inside the hospital.

  • insurance paperwork 
  • sweater (hospitals are cold) 
  • travel-size toiletries 
  • contact lens solution 
  • cell phone charger so you can video call your family back home 
  • a few day’s worth of clean clothes 

Optional

You’ll want to bring things that remind you of home — maybe a comfortable pillow or pajamas. Bring things to pass the time, too. 

Remember, if you get a C-Section that means you’re having major surgery. You’ll spend a lot of time recovering in the hospital room.

You can bring:

  • books 
  • tablet 
  • clothes for your baby 

Hospitals give you a gift basket to welcome your baby into the world. You should have enough in the basket to get your newborn home.

Things to Help Your Delivery

In America, hospitals have stabilization balls and other gear to help moms get comfortable and push the baby out. 

You probably won’t find these things in delivery wards at Thai hospitals. So, if you plan on using something to help you, make sure you bring it with you.

If you plan on delivering your baby at a hospital on the other side of Bangkok, you might want to stay at a hotel close to that hospital for the last few days of your pregnancy. 

If you start going into labor during rush hour and you’re far away from the hospital, it may take you several hours to get to the hospital.

What to Expect on Delivery Day

Delivery day is nothing like you see in the movies. So, if you’ve never had a kid before, forget everything you’ve ever thought about — and just go with the flow. 

Having a baby in Thailand can be a roller-coaster ride of emotions because everything is unfamiliar.

To lower your stress levels, you should keep in mind that this is Thailand and things work differently here. It doesn’t mean things are better or worse than the way they’re done in your home country, just different. 

Here’s what you can expect.

C-Sections

If you’ve scheduled your C-Section, then delivery day won’t be a surprise. You’ll arrive at the hospital like you’re going in to get a tooth pulled — nervous, anxious, and a little uncertain about the whole thing. At least that’s how I felt as the father. My wife may have felt a lot differently.

The mother goes into the operating room with only the nurses and doctors. You can make plans at a private hospital for fathers to follow along, but dad usually waits outside for the good news.

In most cases, the anesthesiologist will give the mother spinal anesthesia, which results in numbness for three to four hours.

Once doctors have delivered the baby, the father can go in a snap a picture with his new family. Then the nurses shuffle dad out and tell him to wait for the mother to recover. Or he’ll get to see the baby in the delivery ward.

The hospital lets the father go in and watch as the nurses clean up your baby, check his or her weight and vitals, and dress the newborn. This is also where you’ll get to hold your baby for the first time.

After the mother recovers she’s allowed to spend time with her new son or daughter, too. 

Nurses bring the baby back and forth between the mother and the delivery ward for monitoring over the next few days. Once the nurses see your baby’s okay, the baby can sleep in the same room as the mother.

The mother also has a catheter in her bladder for a few days.

Natural Delivery

When you check into the hospital, nurses assign you a delivery room. 

If your contractions are far apart, you won’t have much help. But as they get closer, nurses help you until it’s time for the doctor to deliver your baby. 

The father can go in the room with the mother for natural childbirth, and some hospitals may let your children in the room.

You have choices for painless labor, in which epidural catheters are put in. Usually, the catheter is removed a day or two afterwards.

The recovery process for the mother isn’t so severe with natural childbirth. You get some initial bonding time with your baby before he or she is sent to the delivery ward.

The Days After Delivery

The days after delivering the baby are foggy for the entire family. You won’t sleep because you’re excited about the new member of your family. 

And when you do sleep, nurses barge in and throw the lights on and poke and prod you. But it’s all done with good intentions. 

Nurses in Thailand go above and beyond. They spend extra time with you. They make sure you’re getting everything you need while recovering from the delivery. 

But they also have to follow the guidelines of the hospital. So, if you have any special needs for you or your baby, let the nurses know.

My wife decided to do exclusive breastfeeding with our daughter. She had to tell hospital staff so none of the nurses gave our daughter formula. 

Whether you or your partner want to breastfeed or give formula or do a little of both, tell the nurses. They make a note of it on your baby’s crib.

Citizenship

Depending on the nationalities of the parents, your child may or may not get dual citizenship. The below sections explain in further detail.

Home Country Citizenship and Birth Certificates

If you’re not a Thai citizen, or at least one parent isn’t, then you have to tell your home country about your baby’s birth. There’s no time limit, but the sooner the better. 

You can start the process by visiting your home country’s embassy website and setting up an appointment. You can apply for your newborn baby’s birth certificate and passport at the same time.

Make sure you ask what documents you need to get translated or bring with you and how much everything costs, as every embassy requires different paperwork. 

Read more: How to Apply for a US Passport and Citizenship When Your Child is Born in Thailand

Thai Citizenship and Birth Certificates

If you or your partner aren’t a Thai citizen, you can’t get Thai citizenship for your baby, even if he or she is born in the country. 

One way around this is if you and your partner have permanent residency in Thailand. Then, any of your children born in the country can get Thai citizenship. But keep in mind that both parents — not one — need to have permanent residency status in Thailand in order for this to work.

When one parent is a Thai national, your child will automatically become a Thai citizen. The hospital handles all the paperwork involved with registering the birth of your child and getting him or her a Thai birth certificate. 

Hospitals usually charge a few hundred baht extra for the service. But even if it were a few thousand baht more, it would still be worth it. After all, it saves you a trip to the local district office, which could eat up a full day. 

We paid an extra THB250 for Ramathibodi Hospital to process our daughter’s Thai birth certificate.

Paying for the Delivery

When the doctor clears you and your newborn to leave the hospital, it’s time to pay for everything. You have two choices:

  • paying out of pocket 
  • paying with insurance 

Paying Out of Pocket

Whether you have no insurance or universal Thai healthcare, you have to pay for all hospital costs before you leave. If you don’t have a Thai debit or credit card to pay for the costs, you can pay via bank transfer or cash. 

Paying With Insurance

Some insurance companies don’t cover child birth, so it’s best to check with your insurance company first. 

One insurance company that does pay for childbirth is Luma Health. It’ll reimburse up to THB80,000 of the cost of delivering your baby if you take out insurance at least 10 months before you deliver. 

Another good thing about Luma is that it seems to offer group discounts if you ensure your entire family with them.

When it comes to actually paying the bill, some insurance companies may ask you to pay for healthcare costs upfront. Then you have to send them the bill and they reimburse you. 

Depending on the hospital and insurance, it’s also possible that the hospital will bill the insurance company directly (Luma, for example, has agreements with most major international hospitals in Bangkok). 

Either way, be sure to get a list of every single thing done at the hospital and how much it cost.

Medicine

Private hospitals are in the healthcare business to make a profit. Yes, they help you and give you excellent care. But they also need to make money. It’s just the way it is.

Most private hospitals mark up the cost of medicine, sometimes by 400 percent. Private hospitals may charge you THB200 for medicine that you could buy for THB50 at the pharmacy. It doesn’t sound like much for one medicine, but if you have to take a lot of medicine during childbirth recovery, it adds up.

You have the right to decline buying medicine from any hospital. In this case, ask for the list of medicines you need and buy them at the pharmacy. 

Public and premium clinics don’t usually mark up the cost of medicine. But it’s best to check.

Bringing Your Baby Home

If this your first baby then you’ll need a bunch of things like a car seat, chest carrier, crib, high chair, clothes, and all the other basics.

Once your baby is home, the real fun begins. 

Car seats and other safety devices are still luxuries in Thailand. But because Thailand’s roads are some of the most dangerous in the world, I’d suggest you buy one and use it.

To get all the basics for your newborn, go to Mega Bangna. They have a bunch of baby and children’s stores that sell things for newborns. Some of the stores are:

If you’re looking for bigger furniture like cribs, dressers, or high chairs, Mega Bangna also has an IKEA.

You can buy baby bathtubs, sippy cups, plates, and baby utensils at Big C for a lot cheaper than the larger department stores. Big C also has a selection of children’s clothes. They’re not the best quality, but they last long enough for a growing baby.

If you prefer to shop online for new and used baby items, Facebook has groups and pages such as:

For a larger selection check out:

Buying Health Insurance

Many insurance companies offer health insurance for newborns who are at least 15 days old.

In addition to normal protection provided in an adult plan, this baby insurance usually includes:

  • vaccinations 
  • follow-up doctor appointments 
  • annual eye and hearing tests 

You can find these plans on Mister Prakan. Also, if you don’t already have it, this can be a good time to start looking for family health insurance.

Finding a Pediatrician

Finding a doctor for your baby is as important as finding a good OB/GYN was for the mother. 

Again, if you come from the West it helps to have a doctor who’s familiar with Western standards or at least knows the Western mindset. 

If not, your doctor may grow impatient with the slew of questions you’re going to have as a new parent. Even in some cases, Western-trained doctors may surprise you.

These private hospitals have western-trained pediatricians who understand the needs and concerns of Western parents. 

If you’re from the West, you want a doctor who can relate to your worries and who will answer your questions.

To make sure your doctor is right for you, ask these important questions:

  • How long have you been practicing? 
  • What is your childcare philosophy? For example, if I choose to breastfeed, will you support me? 
  • Do you have children? This helps the doctor empathize with you. 
  • How do you handle emergencies? 
  • Is the waiting area clean and welcoming? 
  • Is there a separate area for sick kids? 
  • Does the hospital or doctor accept your health insurance? 

You can add your own questions to this list as well.

Vaccines, Follow-Ups, and Checkups

Once you settle your baby into the world it’s time for his or her vaccines and follow-ups.

Vaccines

Thai doctors follow the standard vaccine schedule endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But children in Thailand get vaccines children in the West don’t get. One is a vaccine for Japanese B Encephalitis.

If you’re concerned about any of the vaccines, ask the doctor to give you the name of the vaccine and the name of the company that makes it. You can then research the company online. 

The major question you want to answer is: is this vaccine new or has it been around a while? Avoid any vaccines without a proven track record for safety.

We’re not an anti-vaccine family, but we took a conservative approach and chose to spread out our daughters’ vaccines over time, when possible.

The cost to vaccinate your baby changes with each stage. For a single vaccine like Hepatitis at a private hospital, you pay around THB1,000. For a combined vaccine like Infanrix, you can pay up to THB3,000. 

At a public hospital or premium clinic the cost drops to around one-third of that price. 

Over the course of four years you can expect to pay about THB16,000 to THB20,000 for all your child’s vaccines at a private hospital. There is a cheaper solution, though.

One way to get cheaper vaccines is to buy a vaccine package from a hospital. Ask your hospital if they offer these types of packages.

Follow-Ups

Your baby’s visits to the doctor’s office include height and weight checks. However, keep in mind that average healthy weights and heights in Thailand differ from those in the West. 

If your baby isn’t Thai, or is mixed Thai, check online with baby weights and averages from your home country as well. 

A doctor in Thailand may tell you your baby is too big for his or her age. But in your home country your baby might be on target. 

During follow-ups, doctors also make sure you baby hits his or her important milestones.

Postpartum Checkups

It’s important to make sure your baby is healthy. But it’s also important for the mother to go for a postpartum checkup. 

During the exam, your doctor makes sure that your body is healing properly, and they check that your uterus is returning to normal size. 

They can also check that your C-Section is healing properly and detect any other post-birth health problems. 

The health checkup is important for both you and your child. You can get a postpartum health checkup at these private hospitals. They have short wait times; you’ll be in and out of there in no time.

IVF Clinics in Bangkok

If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, consider doing in vitro fertilization, or IVF. It could increase your chances of getting pregnant. 

The good news is that Bangkok is a haven for medical tourism, and there are many IVF clinics here. These clinics are located at many private and public hospitals. And there are also specialized IVF clinics that operate outside of hospitals. 

In Bangkok, you can go to SAFE Fertility Center. It has its own fertility center with a wide range of facilities and English-speaking OB/GYNs. 

The cost of IVF packages depends on your age, the complexity of your case, and where you go. If you go to a government hospital, prices can range from THB100,000 to THB200,000. At private hospitals, it can be THB300,000. 

In addition, you may need to pay for health checkups and medications. 

The whole IVF process takes a few months. You may need to visit the hospital every week or every other week.Read more: The Complete Guide to Finding the Recommended IVF Clinics in Bangkok

Support Groups

Whether you’re a Thai or an expat, it’s always good to connect with like-minded moms and dads to share experiences and find help with the challenges of raising kids in Thailand, such as finding a school for your kid

Connecting with like-minded moms can help ease your worries as a new parent.

Bangkok has many support groups, but two of the most popular for mothers are:

If you live in or near Chiang Mai, check out Le Leche League of Chiang Mai. They offer mother-to-mother support and meet regularly to talk all things motherhood.

For fathers, you also have quite a few choices. Check out these Facebook groups:

If you know of any more groups for moms and dads in Bangkok, let me know in the comment section.

Looking for Nannies

If you need help during your pregnancy with cleaning the house or getting your new baby’s bedroom in order, hire a reputable maid or nanny.

Compared to America, the cost of a nanny is fairly cheap in Thailand. And you decide how much you want them to help with day-to-day tasks.

You can hire a nanny to live with you full-time or come for a few hours a day. They can help with the laundry and household chores while you’re taking care of your newborn. They also can help take care of your newborn, allowing you to get some much needed sleep.

A few reputable choices for finding nannies in Bangkok are:

Kiidu’s prices start at THB300 an hour for drop-in nannies or THB15,000 a month for full-time, live-in nannies. Ayasan’s prices start at THB3,600 for part-time nannies and THB15,000 for full-time nannies.

It’s important to vet your nanny before hiring her. After all, she’ll be responsible for the health and safety of your newborn. 

You can set up an interview with nannies from any three of the agencies above before hiring. You should do this in advance so you and your nanny are ready for the big day.

Find out more: How to Find a Maid, Nanny, Babysitter, and Housekeeper in Thailand

Now, on to You

This article is based on the experiences my wife had when she delivered our second daughter in Thailand.

It’s also based on the experiences of Thai and Western friends who’ve had kids in Thailand. Your experiences may differ.

Please note: The information provided by ExpatDen is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for medical or healthcare advice. It is strongly recommended that you seek guidance and consultation from a licensed medical practitioner or qualified healthcare professional pertaining to your specific circumstances and healthcare needs.

John Wolcott is the global editor for ExpatDen. He's a New Jersey native who now lives in Bangkok with his wife and two daughters.

22 thoughts on “Having a Baby in Thailand: A Step-by-Step Guide for Expecting Parents”

  1. Hey John,
    Thanks for such a wonderful article. More generally, what’s the cost that someone can expect if they decide to go for prenatal, delivery and postnatal at Ramathibodi Hospital special clinic. I understand the cost might vary for each case, but I am looking for a more general cost.

    Reply
    • For a premium clinic in Ramathibodi Hospital, right now you should expect to pay around 70,000 baht to 90,000 in total, with all of those prenatal care and baby delivery. It’s hard to say for post-natal. Normally, you should expect to pay around 1,500 baht to 2,000 baht per visit.

      Reply
  2. Hi, thanks for the very helpful articles. I just found out that I’m pregnant and unfortunately I don’t have private insurance that covers maternity. I’m looking at the private clinic in Public hospitals and found your article. May I ask which Dr were you and your wife in Ramathibodi Hospital private clinic? (And I assume it will be much cheaper than a regular private hospitals such as Bumrungrad etc) thanks

    Reply
  3. I’m in the process of starting a family in Bangkok and researching medical insurance for my maternity care and newborn, especially coverage for the baby if there’s any complications at birth. Any insurance agents you can recommend to ask such questions? So grateful for your help.

    Reply
  4. Hi beautiful article.I had my first preganany in thailand in and delivered baby in June 2019 but unfortunately turned to be Stillborn, I apparently had no complications and had a great care in the hospital with all normal tests. Unfortunately on my 38 week mark checkup doctor found out baby had no heartbeat.After all test result came as unknown case.Would be planning for my second pregnancy.Can you let me know an hospital who take care of High Risk Pregnancy with affordable rates.I have seen you have mentioned Ramathibodhi hospital.Can doctor & Nurses over there speak good english.Where is this hospital located.Any other good hospital you can recommend?

    Reply
  5. This is a really great article – thank you for all the information. Do you know what the Thai recommendations are for pregnancy and Zika? As per U.K. guidance, they suggest avoiding pregnancy whilst in Thailand and the rearranging of any planned trip however my husband and I are planning on living on Thailand for a minimum of 2 years.
    Thank you, Jemma

    Reply
  6. Hi very informative for the expats living here. We are expecting a baby so was interested to go to ramathibodi hospital special clinic. There are some complications present so could you please suggest the doctor experiences in high risk pregnancy. The writing is much appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Hi there. You can ask for ผศ.พญ.ชื่นกมล ชรากร (Doctor Chuengamon Charagorn) at Ramathibodi Premium Clinic. She deals with high-risk pregnancies.

      Reply
  7. Hey John, so awesome that you’ve taken the time to put this together. Thank you! Are your recs for nanny agencies up to date? Which have you and your friends used personally for your kids? I’ve also come across one called PNA which seems well recommended.

    Reply
    • Hi Samantha. We’ve never used an agency. So I can’t recommend one personally. We usually hire someone to come in once in a while to help us out, but we’ve known her for a long time and met her through a friend. We plan on publishing an article on hiring nannies in early 2019 though 🙂

      Reply
  8. Thank you so much for this incredibly useful article! I am living in Chiang Mai and 4 months pregnant so this will really come in handy. Do you happen to know how I can reach out to support groups in Chiang Mai?

    Reply
  9. Great article John. I would just like to refer to the ‘C’ section. I have many friends with families in Thailand, and it seems like it or not their children were born by ‘C’ section even if their wife requested natural birth. My theory is this standard practice in Thailand, so the hospitals can keep within their schedules.

    Reply
  10. Very informative article John.

    I have one question to ask which is, in your opinion, is it necessary to have a car if you have a child in Thailand? I feel taxis and other pubic transport aren’t suitable or practical.

    Reply
    • If one could afford, why not. If comfort is something the family values, why not. If it means keeping the kids healthy especially if there’s a history of asthma in the family, why not.

      Reply

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