Posts tagged Gender

Question: is it legal to determine gender of baby in thailand?
going to phuket for holiday. will be 25 weeks pregnant then.
would like to do an ultrasound, to see if baby is boy or girl.
is it legal? can i go to any hospital, as i’m a foreign tourist?
what is the procedure? which are the best hospitals?
i hold valid travel insurance.
foreign travel insurance

Best answer:

Answer by James B
Is it legal? Yes, absolutely. Also, you may go to any hospital you choose to have it done. I would, however, recommend that you go to a private hospital. The costs are minimal, and the overall healthcare system in Thailand is fairly good.

When my wife had her ultrasound done, the cost was 400 baht (this was less than 2 months ago). The doctor visit- as they will likely require a prenatal check-up will be 400 baht.

Most hospitals charge 50 – 100 baht for an office visit, but my wife paid 400 baht each time she went in for a check up during her pregnancy.

So, the cost will be roughly 800 baht total, perhaps slightly higher in Phuket, but not likely more than 1000. Your insurance should pick up the tab without blinking.

The procedure might be tedious, but is not at all complicated. The day you want to do the ultrasound, arrive to the hospital between 8 and 9 a.m. Go to the information desk, and tell them you want an ultrasound done. They will ask you for a Passport and ask you to fill out a form. If the form is written in Thai, ask for a staff member who speaks English to assist you. After you fill out the form, you will be given a queue card. It is unlikely that anyone will be ahead of you in queue, but the Thais are VERY big on procedure. When your number is called, you will collect an ID card issued for you by the hospital. Once you have your ID card, you will be given another card, and escorted to the area where the ultrasound will be performed. They will call your number, give you a blue gown to slip into and do the procedure. When you are finished, you get dressed, get another queue card, go to the cashier and pay.

In total, you will be there about 90 minutes. Depending on whether or not they are busy, you could be finished in well under an hour. I do not think that you could possibly spend more than 2 hours there.

Hope this helps. It should be quick, easy, and cheap. Make sure you get around to the cape on Phuket, it is a really beautiful spot. Take some photos, and most of all have a nice stay here. If you have any other/ more specific questions, feel free to email me.