Dr Ann Tan is the gynecologist and obstetrician in Singapore who takes care of women and their children during pregnancy. For more information about the treatments provided by us visit at http://www.anntan.com.sg

1. cover story
PASSION
FOR MUMMY
& BABY
This month, as THIS QUARTERLY celebrates with a special focus on
women’s issues, we draw inspiration from someone who embodies the
modern career woman – gentle yet strong, high achiever yet down to
earth, caring and kind: Dr Ann Tan, the doctor behind Women & Fetal
Centre at Paragon.
| WORDS: JESSICA SE | PHOTOGRAPHY: EDDIE TEO (90120273) | STYLING: YEN WONG | MAEKUP: DELANIE WONG (91115566)
| HAIR: GEORGE LIM, BLOW+BAR (62387338) SPECIAL THANKS TO W HOTEL SINGAPORE
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2. Top: Louis Vuitton
Necklace: The Canary
Diamond
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3. cover story
THERE
was an air of expectancy as the
photographers and I wait for Dr Ann
Tan to appear from the dressing room
for the cover shoot. The moment she stepped into the room, followed by
an entourage of stylists and makeup artist, and the shoot started, it was
difficult to imagine she was anyone other than a professional model.
She looked great, was easy to work with, and the pictures turned out
awesome.
In a little more than an hour, it was a wrap, and Dr Tan turned her full
attention to me for this interview. How would your best friend describe
you, I asked. She looked a bit bemused at the question, and after some
contemplation, replied, “Most people think I am an energizer bunny,
always running around, trying to do lots of different things. My mother
always said if the candle had 3 ends i would try to burn them all. I really
can’t help it, it’s just me trying to do what I think is best for all the people
and things I care about.
“People who don’t know me so well may think I’m a bit cold or stern
but when they get to know me, they are surprised when they realise how
friendly I am.”
Not only is she friendly, but when one gets to know her, one is also
impressed by how caring she is, especially with regards to matters close
to her heart – like the welfare of the mummies and babies she takes
care of!
“The worst thing I have experienced since becoming a doctor is
losing a baby, be it stillbirth or just a miscarriage or when there are
severe life threatening problems with mummy. As an obstetrician, I try
to reassure mummies that their babies are normal as well as to reassure
them that the pregnancy is progressing well. For me to have to tell the
mummy that their baby is not healthy or is not going to make it, is really
difficult ” even though it may be an early miscarriage or a stillbirth later
on in the pregnancy.”
“Whenever the baby goes, I still feel it very personally. I get upset.
I can’t really help it, I actually feel a lot. I don’t think I have ever been
cold,” sighs this doctor quietly as she reflects on past experiences.
“The next most difficult thing in any doctor’s life and for me, is that
we have done what we believe to be in the best interest for the patient
and for her to believe otherwise,” shares the doctor.
“The best thing to happen, of course, is when the pregnancy is very
difficult and it comes out well. Like the baby that premature breakage
of the water bag at 21 weeks and we actually managed to keep it in
until 28 weeks,” Dr Tan added as a smile lights up her face. “Actually I
didn’t believe it could happen but she wanted to try, so I said I’ll work
alongside with you, I will try and save the baby with you.
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4. Top: Louis Vuitton
Necklace: The
Canary Diamond

5. Dress: Stylist’s own
Necklace: The
Canary Diamond

6. “I told her we would just aim for 28 weeks and smack at 28 weeks, she went into
labour and we did the resection, and now, we have a little miracle baby girl running
around, and mummy is on to her next pregnancy, which also has its complications,” she
laughs.
Being the first Singaporean to hold a Diploma of Fetal Medicine from the Fetal
Medicine Foundation (an international body accrediting Fetal Maternal Medicine
specialists), Dr Tan is dedicated to the field of prenatal diagnosis and care of both
mother and foetus.
The next thing to happen in fetal medicine is the introduction of a new Non Invasive
Prenatal Test which uses free fetal DNA from the maternal blood for testing, says Dr Tan.
This highly sensitive screening test will help couples determine with a high degree of
confidence if their baby has one of the common chromosomal defects eg Trisomy 21,
13 or 18 or abnormalities involving the sex chromosomes. The test can be performed as
early as the 10 weeks of pregnancy. Early diagnosis allows patients and doctors more
time to decide on the plan for the pregnancy. The current First Trimester Pregnancy
Screen is 90 per cent sensitive whilst the NIPT which goes by names of Harmony or
MaterniT21 is 98-99 per cent sensitive. Should a positive screen be detected in either
case, an invasive diagnostic test needs to be performed so as not to lose a normal child.
Dr Tan explains, “Now you can draw mummy’s blood and have 99 per cent sensitivity
of knowing whether she is carrying a defective baby. This is really a breakthrough in the
prenatal screening. If the mother is older, or has had several miscarriages and is really
hoping to avoid an invasive test, a NIPT could well give her enough reassurance to avoid
any invasive testing.
Her hope for the future? Says Dr Tan: “I hope women will be allowed to have more
choices over their fertility utilization and preservation. I wish women would consider
using their fertility at a younger age and not be overly concerned with the difficulties of
raising a family whilst handling a career. However, for those who are not in a position to
utilize their fertility but know they wish to be parents, that they be given the opportunity
to conserve their eggs and men to conserve their sperms too. I think it’s a rational thing
for them to think about saving their fertility. I also wish women would look after their
health and nutrition better as that would solve many of the common medical issues in
pregnancy and beyond better.”
Whenever the baby goes, I still feel
it very personally. I get upset. I can’t
really help it, I actually feel a lot. I
don’t think I have ever been cold.
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7. cover story
cover story
TQ spoke to an old patient
of Dr Tan for a deeper insight
and she said ...
Dr Tan has been a
companion, guru and a close
friend in our long journey to
become parents - she was
ecstatic when our baby was
conceived, concerned when
our baby struggled, deeply
compassionate when we lost
our baby, helped us heal by
staying in touch and then
shared tears of joy when we
became parents once again.
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32 this quarterly

8. Top, skirt and shoes from Louis Vuitton
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