​In Singapore, there is an increasing prevalence of pregnant women with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and morbid obesity, forming complex high risk pregnancies which can impact on maternal and fetal health.

The increasing number of complex high risk pregnancies call for an urgent need for change from the former model of care for high risk pregnancies – where women had their pregnancy and pre-existing medical conditions managed in silos – to a new model of care that manages the mother’s health holistically with an integrated approach.

Providing complex obstetric care at the new KKH STORK Centre

To meet the increasing need for holistic tertiary-level obstetric care, KKH has launched the one-STop Obstetric high RisK (STORK) Centre to provide integrated care for women with complex and high risk pregnancies involving obstetric and medical specialists, nursing and allied health professionals.

This one-stop, integrated service facilitates collaborative and multidisciplinary care, which helps not only to optimise the preconception health of women with high risk medical or obstetric conditions, but also supports these pregnant women throughout the different aspects and stages of their pregnancy journey.

Led by specialists from the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, the new centre comprises eight clinics located on KKH campus:

• Obstetric High Risk Clinic (OHRC)
• Joint Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic (OBSDM)
• Joint Medical Disorders in Pregnancy Clinic (OBSMED)
• Joint Obstetric and Haematology Clinic (OBSHAEM)
• Joint Obstetric and Dermatology Clinic (OBSSKIN)
• Preterm Birth Clinic (OBSPRETERM)
• Twin Clinic (OBSTWIN)
• Obstetric Pre-Pregnancy Counselling Clinic (OBSPPC)

Click here for the STORK Centre clinic services and referral criteria.

Two new high risk obstetric subspecialty services

The STORK Centre also includes the newly established Obstetric Pre-Pregnancy Counselling Clinic and the Preterm Birth Clinic. The former offers pre-pregnancy counselling and optimisation services for women with medical conditions or previous adverse pregnancy outcomes who are considering conception, and the latter sees women at risk for preterm labour based on their medical or obstetric history, with evidence-based clinical management protocols used to guide appropriate interventions.

These dedicated services offer a safety net to help couples with pre-existing conditions or a history of preterm birth or pregnancy loss, with the aim of reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and optimising the health outcomes of the mother and the future child.

​Dr Serene Thain, Consultant, Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KKH Dr Serene Thain leads the STORK Centre at KKH. She received her undergraduate medical degree from the National University of Singapore in 2010 and obtained postgraduate degrees in Surgery (MRCS) in 2013 and Internal Medicine (MRCP, MMed) in 2014. In 2015, Dr Thain was admitted as a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), United Kingdom, and awarded the MRCOG Prize Medal for emerging as the overall highest scoring candidate, as well as the Gold Medal for the Master of Medicine (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) examinations. Dr Thain pursued further training in the field of Obstetric Medicine under the tutelage of world-renowned Professor Catherine Nelson-Piercy and Professor Catherine Williamson at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.