WHEN Hungarian-born American Orsolya Arcuri was expecting her first child, her joy was short-lived as serious problems threatened her pregnancy.

Excited by her husband's posting to Singapore from the Philippines in July 2004, she was looking forward to the "calm, clean and green" change. The couple was eager to start a family and decided to see a specialist to get them on the right track.

They found Professor P.C. Wong, Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Singapore's National University Hospital (NUH).

"Prof Wong's cool composure had a calming influence on us. He did some basic checks and then told us to take it easy, settle in and come back to see him in a month," says Ms Orsolya.

As if part of a perfect script, Orshi, as she is known affectionately, found she was expecting her first child a month later in August. However, things took a drastic turn when she was in her seventh month.

"One morning in late February 2005, I suddenly noticed that my baby was not moving normally," she recounts.

Investigations at NUH revealed the baby was not developing well. Its erratic heartbeat was a major concern.

Prof Wong says: "The baby was only 31 weeks, far from the ideal 40 weeks but we realised that it needed to be delivered. So we decided to do an emergency Caesarean operation."

Although Matteo was born premature (about 1kg), Prof Wong's quick action averted a potentially-ominous outcome for both mother and baby.

He explains: "She had complications soon after the baby was out. Her blood pressure had shot up but fortunately we intervened quickly and prevented her from going into a serious fit."

Orshi was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome, one of the most severe forms of pre-eclampsia which occurs in less than one per cent of expectant mothers.

It had been a close shave but things settled down just before Orshi's banker husband Sebastian was posted to South Korea.

Soon after Matteo turned a year old, Orshi was expecting again. Although she consulted doctors in Korea, Orshi felt she was not getting the level of attention and care she had previously had in Singapore. Language too was a problem. So every two months she flew to Singapore to see Prof Wong. "He knew my situation well and I felt safe under his care. On my second visit, I was told that my condition was likely to crop up again. Prof Wong advised me to remain in Singapore," she recalls.

She moved back to Singapore in August 2006.

Orshi also went under the care of Associate Professor Arijit Biswas. She was monitored closely. As expected, her pre-eclampsia surfaced. However, the close monitoring and experience from the previous episode meant that the doctors were able to better manage her condition.

Isabella was born in late 2006 (week 34) at 1.3kg, premature and required neonatal care, but under better circumstances compared with Matteo.

Third child Alessandro was born, also in Singapore, almost full term (36 weeks at 2.5kg) in June this year without any serious complications.

She says: "After all that happened with my first two, I felt reassured by the doctors and nurses at NUH... they gave me a sense of confidence which I had not experienced anywhere else.

"I'm not sure if I'll have more children but I'm certain if I do, I'll only give birth in Singapore at NUH and have Profs Wong and Biswas look after me. I won't settle for less."