From Am-Sino Baby to a Future in Women's Health

It's not every day that a hospital welcomes back one of its former newborns as an intern with its maternity team.

Years after being born at Am-Sino, one former Am-Sino baby recently returned to the hospital- not as a patient, but as an intern preparing for a future career in women's health.

The return to Am-Sino to seek practical experience in OB-GYN care was a remarkable full-circle moment. For the hospital team, discovering that the young intern had been born here made her return especially meaningful.

Far from simply visiting a hospital for work experience, it was a return to the place where her own story began, with the ambition to care for other babies and their families.

Before her time at Am-Sino, she had already had some experience observing maternity care in a public hospital overseas. The contrast gave her an opportunity to see how different approaches to labour and birth can affect the experience of women and their families.

At Am-Sino, she noticed the emphasis placed on personalised care, encouragement and emotional support throughout labour. She observed how doctors and staff supported women through the different stages of birth, while allowing time for each woman to labour and birth according to her individual circumstances.

For someone considering a career in women's health, this was an important lesson: caring for someone during birth involves much more than the medical aspects of the process.

Although in a primarily observational role, she noted that there were meaningful ways she could contribute to a woman's experience. During one birth, she was able to offer simple practical support, including holding a patient's hand, offering water and providing a neck massage.

These small acts reinforced an important principle: care is about more than medicine.

The internship also gave a broader understanding of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period as one continuous journey.

It became clearer how each stage connects to the next, with regular assessments, screening, education and monitoring all form part of a larger process designed to support the health of both mother and baby and identify potential concerns early.

Years ago, she experienced Am-Sino as a newborn. Now, she returned as a young person preparing for a career caring for women and babies.

This story is also a reflection of Am-Sino's own journey: 2 decades ago, the Am-Sino birthing unit was housed on a floor within the bustling Huashan Hospital. Today, Am-Sino has its own dedicated 17-storey hospital in Shanghai's Xuhui District, and several other clinics serving families spread across the whole city.

The setting has changed dramatically over the years, and maternity care has also evolved. But the connection to women, babies and families remains at the heart of what Am-Sino does.

For this former Am-Sino baby, returning to the hospital where her own story began offered a unique opportunity to experience maternity care from the other side.

And for the Am-Sino team, welcoming her back has been a special reminder that the care provided today can become part of a family's story for many years to come.

We'd love to hear your Am-Sino story — share it in the comments below!