Lee Teng & His Wife Shelled Out Nearly $100K For Their Baby’s Birth

$100,000. That’s what TV host Lee Teng and his Taiwanese wife, Gina Lin, spent to welcome their baby son, Ellison, to the world.

Earlier in August, Lee Teng, 41, shared the news on Instagram, posting pictures of his wife, 32, and newborn in the delivery room, as well as adorable close-ups of the baby’s hands and feet. Gina had given birth earlier than expected in July via a C-section, but the pair chose to reveal it only after the baby’s first month.

Breaking down the costs on his YouTube channel on Sept 11, Lee Teng shared, “I was shocked when I saw the bill,” he said. However, he also noted that their situation was pretty unique and not what most people would pay. They’d also chosen a Class A ward at a private hospital.

A typical C-section usually means a four-day, three-night hospital stay, Gina shares, but she stayed five days and four nights because of her circumstances. She was first admitted for bed rest to stabilise her pregnancy, but the doctor later decided on an emergency C-section. The delivery and room fees alone chalked up about $30,000. For context, a standard C-section in the same ward usually costs $15,000 to $18,000, and a natural birth costs around $10,000. Lee Teng also pointed out that it would have been cheaper at a public hospital.

Since their baby was born premature, he had to spend a few days in the neonatal intensive care unit. That, along with medical checks, racked up about $65,000. Add in prenatal check-ups, and the total cost of their first child topped $100,000, though some of it was covered by healthcare schemes.

Gina reflected, “At that moment, all I cared about was having a healthy baby and delivering safely. Everything else didn’t matter.” Lee agreed, saying that the most important thing was that his wife and son were okay — and that money can always be earned back.

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When he first shared the joyful news, he also touched on the heartbreak from a miscarriage that the couple had gone through in 2020. Back then, they’d announced that they’re expecting their first child, nicknamed Xiao Dou Ya (Little Bean Sprout). However, Gina suffered a miscarriage six months into the pregnancy, after she had returned to Taiwan to prep for the birth. Separated by Covid-19 travel restrictions — Lee Teng was stuck in Singapore for work — they endured the pain apart. When they finally reunited in August, they spent three months in Taiwan supporting each other and slowly healing from their loss.

He also apologised to his followers for keeping their second pregnancy a secret.

“It has been 5 years since we lost our little one. Those years have been anything but easy,” he wrote. “My wife and I have faced countless setbacks, and there were moments when I couldn’t bear to see her disappointment.

“At times, I even asked if we should give up, simply because I couldn’t stand watching her suffer.”

“Her unwavering perseverance moved me deeply. I promised her that no matter what, I would walk this journey with her. The wait has been long, but the moment I saw the smile on our rainbow baby’s face, I knew every second was worth it.”

Gina also shared a series of photographs of Ellison and the post-labour moments on her Instagram page, with a heartfelt caption.

She added that she spent most of her pregnancy at home, quietly holding back her emotions. “Facing physical, mental and emotional strain, and concerns from everyone, I’ve managed to appear calm and composed. But in reality, I’ve become incredibly sensitive and insecure,” she wrote in Chinese.

Addressing Ellison in her post, Lin said: “Thank you for choosing me to be your mother, thank you for working so hard to grow up, thank you for giving me the courage to face my birthday and thank you for piecing together the broken me bit by bit.”

She added, “From the moment I heard your first cry, it felt so unreal. I wake up every morning and ask myself, ‘Is this true?’ Thank you for coming safely to us. Your father and I only hope you will be healthy and safe.”

This article was originally published on Aug 14, and updated on Sep 15, 2025.