Al Zahra hospital mums? | Page 2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Al Zahra hospital mums?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 April 2014 - 17:42
first of all, congrats to all the new mums and mums-to-be! :) i am wanting to find out how much the packages cost at al zahra hospital? husband and i are hoping to start having kids soon and just starting to look at prices and hospitals etc to get an idea on whaat would be best. we have oman/bupa insurance which i have been told has a high maternity cover limit on it so price shouldnt be too much of an issue but we'd still like to have some sort of estimate :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 March 2014 - 10:10
Thanks for the update Explo! your input is really valuable as i dont think i would be able to have the hospital tour till i cross my 32 weeks as have been advised strict bedrest.....but your feedback has put me on ease...... If the baby decides to stay IN till week 36, i think i am gonna go to Al Zahra, otherwise City Hospital is best known for its NICU....... Its all about wait and watch now!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2014 - 02:17
Sorry to hijack the thread.....But a question to all the moms who delivered at Al Zahra: I have heard that they do NOT have an anaesthetist for epidural on call. Patient needs to inform them that they would be needing one and the hospital will arrange for one. As many a times women wants to see how much pain they can take and might decide on the last moment that enough is enough and they need pain relief, which is not a possibility at Al Zahra. Also, after calling the Dr. there is no guarantee that he/she will turn up on time..... I am finding this info. a bit hard to believe as it is a big hospital with a large infrastructure......so just wanted to confirm with you all! Also @Carla1, there is a maternity ward doctor on duty at ALL TIMES, so yes, I think you're right not to believe what you were told as it appears to be way off. Thankfully :) edited by explo on 24/03/2014 <em>edited by explo on 24/03/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2014 - 02:14
Thanks Dubai Newbie! And big congrats to you! It's very good to know you had a great experience. I went on the Al Zahra tour on Saturday with Emmah and was also really impressed. I am very reassured and had nothing but good vibes and a positive experience. I'm looking forward to delivering there in July/August. @Carla1 I asked about timing a request for epidural and was told categorically that you don't need to book one in advance, that you can decide as late as is medically feasible that you want one and will be accommodated by the anaesthetist. Interestingly, they also have an application underway with the DHA to offer water-birthing. It's a lengthy process but she said it is possible they may have it granted before I'm due. This would be brilliant news. <em>edited by explo on 24/03/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 March 2014 - 20:25
Hi ladies, I just wanted to stop in to let you know that I have just delivered my bubs at Al Zahra and the whole experience was fantastic. I never met Sally and it didn't matter, the midwives are all excellent, they work to your birth plan and can provide fit balls, birthing stools, pools for use during labour. I can't imagine the absence of Sally will alter the pro-natural stance of the labour and delivery unit. The ward staff were lovely too. Highly recommend the hospital.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 March 2014 - 17:58
Has anyone heard anything about their head midwife, Sally, leaving? A friend did the tour with her only weeks ago and was so impressed with her attitude and approach. I called the labour ward to make an appointment for the tour two weeks ago and they were in a panic saying they couldn't confirm a tour would take place because Sally wasn't there, then the receptionist admitted she didn't know if Sally was actually leaving or not. I emailed them and eventually someone confirmed that Sally had left. I was very very keen to go with Al Zahra for the pro-natural pro-midwife stance and I had the impression a lot of that was to do with the way Sally ran the unit. Anyone know anything further?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 March 2014 - 09:36
Sorry to hijack the thread.....But a question to all the moms who delivered at Al Zahra: I have heard that they do NOT have an anaesthetist for epidural on call. Patient needs to inform them that they would be needing one and the hospital will arrange for one. As many a times women wants to see how much pain they can take and might decide on the last moment that enough is enough and they need pain relief, which is not a possibility at Al Zahra. Also, after calling the Dr. there is no guarantee that he/she will turn up on time..... I am finding this info. a bit hard to believe as it is a big hospital with a large infrastructure......so just wanted to confirm with you all!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 March 2014 - 11:11
The downs screening is 1200aed. After that I don't know, as I've only just started. But Dubai Newbie says nothing else costs extra, so fingers crossed. It will cost more if you need extra things not included in the package, but that is mostly if something was to go amiss in the pregnancy meaning you need extra radiology scans or medications. Which we all hope won't happen anyway.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 March 2014 - 19:57
Hello to you all, I'm 16 weeks now and have finally decided to go for AL Zahra hospital as well. I have booked an appointment for next week with Dr. Yamini and I really hope I like her as I need to settle with a doctor at some point. I'm also going for their antenatal package so the info of the possible extra costs was very helpful for me too. xxx
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 19:55
No worries and thanks for your well wishes! We were given all the images on a disc from our down syndrome screening and the 20 week anomaly scan. We were never able to open them at home but I just assumed it was because we use a mac. Also Dr Yamini has printed us pictures, both with and without us asking. You should get plenty of pictures!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 18:36
Also, hope baby comes soon and smoothly Dubai Newbie! x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 18:35
That's reassuring! Did you get to keep pictures of any of yours scans? Thanks for the reply!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 15:51
Hi Imorgan, I am at the end of my antenatal package at Al Zahra (40 weeks on wednesday) and the only thing extra we have had to pay for is the Down's screening plus of course any medications/vitamins. Everything else was included, including the scans in radiology. Hope that helps.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 12:32
Hi! I have just started the antenatal package at Al Zahra. All good so far. But I was just wondering how many extras are likely to pop up that aren't included? We know the downs screening isn't included. Are the scans in the radiology department included though? The information says the package includes 1 anomaly scan (20 weeks) and 2 ultrasound (clinic). When and what are the two in the clinic? I don't mind paying for a few extra bits, but I could do with them not being a surprise! TIA
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2014 - 21:00
I delivered my first baby in November at Al Zahra. We had toured both City and Al Zahra and felt it was the best option for our family. We were so impressed by our midwife (Emmah) and the care we received from all the nursing staff during our stay. We wanted to have an all natural birth and we were never pressured to receive any interventions, unlike the experiences I have heard mothers talk about at other hospitals in Dubai. If you tour Al Zahra and feel like it is the right place for you, I think you should go for it. They have great midwives, state of the art facilities, reasonably priced packages and a quiet maternity ward. Best of luck!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 February 2014 - 16:02
hi mumofmoo, hope you're well. just red your post, thanks for this. New in Dubai and checking out hospitals. Was going to look at Al Zahra, hoping to get tour this weekend, but are you saying City Mediclinic is the only one you'd use? I am medical so a bit of a nightmare patient and first time mum to be (good luck them!) Thanks for any advice, really grateful x
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 08:46
Yes, thats the one. I had my first child there last year also. I picked it because it has the best emergency care, it is the nearest private hospital to the blood bank (in the event of an emergency), the staff that I deal with are all trained and have worked insome of the UK's best and busiest hospitals and I am also privy to some information that others are not (which I cannot divulge), but it is the safest place to deliver in Dubai it is not the closest to me, I live between Al Manara and Al Thanya but it only takes 15 minutes to get there anyway, 20 on a bad day so its not a big deal
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 06:38
Is City the mediclinic city hospital? Do you mind saying why you picked them? It seems a bit far for away for us, but then a lot of people have good things to say about it!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 January 2014 - 12:27
I am not going to on the tour now,. I am not going to the hospital now, sticking with City
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 January 2014 - 11:11
Thanx for the info about the tour, very helpful. We will be there for the 1pm tour.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 29 January 2014 - 08:15
Thanks for the info! We called about tours and are going on Saturday at 1pm. There is another one leaving at 3pm on the same day. We were told to just turn up 5 minutes before. Maybe see some of you there! We are going on Saturday too - I will be the very tired looking one probably telling DH for doing something wrong lol He likes to act up when I let him out the house ;-)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2014 - 07:28
Thanks for the info! We called about tours and are going on Saturday at 1pm. There is another one leaving at 3pm on the same day. We were told to just turn up 5 minutes before. Maybe see some of you there!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 19:56
I just rang the phone number from their website and asked about tours. The first time I was told to just turn up, but I rang to check that I was given a time for a tour.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 19:17
Hi tmbb11, who did you contact to organise the tour with? Need to sort that out. I thought the same about Dr Yamini, a very calm lady.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 17:40
Hi. I'm due mid July and have just registered at Al Zahra. I did the tour last month and loved both the hospital and the head midwife. I had a baby in England 18months ago at a midwife run birth unit and what Al Zahra are offering sounded very similar - right down to the birthing pools for labour. I had my first appointment with Dr Yamini yesterday and was impressed - she was friendly enough and very efficient. I can imagine she would be very calm in an emergency - though god forbid any of us should need to find out!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 15:05
Hi. I'm seeing Dr Yammini (sp) there, and plan to give birth there end of May. The place looks nice, although I haven't been on a tour of the labour ward yet. This will be my first in Dubai. My ds (21mths) was born in the UK. Dr Yamini is really nice, straight to the point, not pushy. From what I hear the hopspital is pro natural. The hospital is quiet, plenty of parking. Hope that helps.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 15:01
A friend of a friend is a midwife there, I've heard only positive things about Al Zahra. I delivered my second in City in December - worst experience of my life, gave birth in a storage room in the hospital because the nurse and my OB didn't listen to me when i said it would be quick.. loved the midwife-led way in the UK and have heard that Al Zahra is based around the same working practices.
 
 

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