April 2013 due date anyone?

Good luck Max!!! Thinking of you!! xx

im due on April 26th with our first baby. Anybody else due around the same date? I'll be giving birth at the Garhoud Private Hospital Im due on 27th and also going to deliver in Al Garhoud :) i chose them for the fantastic reviews i read about them, i had original planned on NMC but after my visit to Garhoud i can't imagine going anywhere else. Felt more like a hotel than a hospital, the staff are just brilliant and the doctor made me feel fantastic. Maybe i'll see you there :D

I'm sooooo looking forward to eating sushi again. My mouth is watering as I'm typing this. Lol. Been avoiding it ever since I found out I'm expecting. So yea, after delivery that's what I'm going to indulge on. Ha ha ha.

Hello Ladies! Max - wishing you the best birth experience possible, wow that is a short notice - to have a baby Tomorrow( oh today already!! ) keeping fingers crossed for you and your little baby xx Please let us know how it went and if any insight for those following you at AH :) Lyndy! Congrats on your new and early arrival, thx for sharing details and hope all is good now and your section will recover quickly. Babyboy - My due date by dr is 2nd of May actually but when i was counting it myself it was 28 th april that is why i am here with april ladies :) although (!) the 1st dr i was seeing in Moscow before moved here had it 25 april :) Well the truth is only the baby knows when he is due.. So i am just waiting patiently, and honestly cant see why you are so in hurry MrsAbdalla :) i am too enjoying it to hurry, the baby is already with you kicking all the time and you will never be as close again as to share same body, still you can sleep, eat whatever you want, go and have workouts anytime, have a glass of wine occasionally :) and spoil your husband a little with attention while you can as after baby is born your priorities change :) Me, i just hope that baby will wait till after 28th, as it is my own birthday by coincidence (and 30th), and i deserve a nice sushi dinner and a drink of wine :) If he doesn't want to wait.. Oh well, japanese take away and i hear there are tests available for checking alcohol in breast milk hehehehe As for baby bazaar last saturday, we probably arrived too late for any good stuff as they say you have to be there early, and we were around 1pm, not that we really were looking for something just out of curiosity, and i didnt see anything really appealing to buy, half of tables were entrepreneurs as well so not 100% pre-loved market.. I guess it depends really on what sellers you get on particular day, some bazaars probably were really full of good deals..just not this one. Keep well ladies and all the best

Hi there babyboy. Welcome and congratulations. How are you feeling? I'm guessing you're expecting a baby boy? (Duh! :D), same here! They say the EDD is not really accurate esp for FTM (like me), you can give or take a few days. I'm due on the 22nd and will be in City Hospital. I heard good reviews of Al Garhoud Private Hosp so I wish you all the best. x

im due on April 26th with our first baby. Anybody else due around the same date? I'll be giving birth at the Garhoud Private Hospital

Max - Oh wow tomorrow? Take it easy. I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm excited for you, you'll be holding your LO soon. Wishing you a safe and easy delivery. Lots of love and prayer for you and your little darling. Best of luck xxx

Happy April 1st lovely ladies. :) Lyndy - Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Really appreciate it. Never heard of stretching technique so I will definitely ask my DR tomorrow when I see her for my check up. Did they stitch you? Or was it glued? Bunintheoven - I wanted to go to that baby bazaar but I'm stuck here in RAK. :( Hopefully next time I can go. Was it really good? I heard it was packed. In the future maybe we can sell our baby stuff in there too. ;) MrsAbdalla - I know exactly how you feel :D inshallah we will all be the best moms xx 37weeks today!!! :D :D :D

Thanks everyone! :) and congrats to those who've had their babies, and good luck to those still waiting. I have 3 + 5 left, i honestly can't wait! feel like i'm going to explode! I can't wait to hold my baby and see her face and kiss her and feed her and just bite her coz she'll be so cute inshAllah :) lol sorry im just so excited. Everything is ready, cot is made, car seat installed, hospital bag packed, and hubby has a sheet of plastic ready for his car seats (he loves his new mustang more than me hahahah). thinking of you all and wishing you all the best. please pray for me and my baby and that i'll be a good mom inshAllah. I'm so emo right now :')

Hi Lyndy, How nice of you to take the time to update us on your experience. I am sorry you had HELLP syndrome (never heard of it!) and your daughter had to stay in hospital for 11 days but glad everything is fine now. I hope we can all say we had a great experience however our little ones choose to arrive. I'm still looking at a c-section for a breech baby. I would rather avoid major surgery but from all accounts the recovery is not too bad considering. Thanks for sharing the details. I'd rather know them now than be shocked and panicked later. All, I went to the second hand baby bazaar today. Anyone else? I picked up a few little things but it will be great once we know if this little passenger is a boy or a girl because there are some real savings to be made in clothes! And really good quality clothes. And toys! When we get to that stage. I can recommend it. Most of the stuff was in good condition. MrsAbdullah, I wouldn't try the various ways of inducing labour until 37 or 38 weeks but I've heard that reflexology can get things going. And a spicy curry! Good luck! xx

Hi Pinkbutterfly, I am a FTM too so it's all a learning curve this motherhood thing!! My dr too is at healthbay, she did my C Section...she does the stretching technique, not just cutting through layers of abdomen, muscle etc, and her technique more stretches bits and bobs to bring out baby, but if you do have one, advice would be to take regular analgesia (it's safe with breast feeding) even if for the first few days ... That's if you are happy to obviously, the first couple of days on movement I felt a bit of discomfort but each day you do feel its getting easier. I was pleasantly surprised how good I felt each day. Oh a wee tip for you and anyone else if you should have a catheter...when it's out go to the toilet frequently that day...I didn't and had the most horrendous bladder spasm, with trapped wind, sorry to be frank, but that combo is awful, left me stuck on the bed and and literally trembling with pain...never felt anything so awful, never been so happy to see a bedpan!! I hope I have not offended anyone by sharing experiences...

Hi Lyndy. Wow what an experience. I'm glad everything went fine for you. Congrats on your little DD, what a lovely name. Thanks for the heads up on 4D scan, I will definitely ask my DR next visit. How was your c-section? My DR told me I might have a c-section because my baby is a bit big, so I'm a bit scared with recovery and all that. I can't say much about well baby as I'm a FTM, but I know Healthbay in Al Wasl is really good because that's where my DR used to have her clinic and I've met a few moms in there who are really happy with their care. I wish you the best of luck. xx [i'> Can't wait to see my LO soon, just 3 weeks left inshallah. :D[/i'>

Hello again April mums, I managed to get a few posts on here about 6 weeks ago. I have skim read previous posts last night for the first time and wrote a post and accidentially wiped it all, so, whilst the new addition to my family is asleep I will try again...my due date is next week - 6th April, however in the midst of trying to get the house sorted - snagging , cleaning etc and furniture arrivals, having to find a dr -( i did, and she is lovely...) and then having to be referred to a hematologist..lots of blood tests, I had a C section at the AH 4 1/2 weeks ago. My little one was 5 1/2 weeks early, I had HELLP syndrome which is a variation of eclampsia. I have to say my dr, the midwives and nicu nurses and post natal ward nurses were just lovely, and my experience was faultless - apart from the insurance - a different story! Ilea and I came home 11 days later (cant tell you how fab it was to get home!) She was in NICU and i was discharged after 4 days... recovered pretty quickly after the section, i stayed on in the lodging rooms, they were ok-ish ( they are unlockable rooms in the (what I called ) waiting to die ward of the hospital (long term nursing care ward basically). those wondering about the nursery, yes it is still shut up, but Ilea never went into it but I would have had her stay with me in my room, they cannot stop you from having your baby with you!! They do it to give you a bit of a break which is nice, but at the same time the lactation consultant did say to me, the time babies really get the hang of breast feeding is at night - that is when they feed best ( darkness is their thing since being in darkness for 9 months!! it takes them up to a month to get used to the night/day thing!) If they try to take your baby to the nursery and you dont want them to, I would just say your baby is staying with you. You can always change your mind . The alarms do go off when babies are taken through certain doors too without the parents and their hospital bands,which ID's the parents to the babies, and the lifts shut down too - very abruptly I might add!! I thought that was a great idea - the security for the babies, I have worked in neonatal areas and never seen it before. Hubby and i were not quite prepared for Ilea's arrival! I had at least packed her bag, I was not expecting to be staying for the next 10 nights when we toddled into ER at 0300 that morning, i wasn't even in labour but had epigastric pain for the past few weeks (and horrible purple/blue puffy feet and legs from veins and fluid)that I just could not control... tips if anyone else goes early, we found it difficult to find premmie clothes!! Our poor wee girl has got clothes way too big for her so all packed in her bag were hopeless...mothercare and M&S have premmie baby clothes if you need to know!!! I was hoping to get to some of the coffee mornings too, even though i dont have a car just yet (still stranded in Dubailand!!) I would have taxied...I will start going this week and I have seen a few ads for wellbaby clinics too - has anyone heard of any good ones? There is one at Motor city and Healthbay do them too from what i can gather at Mirdiff and jumeria. I hope you are all doing well ladies and that the excitement of meeting your little one getting closer is outweighing any fears and nervousness of the whole pending experience!! It is a pretty amazing thing - meeting these new little people when they arrive - early or late!!! I am really not missing the insomnia, fat feet and legs, teariness at anything!,frequent toiletting like I have a UTI but not!,constant braxton hicks and the epigastric pain from an enlarged liver!! But, I do miss being pregnant though! and feeling the kicks :) I hope you all have as great an experience as I was lucky enough to have had, take care all, Lyndal oh by the way, has anyone had a 4 d scan? my dr did one when i had to go back to her just for a check up 3 days before I delivered, it's freaky and what you see on that scan is what you get!!!

/alenka - You're welcome dear. Although, you can't put a sleeping baby on the car seat for more than 2 hours they say. It's not good for their back. So if you know you won't be out with your LO for more than 2 hours then you can just put him in the maxi cosi. I love walking in the malls and I definitely take more than 2 hours in there so I really had to get the bassinet. :p Anyone else having trouble sleeping? It's 2:00 am and I'm wide awake. Lol.

Alenka - we have the Quinney Buzz and the Maxi Cosi car seat that is for newborns. The car seat fits in the stroller for newborn

Alenka - we have the Quinney Buzz and the Maxi Cosi car seat that is for newborns. The car seat fits in the stroller for newborn

Max - I hope your LO stays in your tummy longer. Take it easy and take plenty of rest. xx Ohh my bag is well packed, although I only packed for an overnight stay. So now I'm thinking what if I get a C section, I'm planning to pack another bag now just in case. Lol. DH thinks I'm crazy. Like I'm planning to breastfeed so I'm taking my boppy pillow with me, but I also have a few small feeding bottles incase I won't be able to BF. You'll never know, I don't like being unprepared in times like this. :D Alenka - I have a Quinny Buzz 3 and as far as I know, it's not good for newborns. I bought a separate dreami bassinet for LO to sleep in until he's like 4 months then he can use the seat. They have to lie flat on their back so even if the seat reclines it's not flat enough IMO. HTH.

Few more weeks to go.. REALLY!!!! :D Can't wait to see who will have their baby first. Good luck to everyone. xxx I'm 36 weeks, I must say I can't wait for LO to get out but then again he needs to cook more in there. Lol. MrsAbdalla - Congrats on your amazing pregnancy. :) Mine was amazing too, until I got the result of my GTT :( then I had to follow a strict diet. But it's all good, anything for my LO to be healthy. I "daydream" about my baby all the time too, like in my head I have a picture of him already. He looks like his dad. :) I'm sooo inlove with him already. :)

Only a month to go inshAllah :) i can't wait. Anyone else feel like they've been pregnant for 3 years? I've had the most amazing pregnancy alhamdulillah, the first 8 months were bliss, no morning sickness, no anything really. Now i've entered the final month my feet and ankles, wrists and hands have ballooned, i started waddling, i feel like a ***, sick of the smell of my own milk leaking everywhere (bought breast pads but can't use them as i haven't been able to wear a bra for a month now, it's agony pressing on my uterus, even the non-wired ones :( ) I'm sick of everyone offering (crappy) advice, i.e. my in laws telling me to drink Castor Oil to bring on the labour and make the baby "come out quickly" though i've read castor oil gives you diarrhoea and nothing more :) HELP. I wanna see my baby already :( it's actually pretty amazing how much i dream of her, maybe 3 times a week i see her in my dreams. First pregnancy so i'm a bit........you know :D

Thanks Philly, I'll check it out.

Red - I've found some good ones on babynamegenie.com - you can choose the start letter, gender, middle name to choose first name, combination of initials, first name to choose middle name etc etc. Had lots of fun on it and helped me get a few ideas! Best of luck, Philly

Hi mumofmoo, Looking for boy names, traditional, starting with I or S.

Hi Ladies, Anyone have any good baby name websites they found useful? Thanks. Nope - too many stupid names and too many "americanized" names (ie normal names spelt in stupid ways Do you know what kind of names you like? Modern, old fashened, earthy?? boy? girl?

Hi Ladies, Anyone have any good baby name websites they found useful? Thanks.

Im having Moo at City Hospital with Dr Britt (hopefully, if all goes to plan) and I am due in 23 or 24 days!! Bricking it now to be honest!! Regarding taking the baby away, just tell them no. They will need to weigh and clean little one but they can do that in the room usually but should be no more than 30 minutes, remember, if your baby is healthy then you can tell them what to do, dont let them do anything you dont want them to. Having said that, please dont think these people have no clue about what they are doing or anything like that, they are very good and I have heard nothing but praise from people who have had babies in City. Not so much American but just tell them what you want and make sure you have a detailed birthing plan so when you are not able t otalk so much or your brain is dead, your wishes are expressed in writing and there is no confusion Fat feet lady (sorry, cant remember who wrote about it and cant see on the ipad either), get some flight socks on and raise your legs, might just help you. Also, watch your salt intake, it might be mnaking the swelling worse. My feet went from huge to almost normal over the weekend. Randomly. Hope yours do the same, if not, just wear flip fllops and carry shoes. if you have to pop them on for 5 minutes and then take them off at the table then suck it up ;-0 Baby clothes - I have a ton. Baby grows and outfits. People keep buying them for us which is lovely but I have only bought 3 items myself and it is really annoying me now as I dont want to buy stuff that will go to waste and I have over 100 outfits for Moo already but I want to pick her clothes!! GRRR why are people so kind lol

Hi Max Something in your last post concerned me. Is there a medical reason they have said in advance they will need to take your baby away? I know its best for baby to stay with mum at all times and I was concerned about over intervention here in Dubai. I'm currently doing ante-natal classes and raised this with the midwife. She said there is a tendency for this in Dubai unfortunately but there is absolutely no reason for it. If everything is healthy and normal the baby should be with mum. No exceptions. They don't need to go to the nursery and they don't need to be taken away from you for checks and tests. At the very least if the paediatrician won't come to you, and do whatever he needs to do to the baby while you're there, your husband or another member of your family should go with them. I don't know the full story though - maybe there is another reason they are suggesting this? In any case, I'd raise it with them at some point and let them know your concerns / preferences. It seems we do have to speak up and fight our corner a little in Dubai for what we feel comfortable with.