April 2013 due date anyone?

Just did the NT yesterday and everything turned out great! it also looks it's going to be a baby girl ths time :).. Good luck everyone with the NT scan these weeks.

Thanks Blondie that's very thoughtful of you. Haven't received anything though. Unless I'm not looking in the right place?

It sure is all very confusing isn't it. Different places offer different things I guess. I know the doc I am seeing at Healthbay will also be doing the delivery at City. And they sort everything out for me in terms of registering for the birth etc. at the hospital. So that's something I don't have to bother with. Healthbay do seem to be quite good at offering the full package. As well as the obstetricians/antenatal/delivery care, the team of midwives also offer antenatal classes and post natal support. Which feels more similar to the kind of care you would get in the UK and makes me feel a little more at ease (obviously all with separate costs). Well good look all. Let us know how you get on with your next scans.

As for hospitals, I hadn't given it much thought, trying not to get too far ahead of myself. I have been seeing Dr Munira at the Dubai Mall medical centre. Now that I am getting closer to the magic 12 weeks I asked what happens next. She said you need to register with a hospital and she recommends City Hospital. You go along at 5 or 6 months and meet the doctor who will deliver the baby. I'm not sure if you can choose. You would have a couple of appointments with them before the birth. I am completely naive about this whole thing so I had assumed that she would be delivering. She explained she can provide the prenatal care but her specialism is in fertility. I really like her but now I am wondering if I should find someone who can provide the care AND deliver or if it doesn't really matter. I am also thinking about speaking to some doulas. What has been everyone else's experience so far? Has anyone made sense of it yet? Max, I hope you enjoyed your hubby's birthday and it wasn't too difficult missing out on all the good stuff. Hiccup, I agree, time has never passed so slowly. Thanks for the info on Healthbay clinic. I see they also do antenatal classes.

Hi Girls. So good to hear everyone's updates. Things are going well for me (I hope/think). Not feeling any nausea or much of anything really. Keep thinking I must have imagined the whole thing and it kind of makes the worry worse but I've actually had 2 scans already so far and both have shown a healthy happy heartbeat. maxmistry - I read on another thread that you were struggling with which docs/hosp to choose. I've gone with Healthbay Polyclinic for the ante-natal care. My decision was based more so on the midwife care they offer (which is all British lead). The place has a really nice feel to it and the people are all super nice. I'm with Dr Josza who is lovely and has really made me feel at ease. He only delivers at City which kind of made my choice for me on that score but its a good choice, I know its one of the best hospitals in the city. My biggest worry at the moment (apart obviously from the fact that everything goes OK with the NT scan etc. - which is in 2.5 weeks time - and by the way, while I'm on the subject why does time go soooooooo slow when you're just waiting around for these scans to tell you everything is OK), is in the cost of things. I work full time and have what I think is a fairly standard insurance coverage. But I've added up what the total ante-natal care plus 'normal' delivery is at City at it still comes to more than my insurance offer. I'm from the UK with the free healthcare so this is all new to me and I'm paranoid that private healthcare will always try and rip you off. This is my first experience with both healthcare in Dubai and private healthcare in general and, although I'm grateful to have had my two early scans, they obviously come at a huge cost and I'm sure they weren't both necessary. Its so difficult trying to weigh up what's absolutely necessary for your care for the associated cost. I don't want to sound dismissive about the level of care I need (what do I know) but I don't feel like I'm hitting the happy medium. And then if anything goes wrong (touch wood), which most insurance companies won't immediately cover, it could literally wipe out all of our hard earned savings from the last few years (especially when you read all the horror stories of NICU bills between 100-300k). Sorry, don't mean to be so negative and don't want to stress anyone else out thinking about this stuff. I think I need to stop reading horror stories in the internet! We've not told anyone yet. Going to wait for the scan in a couple of weeks, at which point I'll be at around 14 weeks. Its really difficult though. We just feel like its the sensible thing to do and as all our friends and family are back home its not like we have to lie to them on a daily basis trying to keep it secret. I know if that were the case we probably would've cracked. Just need to get these next few weeks out of the way and then I can move on to worrying about the birth and then how we're actually going to raise a child! Delight!

Hi girls, I am very excited (and a little terrified) to say I have an April 27 2013 due date! It is also my first so after using Expatwoman as a source of information for years I have finally signed up to use the forum. Thanks for setting up this thread Max. I have been quite lucky in the nausea stakes. I will have three days of constant nausea (no vomiting) then feel absolutely normal for a week then another three days of nausea. My problem is over-worrying about what we should and shouldn't eat. Never before has it mattered so much what I put in my mouth! I am looking forward to reaching the end of the first trimester milestone when maybe I can relax a little. We have only told immediate family so far. What have you all decided to do about telling people? Looking forward to sharing the journey!

Hi everyone, congrats - hope I'm not too late/early on this thread. Now 9.3 weeks pregnant, and due date early May. Very excited as lost one before. Just had first scan today which I was a bit nervous about, but was told that baby is fine and normal - massive relief! Would love to be in the loop about things. First baby, and away from home for the first time. Keen to do a coffee morning (or hot chocolate) but in the weekend as currently working. Had a bit of nausea. Not sure if some of you are still suffering from it, but found my tastes changed from one minute to the next. Started being able to stomach only rice crackers, then salty chips, and now shortbread. I keep a selection of all of them in my bag as I never know what I will or won't want. Also found that having some Gatorade is helpful with hydration and keeping away headaches.

Oh I have a fine appetite and eat a LOT. But wondering if anyone felt more cravings or perhaps too nauseous. Mine was IVF so it was all planned but my goodness was it stressful at the end when I thought that it hadn't worked. But it did! I was told to just come back at 7 week scan. Im only 5 weeks now.

Just took a test last night - positive. Eek! Seeing the doc tomorrow. First for me and pretty terrified (even though it was kind of planned). Worked out the due date for end of April

Ladies... anyone eating more or eating differently from before? Symptoms? Im only at 5 weeks so no symptoms except some tenderness and heartburn.

first for me and soooooooooooo excited- due ist of April, April fools baby:)

I think mine is the very end of April (hopefully....)

Hi! Just moved to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain and I'm six weeks along, due date is around April 20th! I've also got a boy who just turned two and we just came back from holiday in Canada. What with the morning sickness, jet lag, fatigue and dealing with my toddler and I'm about to keel over. We're moving into our new place this weekend on top of everything too. Excited but cautiously waiting to get to 12 weeks as I've had an early loss before. Congratulations ladies!!! Happy and health 9 months to us all.

Me too!! Due 18th of april. Meant to post earlier but i have been sooo sick with nausea and headaches:(( anyone else having this and how do you cope? I have a 2 years old as well and quite hard to keep up with him feeling this way. Congratulation everyone! I am suffering from headaches and abandoned hope with Nausea I stuck with ginger soaked in rock/black salt and lemon juice and pretzels and toast .It worked so might consider trying that. I found as soon as my stomach was empty the nausea got worse and the heat makes the headache worse. Hope this helps:)

Me too!! Due 18th of april. Meant to post earlier but i have been sooo sick with nausea and headaches:(( anyone else having this and how do you cope? I have a 2 years old as well and quite hard to keep up with him feeling this way. Congratulation everyone!

Me too end of March , super excited as its my first 10 weeks today:D

Me too!! I'm due mid April. It's baby number four for me (5,3 and 1.5 years). I'm in Doha, how about you guys?

Possibly me! Think its 4 weeks now so presume and end of April due date. But for now going to take it one day at a time to get past the 12 week hump. Good health to us all !