Brand new in Dubai, pregnant & a bit overwhelmed | ExpatWoman.com
 

Brand new in Dubai, pregnant & a bit overwhelmed

5
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 17:21

Hello ladies,
please do help if you have experience. Trawling through threads but I need to start at the beginning and nothing is clear on line! Just arrived in Dubai & discovered am a few wks pregnancy. Desperate to find great, word of mouth recommendations on gynae, delivery, those who you have all loved. I do not know whether I do antenatal in 1 place & then delivery elsewhere. Please do give advice, quite overwhelmed by not knowing how it all works here & not having network to support/advise. THANK you so much

ps pregnancy not included in my health insurance so would purchase a package - funds not a big issue but want someone excellent to walk this exciting path with. thanks

5
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 18:49
Thanks very much gaijind. Really grateful. I have now booked apts with Dr Andrea, also at Al Zahra and City just to cover all bases (oh and checking out Copper Clinic). Will report back on my thoughts when I have seen them all. Thanks ladies. Any other doc advice greatly appreciated! x
117
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 February 2014 - 01:58
Congrats. Depending on where you live, I recommend a hospital or clinic nearby so it's easy for transport and for having the doc nearby around the latest stages. I delivered in the international modern hospital two years ago with Dr. Andrea. She is German. Amazing. Very efficient and to the point. Now she has her own clinic on al Wasl road, western medical clinic I think. The hospital was good and they took nicely care of me. I don't know how things are after two years. But if I am pregnant again, I will definitely go back see Dr. Andrea Farhat For the hospital, I will check it out again and would also see where my OB delivers. I have visited City Hospital twice to see friends who delivered there and it looked nice too. I hope this helps. There many useful apps for iPhone or other phones that you can now download to learn about pregnancy day by day and how fetus grows etc. enjoy the moment. I hope this helps. <em>edited by gaijind on 04/02/2014</em>
33
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 February 2014 - 20:32
The recommended dr at al zahra seems to be dr yamini, and that was who the midwife there recommended too. Some of the other mums might have better knowledge though! Definitely let me know what you think!
5
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 February 2014 - 15:55
Hi Imorgan, congratulations to you! Thanks so much for replying, feels less daunting knowing there are others out there also navigating this all! Just on location Al Zahra sounds good. Trying to go look around this week. Have you heard anything about specific doctors there? all recommendations I've read about are more specific to hospitals in Health care city. Thank you SO much for any helpful info on docs, so grateful. Let's keep in touch & I'll tell you what I think of Al Zahra x
33
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 12:53
Hi Inti! Totally understand how you feel. We've been in Dubai since September and have just found out we are pregnant with our second baby. But it is so different here to in the UK. This forum is mega helpful so have a look around!! We have just been on the tour at Al Zahra and loved it, as it is very pro natural birth and midwife led, which is what I had last time. We don't have insurance either and their package seems reasonable compared to some of the others (although this baby will still be an expensive one...it better be good haha). We thought it seemed less confusing going to the same place for antenatal and delivery too! I have no actual experience to help you with though as I'm in the same boat! x
5
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 10:49
Thanks so much for your advice. So great to hear from you and know others managed it all just fine :) Think am being a bit slow with this forum as know it has a wealth of helpful info but finding it hard to navigate posts... Have read a bit about Dr Yamimi who sounds great bout yours is perfect advice - to go and suss out the various hospitals and check out packages. Thanks again and huge congratulations on yours...how are you feeling? Any other helpful info SO appreciated as really am in the dark here! Thanks again x
73
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 17:51
Hi Inti, This exact situation is where I found myself a few months ago. I am 34 weeks so yet to deliver in Dubai but the way I went about things was this: I read a lot of info on this forum, I spent a day visiting a long list of hospitals and touring their maternity wards and getting their package info. Once I decided on a hospital, I used this forum to choose my doctor. In the end I choose Dr Yamini at Al Zahra. There are a number of reasons for my choices, Al Zahra is close to home, Dr Yamini came highly recommended and the delivery there is largely midwife led with emphasis on natural birth and keeping the baby with mum after birth. Plus they have a birthing pool for labour. I purchased the antenatal package there and will purchase the delivery package when the time comes. I know that you do not have to do antenatal and delivery in the same place but I imagine it'll be nice to see the familiar face you have got to know over the months of antenatal visits in the delivery room. Hope that helps and good luck!
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY