City Hospital... a birth story

I wanted to put a post up about our birth at the City Hospital 2 weeks ago of our sweet little boy who came 5 weeks early.

The City Hospital has had a bad wrap lately. I myself wrote a letter to the Medical Director stating how terrified I was of my up coming birth given the stories of poor staffing levels, bad and inexperienced nursing/midwives and all around poor care on the labour and post natal wards. I had experienced this first hand with my 'tour' being less than favourable and then many of my pregnant friends were choosing American because of so many bad reports. I am hoping that my positive experience was not due only to that letter causing some stirs within the senior management, rather that my experience was that all women should have at the CIty Hospital because my letter drew attention to some issues at hand.

I wanted to say a few things...

1. Dr Elsa and her nurse Michelle are beyond brilliant. They are a God send to any woman that chooses a health care provider in Dubai. Elsa is a woman who listens, explains everything in detail and allows you to experience the birth you envisaged (within the boundaries of ensuring the health of you and baby) and above all she becomes a friend who you trust and enjoy every minute of your birth with, whatever that birth may look like. If you have the opportunity to choose who you go to, i can't even begin to explain what gratitude I have for Dr Elsa and how I would say to anyone searching for the right Dr in Dubai, you will not go wrong with Elsa. I said to her after our baby was born "i could not have done this without you" and I meant it. She was a rock for me, she believed in me, she gave us choices of how to move forward when bub decided he wanted to come early and she took time with us every step of the way, a thing many doctors won't give you. I could gush and gush about her, but all I need to say is... she is a gift. When our son was handed up to us she said "now that was a labour of love". Words I shall never forget and are clearly heard on our video of the birth.

2. The City Hospital has its issues, there is no doubt about that, they remain understaffed and something needs to change to support their incredible Dr's, but I have to say however that my experience (except for a couple of little issues the first 2 days of my 4 labour with bad staff that they addressed very quickly) was a wonderful one. Even my huband said about our birth "there was a feeling of care and love from everyone in that room", and everyone leading up to it.

3. If you have the pleasure of having Marty as your midwife in your birth, you will be lucky. She is strong, powerful and confident in giving you the experience you hope for. She let's you be alone when you need it and gives you gentle touches when you need it most. I remember during the birth knowing when it was her hand on my leg and it calmed me immediately, she has something in her soul that is made to be in a delivery room with women. She believes in the power of the woman and our ability to birth, so we had a great team allowing us a natural birth even with some challenges leading up to it with a long labour.

4. All the midwives that we came across were caring, supportive and encouraging. They don't have all the time they should have with each patient and this is a shame, but hopefully that will change in the near future. It did not however effect our time at the City Hospital. Just be prepared to keep asking and demand what you need. These women work very hard and that is obvious, but your needs come first when you are about to go through the most tiring, painful, beautiful, emotional experience you MUST put you and your baby first and if that means asking more than once then ask. Dr Elsa will also be a huge support with what you are requiring and is always available should you find you are not getting what you are needing.

5. Our son was taken care of my an extraordinary team in NICU, the doctors and nurses ther are nothing short of beautiful human beings who clearly have a love for babies. The tears both my huband and i shed whilst watching our little one get looked after (it breaks your heart!), were matched by the feeling that he was in incredibly good hands. I felt very lucky we birthed at a hospital in Dubai that had its own NICU unit to take care of him immediately. He is now in perfect health and home with us causing trouble!

So all in all, you will read posts of horrible experiences and whilst i understand where those thoughts have come from there is also a flip side to birth at the City Hospital... a Dr like Elsa, NICU team on hand from the second your baby is born if they need it and a team of midwives who work very hard to achieve what all midwives want for women... a birth they can look back and and be proud of.

One last thing I will say is that a very important piece of our puzzle in getting through the labour and having our beautiful birth, was our Doula Elizabeth Bain. Dubai Doulas. WHAT A WOMAN!!! she sat up and let my husband sleep 2 nights before we actually gave birth, talking with me through each contraction, talked with the midwives when I needed a break from explaining where things were at, walked the halls till the wee hours and then when it came time to decide what to do next she was the person both my husband and i could talk through the pros and cons with knowing we would get a balanced view in return. She helped us get into 'labour land', she walked with us, talked with us, made us laugh and never left our side. I don't even know how she stayed awake!!! Then when it came to the day of our active labour beginning (the really hard part!), instead of flying back to Scotland on a planned trip she cancelled that flight and postponed it just so that she could be there with us at our birth. She helped my husband at what to do during each intense contraction and gave him a break when needed (until I screamed his name again!). If you are looking for someone to help with your birth, not just for you but also your partner I can't recommend Dubai Doulas and Liz enough, we truly could never have gotten through those days without her and I am not sure our experience would have been anything like what it was without her guidance, support and staring into my eyes saying just "breath it away" for hours on end!!!

So that is my little story... i wanted to write it because i think people should have a balanced view on the Hospitals in Dubai. They all have their good, their bad and their ugly. City is no exception. But our birth was beautiful and everything we could have hoped for.

Wishing everyone who has a baby on the way their experience of a lifetime.
xx