my ob/gyn in city hospital is on leave near my delivery date!!! what do i do!! | ExpatWoman.com
 

my ob/gyn in city hospital is on leave near my delivery date!!! what do i do!!

49
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 12:19

hey there.. im in my 35 week now. i just found out from the city hospital reception that my ob/gyn is on leave during my expected due date !!! when i asked them who would be there they replied the midwives . This does not sit well with me at all as one of the reasons i chose city itself was cause i was assured the doctor i met regularly would be around during delivery time unlike in the govt hospitals which was my second hosp of choice in any case. I dont know if they ll shift me to another doctor in city as i know they r so backed up with patients but i feel its not fair of them not not have told me this earlier !! What would you do in this case?

494
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 09:33
I believe that there is an Obgyn on call for the time that someone else is away and or at night / weekends when others have days off. And who ever is in labour gets priority over any of the patients in the waiting room for check ups. I have Dr E but from the sounds of things all the Ob's at City seem very good. See if Sister Martha (Marty) is in the nursing station (if she is still here?), tell her your concerns and she'll help put you at ease. Wishing you all the best. xox
365
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 06:59
Thanks for your kind words Green-ish. It's only my first baby since moving here and I think I'm just frustrated because this sort of thing would not happen in my home country. You are right though, it's nothing insurmountable. I think what's frustrating is that when you're nearing the end of your pregnancy the last thing you should have to worry about is just being able to see your doctor when you need to. Great point about going in to speak with someone in the nursing unit directly. Good luck to you Elnino, I'm sure it will all work out just fine. I've had quite a few friends deliver at City and have heard good things about the care there. <em>edited by Kaba on 24/08/2011</em>
2340
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 14:53
Would I be right in guessing this is a first delivery for both of you ladies? Facing your first birth is daunting enough, without such unexpected change so late in your pregnancies. I really feel for you. It's worth keeping in mind though that you will be fine! City has a good reputation and by all accounts you will be looked after on the day (or night! :) ) What you need to do at the moment is talk to someone who actually knows what they are talking about at the hospital. Don't waste your time with reception staff...insist on speaking to their head of midwifery or the nursing unit manager. The nurses and midwives are the ones who actually know what happens in the hospital during labour and delivery. ;) The OB's just swan in (if needed) and take all of the glory. Find out what you need to know in order to feel safe and prepared. If it was me, I would not spend the money on a private OB separate to the hospital. If you can't get in to see someone at the hospital as often as you'd like to, why not see a good GP? Dr Carol Smylie at Dubai London Clinic is amazing and very experienced in taking care of pregnant women. If she felt you needed an OB for any reason before the delivery, she'd help you to find the right one. Take care of yourselves Kaba and elnino. Best wishes!!! <em>edited by Green-ish on 23/08/2011</em>
49
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2011 - 12:20
What is City's policy on OB's attending the birth? In most hospitals, unless you have a planned induction or C-section, you're not guaranteed to have 'your' OB at the birth anyway. Why not talk to the hospital staff and find out exactly what you can expect once you're in labour. If you know exactly what should happen, where you should be and who should be there to support you, you may feel more relaxed about it all. The OB should not have been taking patients if she knew she was going on leave. Very poor form unless she has some unforeseen emergency...but it's not an insurmountable disaster. Take care ladies. I don't expect to have "my" OB there for the delivery but I do expect there to be an OB to be there for the actual delivery. In my home country, you would choose a doctor to see you for all your appointments but who delivered your baby just happened to be whoever was on call. That is perfectly acceptable to me. City did tell me not to worry that they have two on-call OB doctors so there will always be a doctor to be there for the actual delivery. Reception did give me a call and try to "reschedule" my last two appointments but their idea of rescheduling is actually just canceling those appointments. They said at this point they had not been advised who was going to be taking over Dr. A's patients. hey kaba in any case. its heartening to know they assured you there would be 2 on call doctors. im hoping one of them is DR.E. In any case i have my appointmen with dr.a tom and will be askin her abt this whole mess. will def get back to you on her response.
365
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 August 2011 - 08:32
What is City's policy on OB's attending the birth? In most hospitals, unless you have a planned induction or C-section, you're not guaranteed to have 'your' OB at the birth anyway. Why not talk to the hospital staff and find out exactly what you can expect once you're in labour. If you know exactly what should happen, where you should be and who should be there to support you, you may feel more relaxed about it all. The OB should not have been taking patients if she knew she was going on leave. Very poor form unless she has some unforeseen emergency...but it's not an insurmountable disaster. Take care ladies. I don't expect to have "my" OB there for the delivery but I do expect there to be an OB to be there for the actual delivery. In my home country, you would choose a doctor to see you for all your appointments but who delivered your baby just happened to be whoever was on call. That is perfectly acceptable to me. City did tell me not to worry that they have two on-call OB doctors so there will always be a doctor to be there for the actual delivery. Reception did give me a call and try to "reschedule" my last two appointments but their idea of rescheduling is actually just canceling those appointments. They said at this point they had not been advised who was going to be taking over Dr. A's patients.
230
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 23:34
Ladies, I just delivered at city with dr. A 2 weeks ago and dr. sadaf did the actual delivery and post delivery stitches. dr. A was next to her/me, helping and guiding dr. Sadaf. I'm not sure how she would do without Dr. A but she seemed pretty experienced and, if it's any consolation, all the nurses were exclaiming that Dr Sadaf should have been a plastic surgeon because of how well she was doing the stitches.
2340
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 07:51
What is City's policy on OB's attending the birth? In most hospitals, unless you have a planned induction or C-section, you're not guaranteed to have 'your' OB at the birth anyway. Why not talk to the hospital staff and find out exactly what you can expect once you're in labour. If you know exactly what should happen, where you should be and who should be there to support you, you may feel more relaxed about it all. The OB should not have been taking patients if she knew she was going on leave. Very poor form unless she has some unforeseen emergency...but it's not an insurmountable disaster. Take care ladies.
49
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 20:42
Elnino - I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I assume you're with Dr. A? After my last appointment there I wanted to double-check that all my future appointments were confirmed (happened twice before where someone had actually canceled an appointment without letting me know). This is when I found out my doctor will be on leave while I'm due. She never mentioned anything to me and I doubt anyone would have said anything except for the fact that I was checking those appointments. The reception told me that Dr. E would be taking over all Dr. A's patients but I find that so hard to believe because Dr. E is already so overbooked (she was my first choice but couldn't wait the 3 months to get an appointment with her). I'm really worried about all this nonsense, they keep telling me how understaffed they are... I'm thinking it may be in my best interest to see a doctor at a private clinic who still delivers at City. Kaba yes i am !! AND Yes we def are in the same boat ! Cause when i registered at City Hospital my first choice was dr E who i dint get cause she was so backed up ! And then i met Dr.A and liked her and decided to continue with her but now im really worried. Just like you the doctor dint inform me herself it was when they were booking me in for all the further appointments since im so near to my date now that the receptionist told me she wont be around !! Although when i asked them who would take care of the delivery if doc wsnt there they told me midwives would and there be on call doc . When i asked who the on call doc is they told me Dr.Sadaf. Now i ve gone to the emergency before and though i kept gettin medicines recommended by this dr sadaf . said person nevr came to meet me in person to make me feel at ease that the medicines they were pumping in to me were safe. So i wasnt very happy to hear this. Though on the other side when DR.E was on leave it was DR. A who handles all of DR.E patients. so i really dont know. The whole reason i came to city was cause i wanted the doc i was meetin to deliver my baby and now it just looks like i should have gone to Al Wasl . i dont know if i should shift to another doctor ath this nth minute !! edited by Kaba on 20/08/2011
365
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 15:45
Elnino - I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I assume you're with Dr. A? After my last appointment there I wanted to double-check that all my future appointments were confirmed (happened twice before where someone had actually canceled an appointment without letting me know). This is when I found out my doctor will be on leave while I'm due. She never mentioned anything to me and I doubt anyone would have said anything except for the fact that I was checking those appointments. The reception told me that Dr. E would be taking over all Dr. A's patients but I find that so hard to believe because Dr. E is already so overbooked (she was my first choice but couldn't wait the 3 months to get an appointment with her). I'm really worried about all this nonsense, they keep telling me how understaffed they are... I'm thinking it may be in my best interest to see a doctor at a private clinic who still delivers at City. <em>edited by Kaba on 20/08/2011</em>
 
 

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