Very disappointed with Dr in Al Wasl!

Ratio in AW was one to one for high risk babies; two babies per nurse for 'regular' NICU; four babies to one nurse in the satellite room where they move before discharge. (again, late 2009)

If you are insured and it covers NICU, I highly recommend City Hospital. There were never more than 2 babies to one NICU nurse and for that I was grateful (not sure what the ratio is at AW). I thought the level of care was fantastic!

Thanks Green-ish! I'll make an appointment to visit the Head of ANC as soon as possible and also request a tour. we are still a bit confused though, tell me, if I make it past 36 weeks, would you recommend I still go to Al Wasl? or should I go to Medcare with my previous Doctor? I was very happy with her! I know a lot of mums say Alwasl is better because of the NICU, but if I'm full term..won't any hospital do? How is the NICU at medcare any ideas?? I've already added myself to multiplied uae for support :) rumis...I'm not in Dubai anymore and I only have experience of NICU at Al Wasl so I'm not the best person to recommend one way or the other for you. I do know that my daughter, born Nov '09 at AW, was diagnosed very quickly with a potentially life threatening blood infection and the care she received in the AW NICU unit was faultless. Perhaps start your own thread asking for recent NICU experiences at the two hospitals?

rumis - if you are thinking a lot about NICU/concerned about this, then definitely register with Al Wasl and maybe consider going there. I cannot comment on the care or any of the doctors there as I've never been there (but there are lots of other comments on Al Wasl from others as I'm sure you've seen). The reason I am replying is to provide my experience of Medcare NICU which may help your decision. My baby was born in Medcare and went straight into the NICU and from memory they only had two beds (of course this may have changed since Oct 2009 and I wasn't really thinking straight at the time). The care was good but limited; my understanding from the doctor was that they are really there just to stablise the baby and anything more than that the baby would probably have to be transferred. After 2 days when he was stable enough, my baby was transferred to Welcare (NICU facilities were excellent). The NICU doctor at Medcare's preference was Al Wasl but unfortunately there was no room there (and I wasn't registered with them as I had a smooth pregnancy and hadn't thought it necessary as what happened to my baby was totally unpredicted) which was unfortunate as Al Wasl NICU is widely considered to be the best place for babies that need special care. So if NICU facilities are a major concern, this is why I recommend that you perhaps consider Al Wasl?? This time round I am paranoid, therefore one main criteria for choosing a hospital was the NICU faciltities which first time round I never gave a second thought - naively I assumed all hospitals had the same NICU facilities. As I said though, this was Oct 2009, so the NICU facilities at Medcare may have changed since then and I haven't been back there as I am with the American Hospital for this pregnancy. Ask at Medcare to see the NICU and ask them about the level of care offered and what facilities they have (especially for twins) to put your mind at rest. For example at Welcare, their NICU is considered quite a high level and had around 16 beds. Again, this may have changed since I was there. Hope that helps.

Thanks Green-ish! I'll make an appointment to visit the Head of ANC as soon as possible and also request a tour. we are still a bit confused though, tell me, if I make it past 36 weeks, would you recommend I still go to Al Wasl? or should I go to Medcare with my previous Doctor? I was very happy with her! I know a lot of mums say Alwasl is better because of the NICU, but if I'm full term..won't any hospital do? How is the NICU at medcare any ideas?? I've already added myself to multiplied uae for support :)

OK now i'm nervous. I was seeing a doctor at medicentre but she told me to register at AlWasl and preferably have the delivery there too (twins) as I had started bleeding around week 12. I am 24 weeks now and seeing Dr. Maria (Absolutely love her). Have you guys had your delivery already? i'mm due in August. I wanted to know what to expect when I go there..what to pack with me, what questions to keep in mind...will my husband be able to stay with me all night if I were in a private room?? I won't be able to handle twins on my own!! Congratulations on your pregnancy rumis! :) From all of the women I have talked to (MANY!) AW is brilliant for high risk pregnancies and special cases like twins. I suspect I got less favourable treatment because I was palmed off to inexperienced OB's due to my relatively 'normal', healthy pregnancy. Pack comfortable PJ's and clothes for yourself and growsuits/onesies for the babies. Maternity pads for you, nappies for babies. If you have a preferred baby bathwash, take that as they use all Johnoson's products at the hospital. (I cannot speak highly enough of Mustela milky bath oil). Between now and delivery, write down any questions and birth/aftercare preferences you think of. Make sure your husband knows where this list is and understands it so he can speak for you if needed. I strongly suggest making an appointment with the Head of Antenatal care as soon as you can and talk to her about the current policy on booking private rooms, rules for husbands during delivery etc. These 'rules' change all the time and are applied in interesting, random ways. If you know what you're entitled too, you and your husband know what to expect. It's also handy to be able to call on the head of ANC once you're in there if you need her. :) Your husband can be with you only in certain stages of delivery so also check that with the head of ANC. Unless things have changed, he cannot stay overnight even in a private room but you will not be alone. The nursing staff on the wards are amazing!!! ...and you very soon will be able to look after twins on your own...lots of twin mummies do. ;) There are a few support groups around for mummies of twins and more so maybe find one that suits you and start meeting other twin mums before your precious babies are born? Best wishes to you. :D

OK now i'm nervous. I was seeing a doctor at medicentre but she told me to register at AlWasl and preferably have the delivery there too (twins) as I had started bleeding around week 12. I am 24 weeks now and seeing Dr. Maria (Absolutely love her). Have you guys had your delivery already? i'mm due in August. I wanted to know what to expect when I go there..what to pack with me, what questions to keep in mind...will my husband be able to stay with me all night if I were in a private room?? I won't be able to handle twins on my own!!

Oh, Curly, I hope I haven't freaked you out! ah no Green-ish, you haven't freaked me out (not so much, lol) but I am nervous about it all. I suppose the fact I am going to a different hospital this time I feel like I'm doing it for the first time. I am also quite nervous about my DH not being with me whenever I need him (although I know he'll be with me for the delivery). I have always heard that the medical care at Al Wasl is second to none so I knew I could forego the "frills" a private hospital has on offer - that part doesn't bother me. It does bother me though if the doctors don't treat me right. I have been seeing Dr Maria at Nad al Sheba for all my ante natal and she is so lovely. I might just mention to her about what I've heard here re attitudes etc. Also I will ask to meet with the head of ANC, thanks for that tip. Green-ish, I'm so happy to hear your birth experience was amazing, that itself has helped me calm down about it all. I hope I have the same type of experience. Zoeesta, I don't know what to say to you about changing hospitals at this stage. Once our insurance came through my DH asked if I wanted to change hospitals but at 33 wks I honestly couldn't be bothered with the hassle of it all, even though I know we'll probably end up paying upfront and claiming back too (not ideal at all). Up to this point I was quite happy to stick with Al Wasl but now I'm a bit nervous as I said. I think I'll just stick with it and hope for the best. Let me know what you decide and how you get on. thank you both for your replies and sorry for jumping on your thread Zoeesta CUrly edited by CurlyOB on 25/04/2011 <em>edited by CurlyOB on 25/04/2011</em>

Oh, Curly, I hope I haven't freaked you out! I chose AW at the time because I had an opportunity to meet the head of ante natal care and I loved everything she had to say about the hospital and their policies on birth and the mother's wishes etc. Their push for Baby Friendly status including breastfeeding support and no nursery really appealed to me. I loved the calm and quiet of the place. Long story short, some of the OB's I met were completely unable to deal with someone who had her own mind and understood the whole process of pregnancy and birth. They seemed to expect their 'patients' to just be good little girls and do as they are told. One shouted at me (publicly) because I had a bit of a cough and I had therefor put all of the other pregnant women at risk of swine flu. FFS! One booked me in for a C-sect because I had had ONE high-ish BP reading weeks earlier. In the end, I had an amazing birth supported by a really lovely nurse. She had read my birth plan and she just let me get on with it...I knew she was there if I needed anything and it was clear she was keeping a close eye on how things were going, but she respected my wishes and didn't intervene at all. Don't be afraid to tell them what you want, or don't want. Don't be afraid to insist on seeing someone else if you are not happy. I don't know who the current head of ANC is, but it might be worth asking to meet her so you've got a friendly face there should you need it. Best wishes for a beautiful birth Curly. xx

Zoeesta, I am so sorry that you went through this awful ordeal and I hope you are feeling better and making a complaint also helps to make you feel better. Can you tell me the doctor's name? I am due to give birth at Al Wasl in 7 wks and reading this has freaked me out to be honest. Green-ish, you mention the attitude of some of the doctors ... can you elaborate? Forewarned is forearmed and all that? Curly

It's almost 18 months now since my little girl was born at Al Wasl and I'm disheartened to hear that the attitude of some of the doctors there has not changed, depsite their promises. I'm so very sorry you had this awful experience. Please do make that written complaint. Perhaps contact the hospital and ask for the details of the current Head of Ante-Natal Care and deliver it in person to her.

Wonder if this is the same one I had 4 years ago, I went in at 26 weeks! Had a very similar experience which is not nice good or helpfull had my baby been that premmmie as there are limited opitions at that stage, I got told there is no room for you we are FULL, similar internal experience not nice!!! oh and I was registered there pus turned up as an emergency had to wait in waiting room for a very long time, dh not allowed, totally freaking out!! I feel your pain. At 37 weeks you should be fine and could go to the hospital where you are planning to give birth, its only b4 34weeks they won't take you, they might even be able to page your doc? hope you feel better Its a horrible experience.

What an awful thing to have to go through when you're already stressed to the max and probably shattered to boot :(. I hope that nasty cow got home and her dinner was cold or in the dog. But just to put your mind at ease a little (if possible!), my son was born at 37 weeks and my doctor said this is considered full-term, so please don't worry that you're going into labour 'prematurely'. You've done a great job baking baby this long and if he or she decides now's the time, then time's up! Hopefully your complaint will land on the right desk and something will be done about that awful doctor. In the meantime, put your feet up and relax. You'll need all your energy soon ;) xx

You poor thing - I hope that your formal complaint results in some action taken against this Dr to ensure no one else has to go through that trauma themselves. I realise this is of no help to you - but at least you can hope that you've made it an easier experience for other mum's in the same predicament.

indeed - it's very unprofessional for her to take her own anger and frustration out on you. For the record though, internal exams don't have to be "uncomfortable" at all - if they're done by what I'd consider a normal, professional person who cares about their patient! Definitely make a formal complaint. She should be given a warning.

feeling very sorry for you dear.... big hugs to u and hope shower did some good to u :) do file a complaint and thnks for shring ur experience here as we should know how the doctors treat their patients. hope you are not in pain now.

Zoeesta, I am so sorry to hear you had to go through that! As if it's not daunting enough being a first time Mum to be, you really shouldn't have had to go through that. Whether you are non-local or not, no one should be treated like that at any hospital. I would definately send a letter of complaint. Hard as it may be, try and put the incident out of your mind and focus on the rest of your pregnancy. You're so close and don't need the added stress of thinking about it. Big hugs and I hope the delivery goes well for you xx

I am so sorry for this experience! What an awful "doctor"...I mean really, i guess she forgot what it means to be a doctor. I would file a formal complaint also and even see if you can take it further than that. She should not be allowed to practice!