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ewmoda

UK or Dubai Birth??

42

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 13:53

Hi,

I'm new to this site so apologies if this has been asked before.

My husband and I are about to start trying for our first baby but unsure whether to have the actual birth here in Dubai or whether to fly back to the UK for it. I've heard a few horror stories about births in Dubai so not sure about it. Also not sure how it works in the UK as I would just being going back for the birth so how does that work with doctors/midwives and the hospital and stuff? I've lived here for a few years now so not been paying national insurance back home for a while.

Really excited about things but we don't want to discuss with anyone else yet so I have no one to ask. Have started taking folic acid and omega supplements, is there anything else anyone else recommends?

Thanks

xx

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8965

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 01 May 2013 - 16:08

My friend has been out of the UK for 11 years and had her baby in the Uk no questions asked They only asked what her NI number was. They do not have the capability to check if you are a resident

584

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 01 May 2013 - 15:55

Hi cosmogirl Just curious what did you decide in the end. Like you am going through the same and planning baby # 2. I too, feel lot more comfortable at home (UK) and Im little worried at the same time, I'm also high risk my first pregnancy with DD was tough and worrying, I had pre eclampsia which I had emergency c section at 35 weeks ...

champagneblonde50828

252

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 23:27

I recently went back to the UK over the summer & had my baby on the NHS, no questions asked. But I am still a UK taxpayer & maintain a residence there, as well as my doctors registration. I had my prenatal care here at City Hospital with Dr Britt & really loved her, I would have happily delivered with her. But I was much more comfortable to go back to the same hospital in London to deliver my 2nd as my 1st, it was familiarity. And I had a difficult pregnancy & birth & the NHS did such a marvellous job that would have cost a fortune here! The trickiest bit was getting DS's passport before our scheduled flights. There was a real backlog, so my husband had to do a dash up to Peterborough to get it through in time & pay extra, we only got it 2 days before flying, phew... HTH

42

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 November 2012 - 09:09

Thanks for all the replies. I've had a little look on the nhs website and it seems like what was mentioned below applies.....can give birth for free on nhs if I've been out the country for less than 5 years and lived there for 10 years consecutive to that. I'm going back to the uk at Christmas so will make an appointment with my GP then and see what the situation is. I'm not even pregnant yet so i may feel differently if and when (fingers crossed) i fall pregnant. Will have another look at all the vitamins, theres so many!!

Dubai_City_Chick

336

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 November 2012 - 10:09

As already mentioned you are not a UK resident, therefore you are not entitled to give birth for free on the NHS. If you went back to UK you would likely be treated as a private patient and pay upto 8k for antenatal appointments, scans and delivery. I have no idea how ready to pop women rock up to their local hospital in UK and get it all done for free but I personally would not recommend it and I've told they're now cracking down hard on expats. My friend learnt this the hard way. With regards to vitamins, I took Pregnacare in the beginning. Around 12 weeks I added Nordic DHA and Vitabiotics Osteocare into the mix.

2937

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 November 2012 - 13:58

I had to go home last summer for a family emergency and I was pregnant with DD so I needed antenatal care. I registered temporarily with the GP clinic there and they were very clear from the start I'd have to pay for my care. I was given a load of leaflets about who's entitled to free NHS care and they said it's entirely based on residency, so if you don't live there you're not entitled. I know some people think if you pay NI contributions you can use the NHS, but the staff at the clinic said it has nothing to do with this. I think I paid about GBP500 in total for three months of appointments with the midwife and a couple of consultant visits because I was high risk. If I'd had to deliver there, my C-section would have been around GBP7000. A friend of mine who lives in Qatar went home to have her baby - same local authority - and ended up having an emergency section, and before she left the hospital they gave her a bill for GP7500. She's still battling with her insurance company to get them to pay it as she's meant to be covered for emergencies in the UK. I guess if you're still registered with your local clinic and don't have to register temporarily you might be OK, but I should imagine they'll wonder why you're rocking up at 36 weeks pregnant with your medical notes from Dubai! I had both my children at City with Dr Elsa and can't speak highly enough of her. My sister, on the other hand, had all three of her children at a hospital in Bristol and had two nightmare deliveries resulting in her needing a section for her third. I know where I'd rather be!

28

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 November 2012 - 10:53

Hi I was in a similar position as you regarding staying here going back to UK. From what I was told if you have been non resident for less than 5 yrs and lived in UK for 10 consecutive years you are covered. We decided to stay in Dubai for birth, having twins, so would have needed to go back much earlier with a 2 yr old in tow. The whole process here was v alien to me but now getting a handle on it all. We're at city with Dr Ibrahim and been happy so far. I also see my own doc for Reg antenatal check ups. Def check your insurance to find out which hospitals they cover and take from there as you'll need care before going back anyway. Best of luck with it all!

mk-in-dubai36686

323

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 10:24

I had a great experience at City Hospital. I agree you should find a ob- gynae ASAP (search this site for recommendations). Take a prenatal vitamin but remember to eat first, they can make you feel nauseous on an empty stomach.

54

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 00:51

Cosmogirl, First of all, please narrow down on the hospital/clinic in Dubai that you would like to deliver and start seeing a recommended doctor there. In case you decide to give birth in Dubai, this should streamline the process of you. Most doctors in hospitals are very busy and it will be a while before you get an appointment with them. Also, some won't take in a new patient after you have finished 28 weeks. You just don't want to take that chance. You can start seeing the doctor while you make up your mind on delivering in Dubai or UK. Folic acid and Omega Supplements are great. See if your Omega supps contain DHA, else switch to prenatal DHA supplements. Please include prenatal multivitamins as well. I used Pregnacare; had a good combination of vitamins+folic acid. Once you are around 20 weeks, the doctor might put you on Calcium and iron supplements as well. Goodluck!

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 23:25

Thanks for the replies. Yes I am still registered with a GP in the UK and I have been to see them when I've been back home a few times, ironically it's usually been for my pill lol!! I just have a bigger support network at home and feel like I'd be a bit more confident in a British hospital. Would really want my mum, dad and siblings around. Was thinking I could fly back as late as I'm allowed to fly then husband flies back near my due date and fingers crossed that works out. I do realise that could be difficult though. Yeah both my husband and I were born in the UK, hadn't started thinking about the grand kids yet lol!! How do I go about finding an OB here? I've been to Dubai Mall Medical Practice a few times as I live near by, I'm guessing they have there? Has anyone else been there? Feel so clueless about all this. technically though as a non uk resident even if you are registered with a gp etc you really should be paying, of course, if they dont ask... but you just dont know what they will do. it does depend on how long you have been out of uk ie a year etc.

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 23:24

posters below are correct, although plenty of mothers do it you aren't entitled to deliver on the NHS for nothing, you would not be able to just rock up and deliver at a hospital, are you still registered at a UK GP practice? you'd also need to consider how much time before your due date you can fly back... would your husband be able to be with you or would you be alone for weeks before the birth.. how would you insure that he was there for the birth considering you could deliver at full term anytime between 38-42 weeks? there are scores of women on this board that have had safe, happy births here in Dubai, I'm sure if you check out the boards on Mumsnet you'll find a fair few horror stories about births in the UK! there are plenty of OBs here that have practiced for years in the UK so will give you a 'British' experience. one thing to think about though is the passport issue, presuming you were born in the UK your baby will be entitled to a British passport whether born here or back in the UK, although as I understand it, if the baby is born here and then also has children born outside of the UK they (your grandchildren) will not necessarily be entitled to a British passport.... I'm sure someone can correct me if I've got that wrong! yes the passport thing is right, but if you are british, your parents are british your grandparents are british then they will have to give you a passport just that i think you have to do the red tape and its not automatic etc.

mogindubai52347

106

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 21:53

if you've got medical insurance, check the terms of your policy and find out if you're covered for maternity and delivery then find out which hospital/clinic you're covered at... then find an OB and ask for opinions!

42

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 21:20

Thanks for the replies. Yes I am still registered with a GP in the UK and I have been to see them when I've been back home a few times, ironically it's usually been for my pill lol!! I just have a bigger support network at home and feel like I'd be a bit more confident in a British hospital. Would really want my mum, dad and siblings around. Was thinking I could fly back as late as I'm allowed to fly then husband flies back near my due date and fingers crossed that works out. I do realise that could be difficult though. Yeah both my husband and I were born in the UK, hadn't started thinking about the grand kids yet lol!! How do I go about finding an OB here? I've been to Dubai Mall Medical Practice a few times as I live near by, I'm guessing they have there? Has anyone else been there? Feel so clueless about all this.

mogindubai52347

106

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 20:53

posters below are correct, although plenty of mothers do it you aren't entitled to deliver on the NHS for nothing, you would not be able to just rock up and deliver at a hospital, are you still registered at a UK GP practice? you'd also need to consider how much time before your due date you can fly back... would your husband be able to be with you or would you be alone for weeks before the birth.. how would you insure that he was there for the birth considering you could deliver at full term anytime between 38-42 weeks? there are scores of women on this board that have had safe, happy births here in Dubai, I'm sure if you check out the boards on Mumsnet you'll find a fair few horror stories about births in the UK! there are plenty of OBs here that have practiced for years in the UK so will give you a 'British' experience. one thing to think about though is the passport issue, presuming you were born in the UK your baby will be entitled to a British passport whether born here or back in the UK, although as I understand it, if the baby is born here and then also has children born outside of the UK they (your grandchildren) will not necessarily be entitled to a British passport.... I'm sure someone can correct me if I've got that wrong!

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 16:54

Hi, I'm new to this site so apologies if this has been asked before. My husband and I are about to start trying for our first baby but unsure whether to have the actual birth here in Dubai or whether to fly back to the UK for it. I've heard a few horror stories about births in Dubai so not sure about it. Also not sure how it works in the UK as I would just being going back for the birth so how does that work with doctors/midwives and the hospital and stuff? I've lived here for a few years now so not been paying national insurance back home for a while. Really excited about things but we don't want to discuss with anyone else yet so I have no one to ask. Have started taking folic acid and omega supplements, is there anything else anyone else recommends? Thanks xx yes as a non uk resident you are not entitled to free nhs treatment only in an emergency which this would not be. some hospitals do not charge, but they are now stepping up on this sort of thing so you just dont know.

84

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 15:12

You are not a UK resident, therefor you are not entitled to give birth for free on the NHS. You could however, pay and go privately through the NHS or just have your baby in the UAE.

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