Natashak

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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 20:52

Live-in .... 6 days a week with Friday off. Ticket home once a year and maybe some public holidays off. Hours I don't usually define but basically she would be awake before us which is 7ish and usually work until after dinner which will be say 8pm. My other housemaids have had a lot of free time during the day as I don't require so much doing which is why I am now looking to roll maid and nanny into one so she is busy and not sitting about twiddling her thumbs!

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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 20:42

She is Sri Lankan 49 and name starts with R .... Anyone know who I'm talking about? I've done a trial for the last 2 days and it seems she is not going to be a 'nanny' and I actually don't want anyone taking over my role of looking after LO ..... I think I was searching for a nanny so if I need to leave LO with her then I'd have confidence to do so because the helper would be experienced. I actually think she will be a maid/nanny and she will do maids duties whilst I'm with LO and for maybe the hour or so every day that I would like to go to the gym or have some 'me' time then she would step in as 'nanny' and play with LO. I don't "need" her to drive me around but it is an added skill and she likes driving so I'd use her for that ... Eg. Go get groceries, drive me wherever I need to go when I'm with LO so I can be in the back and so on. So she would be a maid/driver first but look after LO whenever required. The cooking part is not required of her but she enjoys to cook so again if she likes it and she has time then of course i'd allow her to help me with meals and teach her a few recipes. I wanted to know if 3500 dhs was crazy high or is it in the realm of what she should be getting?

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 16:25

Well, I thought it might be a bit of teething discomfort so I have been allowing her to chew on my thumb which she seems to prefer over any teething toys ... and I have felt her gums but Im not feeling anything yet. She is very curious about everything so this morning when I was eating my banana and I offered it to her she grasped it and put it towards her mouth and started sucking it but when a bit came off she wasnt able to swallow it ... I love the thought of slowly getting her used to food and allowing her to take what she wants and do things at her own pace .... sounds great!! Obviously I am sure it'll be very different in practise but I will definitely go down this route rather than blending everything and trying to force feed her. I plan to continue BF'ing as main source of nutrition and at the same time start getting her used to seeing us eating foods etc. Any tips on highchairs?? Any that you ladies recommend? I havent been EBF'ing - she gets a bottle of formula at night and sometimes she drinks 6 oz and sometimes only 2oz but her poop has definitely changed already from seedy to smooth which might be the formula and I find her poop very offensive already !!!!!! I cannot imagine what it will be like when she starts solids .... All the info which you have all written has really helped and Ive decided not to give cereal etc and just now and again offer her a little piece of something - potatoe, avocado, carrot etc and just see when she seems interested and ready!! The trust thing and letting them be in control really makes sense and we are major foodies so I would LOVE to have a LO who enjoys foods and exploring different things ... She enjoyed the banana this morning though :)

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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 23:22

Thank you for all the replies ..... definitely given me something to think about. Part of me wants to offer a tiny bit of something (I have bought Organix wholegrain cereal) just to see if she is ready but then another part of me feels that BM has everything she needs for now and whilst my supply seems OK and I can manage feeding her on demand whenever she wants then I should continue with that as she is generally happy and content. The past few days she has been a bit grumpy and whiney and chewing on her hands ALOT and chewing on anything she can get her hands on and waking more often for feedings so that makes me think she might be hungry .... Hmmmm ..... Let's see!! And I wanted to try baby led weaning and let her take the food herself which obviously means waiting a little longr so she can chew/swallow an actual solid. How do babies eat little cubes of food without teeth??? Thanks again xxx

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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 17:53

Thanks ladies ... Ive read both of your information .... very helpful to know both sides ! Can I ask ..... so at the start I am supposed to continue bf'ing all the time as I am doing now and then just once a day I offer a very small amount ... say 1 teaspoon of mashed banana or pureed avocado etc? And the same for the next few days. Basically, the small amount of solid that I offer should not replace any BM at the start should it? It should just be an addition if they will take it? So at say 2pm I will fully BF her and then offer a tiny amount of some solid? And how/when do you start increasing he actual amount of solid per day? Where does everyone get all their information from? I am a total internet researcher but I havent found any specific guidelines for quantities and schedule for BM and solids ..... Am I totally dense and missing something or do you all just go with what you feel is right?

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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 16:28

Any advice or experiences on what you think is the best way to start .... and when? LO is coming up to 4 months now and I feel she is ALWAYS hungry and ready to eat. She is absolutely content and happy but any time I offer the b**b she takes it and will keep going until it is 'empty'. And for her last feed she emtpies the b**b and finishes between 4oz - 6oz of formula. Would it be bad to start trying 1 teaspoon or something a day from 4 months? Thanks xxx

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 10:24

Hi - I wanted to post a similar thread so thought I'd jump in onto this one (sorry!) .... My DD is now 3.5 months old and for the last 6 weeks we've been in the US. She was quite an unsettled sleeper before we left but whilst in the US she fell into a wonderful routine of 7.30pm bedtime routine and she'd go to sleep between 8pm-9pm and then sleep through until around 5am (around 8hrs without waking) have a quick feed and then sleep again until 7am. I was absolutely delighted with her schedule. Now we are back here (9 hrs time difference) and she naps whenever she wants which is fine as she always did and I am trying to put her to sleep at Midnight to start with and slowly bring it earlier and earlier. The last few nights she has gone down at Midnight and been happy to sleep until Midday but wakes up literally every 2-3 hours and probably doesnt settle properly until around 5am when she goes longer stretches (but not 8 hrs straight like before). Obviously she wants to sleep until the afternoon so should I let her sleep as long as she wants or wake her up? And what time should I wake her up? I woke her up yesterday at 12pm and it didnt make any difference so do I need to wake her much earlier so she gets very tired and falls into her 'night' sleep before 5am? Oh and also, in USA, I got her sleeping in her crib in her own room and she would self-soothe herself in the night when she'd wake but here it seems she only settles properly if she is in the bed right next to me and has the b**b for comfort???? It is almost like I am back to when she was 1 week old ??!! Have I completely ruined her routine by the travel or will she fall back into a routine herself? Any advice please.

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Latest post on 22 November 2011 - 16:50

Hi Ladies .... Thanks for all your replies. Actually LO is much better now it seems ... She still doesn't sleep at set times and when I put her down at 8pm she wakes up whenever she wants but basically when my husband and I go to sleep then so does she so that works for us at the moment. I truly believe she doesnt like being upstairs alone when we are downstairs so at the moment I keep her with me until we go up to sleep. Probably a bad habit but keeps her happy and we all get good sleep for now. Also I wanted to share something with you all which I believe really helps digestion and gas/wind in babies (and is also good for new mums and lactation etc) which is a homemade 'gripe' water type remedy which I was drinking for the first 4 weeks postpartum and I stopped drinking it when I came back to Dubai which I think caused the slight discomfort that my LO was feeling. It is basically an Indian recipe: 1 teaspoon of carom seeds (ajwain) 1 teaspoon of fenugreek 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds 1 teaspoon of cumin Boil this in 1 litre of water and let all the seeds soak, strain the seeds and drink the flavoured water (not the seeds). I have started drinking the water again and I honestly feel my LO is straining less and passing gas much more easily. It might all be coincidental but no harm!! <em>edited by Natashak on 22/11/2011</em>

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Latest post on 17 November 2011 - 12:28

Dubaicat - I was having the exact same thing. My 7 week old DD follows the EASY routine from morning all through until when I put her down for her sleep at 8pm .... All day she eats, plays and sleeps with no problem but come 9pm she wakes up from her sleep and will not go back down. We tried everything! Last night I had a slight break through - usually she feeds, plays, has bath time and then I walk her to sleep and then put her down and when she wakes up at 9pm I assume she needs help trying to go back to sleep so I rock her, walk her, and i thought maybe she wants to be awake so i played with her and so on but even though she dozes she won't sleep in her crib. Anyway last night I picked her straight up and fed her again and she was half feeding and half using me as a dummy for comfort and after about 30 mins she fell asleep on me and I didn't move her and she slept through until 4am. I tried to give her a dream feed at 11.30 pm just before I put her down and I went to bed but she wasnt very interested. Maybe your LO wants some comfort and tk be close to you during those hours? Im not sure how old your LO is but mine is 7 weeks and I think it's OK to give them whatever comfort they need to help them be calm and feel secure but I'm not very experienced so I might be totally wrong and creating a bad habit! Anyway let's see what happens tongigh .... :\:

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Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 11:14

I can't offer any advice unfortunately but I have a similar problem ..... My DD goes down at 8pm after bath and feed and then like clockwork wakes up at 9pm and then will not settle for the night until 12-1am. She spends those hours fussing, playing, smiling, feeding, crying, yelling .... And she will doze off a couple of times if I'm holding her or taking her for a walk but as soon as I try to put her in her crib she wakes up within 5 minutes. From 1am she sleeps until around 9am - she was waking only once in-between that period at about 5am but over the past few days she has been wakes twice usually around 4am and 7am .... And it seems she has trapped gas as she is struggling and kicking and then finally let's out a few farts. Then I'll feed her and she goes back to sleep! I understand the wakings in the night whether its hunger or gas or whatever but why on earth does she wake at 9pm and refuse to sleep until 1am?! Any thoughts?

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Latest post on 14 November 2011 - 12:24

Hi Kiwiwhispers - thanks so much for your responses .... you always offer great advice. And thanks to you all for replying .... always great to hear reassurance and suggestions from more experienced mothers. I was wondering if you could help me further ... Currently I let LO eat when she wants and sleep when she wants as I believe she is still too young to be trained or forced into anything. She generally sleeps very well and eats every 3-4 hours. As I said below, at night sometimes she goes upto 5 hrs without waking or feeding. When she finally gets to sleep for her proper night time sleep she is great but because that usually ends up being around 1am - her and I both end up sleeping until around 9-10am. She will then usually take her first nap at around 11-12ish which lasts about 1.5 hrs and her next nap is usually around 3pm. Yesterday her 3pm 'nap' lasted 4 hours but I left her to sleep as she had the BCG vaccination in the morning. Usually her 3pm nap lasts anywhere between 2-3 hrs. Then at around 7pm I start bathtime and play/sing and feed her and try to put her to sleep by 8-9pm. She usually falls asleep everytime but wakes after about 30 mins - 1 hour and then she is WIDE AWAKE fussing, crying with the occasional doze until say 1am. Usually DH and I end up going to sleep quite late at around Midnight-ish so I feel like subconsciously she won't go to sleep any earlier than us and wants to wait until we are all in the bedroom together ready for our 'night' sleep. Does that sound reasonable? But as you said Kiwiwhispers, by that point she is so overtired that it takes a bit of time and effort to get her to sleep. Should I wake her up earlier in the mornings and give her less sleep and then bring everything forward and see if her last nap ends earlier than maybe she will be tired enough to sleep properly by say 8-9pm? Or should I go to sleep earlier with her? Or just let her carry on until she figures it all out herself? Last night she was fed at Midnight when my husband and I went to sleep and she fell asleep immediately .... I am more than happy for her to feed/eat when she wants but I just feel bad that she spends those few hours in the evening/night upset so if I can do anything to help then Id like to try. Thanks and sorry for the rambling long post!

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Latest post on 13 November 2011 - 23:50

Im now starting to think she might be colicky .... She is great all day ... Sleeps, eats, plays (briefly) and continues in that cycle until about 9pm when she is WIDE awake and then come about 11pm she starts fussing and crying and we do all the usual things such as hairdryer, going for a walk, cuddling her, playing, trying to nurse her to sleep and she may doze off temporarily but she will not settle until around 1am and then she has 2 stretches of sleep usually of about 3-5 hrs each. I try to bring her sleep time earlier to 12am, 11pm ... but nothing will get her to sleep until it is 1am! She also has a very LOW attention span ... is it normal that literally after 10 minutes of playing she gets bored and starts crying. Generally she is fine if I am walking around with her or she is in her swing or basically moving. But if I put her on the play gym she cries after 10 minutes?! Any advice would be great.

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Latest post on 11 November 2011 - 14:21

Hello Ladies, My LO is a very content, happy baby (thankfully!) but sometimes when she needs to pass gas or poop she strains and struggles and kicks about and sometimes even cries biefly but she isnt constipated at all and probably poops about 5 times a day ... normal BF poos. I gave her Woodwards Gripe Water twice yesterday just to see if it would help her pass gas and poop more easily without any discomfort but it actually caused her to wake up twice in the night again, struggling and grunting and kicking and she did about 10 farts each time which is much more than normal. I have heard that it is normal for young babies to have some discomfort or difficulty when pooping and farting because they are getting used to their bodies so should I just leave her to work it out for herself or do you think the Gripe Water is helping by getting out more gas and wind? But it was not easier or more relaxing for her to pass gas and she did the same kicking and straining but more after the Gripe Water as there was more gas to pass?! Does this make sense? I just want to make sure I am not causing her more discomfort by trying to solve something that isnt really a problem as my friend uses Gripe Water for her colicky baby who cries a lot and seems to be unconsolable and in pain whereas my LO just seems to struggle when she needs to pass gas. She also hiccups maybe 2-3 times a day and spits up a couple of times a day which I thought might all be trapped wind and gas related. Any advice would be great? Thanks, Natasha

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Latest post on 10 November 2011 - 17:32

Can someone advise what is required to get the health card for a baby? Does she need a residency visa? Thanks

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 16:36

CONGRATULATIONS ELINO .......... Wonderful news!!!! How was the labour and delivery? I am STILL waiting and getting very very bored now. My bags have been packed for over a week and I feel it's never going to happen. I have been walking A LOT and eating pineapples but nothing has worked. I have an appointment tomorrow with my midwife as I am having the baby in UK so let's see if they can do anything to hurry it along. xx

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 17:59

Hello September Ladies ......... How are we all? Everyone seems to have gone quiet. Any babies popped out yet? I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ready to meet our little one and am trying everything to get the baby to want to come out. No such luck yet!! Hope you're all doing great and would love to hear as and when the babies arrive xxxxx

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Latest post on 30 July 2011 - 20:01

Hey September Ladies - How are you all feeling? No long to go now ... Have your babies turned to head down yet and when have you been told it should happen by?

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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 22:27

Does anyone live in a Garden Home on the Palm? My bills were around 300 per monnth inc housing fee which I was shocked at but last months bill was 5500 dhs!!!! I havent changed anything so dont understand why the sudden rise. Anyone else got anything I can compare to? PS. It is just my husband and I and the housemaid and we are rarely here so not like we have 5 ppl filling bath tubs every night or all the lights on in every room etc. I feel utterly disgusted by the DEWA bills and was told 2000 dhs was average for a Garden Home

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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 20:24

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much for your replies ladies ......... this is exactly the type of answers and info I was looking for. Shaf - thanks for the book recommendation - I will definitely go buy it and read up on the roaring like a lion technique ;) Hello Again Kitty - I have looked into hypnobirthing and think it is something I will look into when I return back to the UK. I think I realise that no matter what preparation you do ....... if you have a low tolerance for pain then you're going to need an epidural unless you can mentally train your mind to believe that it is not pain but some other process taking place. Well I'll certainly keep you all posted ... I still have 3 months to go so I'll try to prepare as best to possible. And please keep your stories coming ...... there is nothing more helpful than actual first hand experiences and advice rather than some generic information. Thanks again xxxxxxxxxxxxx <em>edited by Natashak on 29/06/2011</em>

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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 19:16

Cleo4e - That's exactly what I am thinking!! Because of all the reading I have done I now have the belief that squatting and walking and rotating the pelvis and breathing and showers etc etc etc is all it takes to make childbirth an easier process ..... and I am trying to understand the reality as to whether it all helps but does not diminish the pain or are these the techniques that women use to get through without an epidural. I absolutely have an open mind and am ready for anything and definitely preparing for the worst .... I am planning a Water Birth in my local hospital in UK but that is because after watching water birth videos I now also believe that the water actually gives some meaningful pain relief and again I am confused as to whether that is true or whether it just relaxes you. Soooo confused!!! :\:

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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 17:53

Just to let you know I had to do the same thing at City Hospital a couple of wkd ago

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Latest post on 26 June 2011 - 18:46

Just want to give my feedback after a few visits with Dr Aziz .... I am not particularly happy or comfortable with her. She seems 'nice' enough but a bit vague and not so professional. Today, I went to see her thinking I might have an infection (28 weeks pregnant) as I had some pain down below (sorry TMI) but my urine came back as normal from the stick test but said she would send the urine off to labs for culture which is more specific and she said in the mean time she will give me antibiotics and to take them and if the results came back negative then I should stop. So I asker her why she was giving me antibiotics when so far everything seems normal and she hasnt found any infection and she just said that there wasnt any major risk so I might as well take them because I might have cystisis...... Not very happy about that ..... who prescribes and tells pregnant women to take medication that they may not need???!!! I also asked her to do a swab test (and I hate any internal checks/tests) and she wasnt very gentle and just shoved the clamp thing in and when she could see it hurt she just carried on!! Not very pleasant and not happy with her at all ......... Just my opinion but thought Id share it with any girls seeing her for the first time/s and unsure.

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Latest post on 24 June 2011 - 17:08

I bought a beautiful crib and changing station from Pottery Barn just last week and Im waiting for the sale next week to go get the bedding and few accessories. Im heading out to the US at the end of next week so will be buying all my eletrical things like the baby monitor and breast pump from out there and then Im stopping on the way back in the UK to have the baby so the nursery here had to be sorted early. The car seat and stroller I'll get from either US or UK ..... basically Im buying as little from Dubai as possible because it's so expensive and the choices are limited. The hospital bag I have no idea about .... I will start looking for some comfy nighties but Im a bit unsure about what you're supposed to wear when you're actually in active labour .... some of my friends said they were so hot that they stripped off naked but I am really not comfy with that !! How is everyone feeling about labour? Is anyone else absolutely freaking out about the thought of pushing a baby out? I havent quite come to peace with the whole process and am terrified of it all ...........:\::\:

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Latest post on 24 June 2011 - 11:13

Hi all - does anyone fancy meeting up for a coffee (decaf of course!!) next week? I'd love to meet some girls going through the same thing at the same time. I'm 28 yes old and from UK and will be going back to give birth but thought I could meet some ladies before I go? I'm in Palm Jumeirah so anywhere is quite convenient.

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Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 19:33

Hi All - the september mums-to-be seem to be on the quiet side so thought Id bump this up and see how you're all doing? Im due September 23rd and am now in my 27th week (I think) and so far the pregnancy has been great. Started to feel like a beached whale and the heat is REALLY getting to me .... I cant go for a swim or walk without breaking out into a horrific sweat!! Ive put on 9 kg's - around 20 lbs which I believe is CRAZY high so Im getting a bit concerned about that. How are you all doing on weight gain? Im also starting to research labour and birth positions as it is my first and Im getting very nervous about the whole labour thing. Ive decided to go back to the UK to have the baby so Im leaving in a couple of weeks for the US to escape the heat and then stopping in UK to have the baby so hopefully all the travels will make the third trimester fly by. Lots of love to you all and hope you're surviving the blistering heat xxxxx

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Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 17:08

Maariyah - I had the exact same decision to make and I found it incredibly difficult. I am not such a fan of my Dr here either but the hospital looks great (City Hospital) compared to my NHS option in Manchester which is actually pretty good too. I was leaning towards Dubai because I have my own villa and space and privacy and thought that family might frustrate me a little but after just returning from the UK and realising how hot it is here in Dubai and it will only get worse so that made me reconsider the UK. Ive now finally decided to go back to the UK for the following reasons: 1. Better healthcare and mentality towards the Mother and Baby and less medical intervention when not required 2. Better after care with midwives 3. Option of having a Water Birth at the Hospital 4. The family support of having my Mother which I now realise I need as the time is nearing 5. The stress I would be under when my family and In-Laws fly out to Dubai after the birth and want to stay with us when I am trying to copy with a new baby (first time for me!!) .... 6. The beautiful fresh air of the UK which means I can continue doing my 30 minutes of walking outdoors up til the delivery whereas here I sit inside ALL day 7. All my family and friends are in the UK so the celebrations and happiness will be much more there whereas here in Dubai I might feel a bit overwhelmed on my own and a bit lost. 8. It is much easier to get our baby paperwork and passport etc sorted there rather than all the running around and nonsense you have to go through here. I just thought Id give you my reasons in case they trigger anything within you and help you make your decision. It is a really tough decision and I was changing my mind for about 3 months but finally it just came to me after meeting my Dr here in Dubai again and after spending a few weeks in UK.

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Latest post on 14 April 2011 - 21:07

Wow there is a nice bunch of September babies .... This is my first baby and im still quite clueless so I have a few questions: Have any of you started any antenatal classes yet? Also, Ive been traveling a lot so the last scan I had was at 12 weeks at FMC so when is my next one due? Is it 20 weeks? And do you usually have the 20 weeks scan at FMC or just with your Dr? I was with DR Ekaterina at City but she has left so I'm a bit in limbo not knowing where to go or who to see. Zavitz - your husband sounds exactly like mine. When the DR said there is a high chance it's a girl he looked devastated and is now in denial as he had planned all these adventures that he was going to do with his new son. Obviously i reminded him that babies can't really venture out much but he is convinced ours will be able to ski and fish and go diving as soon as he is born!!! Let's all definitely make a plan to meet up in July. Oh and also to any first timers, how pregnant are you looking and what's your weight gain been like???

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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 21:54

Hi Cheggers - thanks for your reply. Last year seems a long distant memory now with so many new issues and concerns with actually having the baby. So far so good however I do have the odd moment of worry and panic and I end up getting scanned to check the bubs is still alive and kicking :) I did read a thread on here but it was from 2009 and it says there is an exemption for 'people who have lived in the UK for 10 years or more continuously and has not left the UK fir more than 5 years' which I qualify for. But I don't know if that's recent information which is why I wanted to know if anyone has gone back without any issues. I'm going back in May to visit family so I think I'll visit my GP and see if I'm still registered or can re-register and see what he advises me to do. I have had friends go back to give birth but I don't know if they were deemed as non-resident or that they were UK resident who have just left for a while. DubaiCat I did contact DAman, my insurance, and try are always so vague and say I have to pay for certain things and then file to claim it back and it's up to them whether they reimburse or not and they never give me a clear cut answer gggrrrrr.... That's Dubai right!!!

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Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 19:33

Hi Ladies, I know this topic can lead to some nasty comments so if you cannot be helpful then please do not respond as I am just looking for info to help make my decision. I have Private Insurance in Dubai and have been going to City Hospital. I was happy there but Dr Ekaterina has left and Dr Elsa is fully booked and I'm not so comfortable going with the new Dr who has no reputation at the moment. I have also started to feel a bit overwhelmed by the idea of giving birth for the first time in Dubai, with no family and very few friends. I can just imagine me sitting in my house alone all day with no support and no-one coming round to visit and celebrate. In the UK, both my family and husbands family and all closest friends are there. I'm currently 16 weeks and have my first app with the new Dr Aziz at City in May but if I don't click with her then I really want to know my options for going back to Manchester. Does anyone know if I can go back and use the NHS for free healthcare? I was born and raised in UK all my life for 26 years and moved to Dubai in April 2010. I haven't been back to the UK since then but I've always been registered with the same GP and even though I haven't seen him in some time .... Maybe 2 years .... I'm sure it won't be a problem to re-register with the practise as that is where my family has always gone and still goes. The only thing is that my husband and I actually filed our last tax return before leaving and said we are officially non-resident of the UK as we were not planning on returning for anything over the next few years apart from then odd visit now and again to see family. Would we still be covered under the exemption because I've lived there all my life and only been gone fir 1 year? Also does anyone know the approx. Cost for giving birth privately in the UK without insurance there? Any information or guidance would be greatly appreciated so I know whether it is an option or not. Thanks, Natasha x

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Latest post on 06 April 2011 - 07:21

Bump

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Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 06:51

Hi kts - Congrats on the pregnancy! I was in your exact position recently and started a thread on here asking all the same questions because I too was clueless and it was a planned surprise. I went straight to Dubai London Clinic to go have my blood test done and have a consultation with Dr Anna who confirmed the pregnancy. From there you don't usually see anyone after that until at least 8 weeks. How far are you? I also didn't have insurance but Daman were the only company willing to insure me whilst I was already pregnant. I can't quite remember the time delay before you can start using the insurance but I think it was 6 months so you'd be covered for the birth which is the most expensive bit. Take prenatal as hello kitty said - I used Puritans Pride which was easy to keep down and had everything in it. I think the first step is to go confirm you are pregnant and then take your time deciding on a OBGYN and hospital - visit a few like City, American, Al Wasl etc. I was with Dr EkAterina for A while but she recently left City hospitAl so I'm waiting to meet her replacement Dr Aziz which will be all new for me ! I'm now nearly 16 weeks and feeling great. Let me know if you have any other specific questions and I'll try my best to help xx

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Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 15:44

Thank you so much for your replies ........... So interesting to know your stories. Im going with my instinct that it is a boy ....... even though I had a baby girl dream last night ???! Im clearly confused ... let's call it pregnancy brain :)

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Latest post on 14 March 2011 - 17:47

Aaaarrrggghhh it's soooo exciting and Im so anxious ... I NEED to know! I heard its the mother who has the baby dreams but my hubby wakes up with all sorts of baby dreams and he is convinced it's a boy and now I am not so sure after what Dr Mirza said. Im heading over to the USA next week and was planning to buy ALL my baby clothes and bits from there and I had planned out everything in my head for a boy - like cute little Ralph Lauren outfits and all sorts and now I will have to wait until I get back to be sure ..... Maybe I'll just buy whatever I like and whatever the *** the baby will have to make do :) Im not sure if boys dressed in pretty dresses is considered child abuse ;)

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Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 14:18

Hi Fairycakeyumm, yes it's my first. I had a miscarriage in November so Ive been so stressed out and worried the last few weeks and randomly turning up at the hospital for scans to make sure bubs is still in there !! Anyway now I feel I can finally relax and focus on all the fun things like buying all the adorable clothes and crib and swings and all that great stuff :) Ive chosen City Hospital but my Dr has just left so now Im waiting to meet the replacement. I'll be staying here for the birth but travelling to the US during Summer to get away from the crazy heat. Lets all plan to meet up so we can share tips as I have no clue about anything and would love to talk to others about it all :)

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Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 10:18

Yes meeeeeee ...... I was thinking when is it not too early to start this thread!! I went for a scan yesterday and saw the heartbeat so I'm happy to share the news now. I'm due September 23rd .... First time too :) My sickness has gone and all my bloating has subsided so I'm feeling quite good finally. Does anyone else feel like time has literally stopped and every week feels like a year???

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:18

I guess if someone apologises then they deserve a second chance .... right?? This is the first time I have clearly said the rules and what I expect and that if she is not happy with it then I will happily get rid off her ... I am hoping she tried to push me, realised she couldnt and now she will settle. My instinct is telling me she is a good person and she has come recommended by someone else who is very surprised by her behaviour. Regarding the absconding, where can she go without her passport?And just say she did run away, do the police catch them often or rarely? She definitely will not be working outside as I have tightened up on her free time and it is literally just Friday. Anyway I hope you are all wrong and I have put my faith in one of the good ones but if not then I will have to deal with that myself. All my valuables are usually always locked away anyway as I am careful about that type of thing by nature. Anyway thanks for all the posts and it was your stern words that made me stand my ground and threaten to call the police so hopefully it has done the trick!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 00:11

Susandiaz - I will try your contact .... Thanks Dubaicat - what is clomid???

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 00:09

If I were on the outside I would totally tell me to get rid off her but my instinct tells me she is trustworthy and she is such an amazing cleaner and v efficient. I have absolutely laid down the rules and explained I am boss and what I say goes which she has accepted so I am going to give her another chance and hope for the best! I feel the difference with my maid vs others is that she is actually a good housemaid and does everything to a good standard which is invaluable. Anyway I!ll update should it all go horribly wrong :/ <em>edited by Natashak on 17/01/2011</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 14:55

Just updating ......... she apologised and said she wants to stay with us so I have agreed! Let's see if I come home one day to find she has gone with all my shoes and bags !!! Fingers crossed she turns out to be one of the good maids and it was just an early hiccup xx

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2011 - 14:53

Hi Ladies ....... So, I am finally ready to get back on the pregnancy train ..... 2 months since my miscarriage! I think I could do with some help from Preseed as I plan to really .... um .... go for it!!!! I believe it is not available here so I was wondering if anyone has any or is coming in from abroad and can bring me some and I can come collect it and pay whatever it costs. REALLY appreciate some help ! Thanks xx

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 09:36

It is such a nightmare finding a maid who is actually humble and respectful ..... biatch and mare are exactly the words that come to my mind also!! Breteuil .... I am sorry you had this situation. It is just awful to invest time into getting them settled and used to your way of life and then they change and we are left with no choice. Sorry to be stupid but what is a PRO? And also, do you get the 9000 DHS back for all the monies spent on VISA, medical check etc? I havent heard that before. I thought you only get back the deposit of 2000 DHS when they leave the country?

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2011 - 08:03

Hi Guinness - thanks for reply. I already had a long chat with her last night and explained that she may ask for things but if I say no then she needs to respect it. I explained if she wants more money then that will come in time as she earns it and explained she should be grateful to have a job, with not much responsability (no kids etc) and she is treated with respect..... She seemed totally indifferent and not apologetic or humbled at all! She said herself 'maybe I'll find someone else'. Hence why I feel I cannot cave and allow her to work elsewhere apart from inside my home so I have no choice really but to cancel her VISA and tell her to go see if the grass is greener elsewhere! Very annoying situation but she definitely fooled me by showing herself as a very quiet, innocent, grateful, appeciated, respectful person when in actual fact she is greedy and very calculating.

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