Daisy92

Hi,

My husband has just landed a job in Dubai and as we have been severely hit by the recession here in the UK (he has been made redundant numerous times) we have made the decision we don't have much to lose by him giving it a go in Dubai.

I am currently Cabin Crew and my job is relatively safe, however, I am 14 weeks pregnant so our plan is for Steve (my husband) to come out to Dubai on the 20th and for me to follow at the end of March for a few weeks until I start my maternity leave, that way my job remains safe so even less of a risk if it doesn't work out in Dubai.

I have read lots of discussions on this site and I have sent him back to the company to find out about accommodation - I think they are going to pay 50% and there has been no mention of health care. I'm guessing these should be written into his contract before we up-sticks and move. I have read conflicting information regarding rent needing to be paid 12months up front. Does anyone know the truth about this?

I am wondering if I should have my baby in Dubai or stay in England. If anyone has any advice on the maternity process I would be very grateful. My gut is saying for me to come to Dubai and if it's anything like England there will be mother and baby groups where I will meet new mum's. I have heard the health care is expensive but a million times better than the NHS.

The company give him accommodation in Jumeriah Towers for the first month so I am assuming his offices must be local to this area. I am waiting for this information to be confirmed. Is the accommodation in this area ok or should I be looking else where?

Just one other thing - like a typical man he doesn't know where he's put his school certificates. Does anyone know if an RSA certificate is enough for a residency visa?

I'm sorry if I have made no sense in this thread my excuse is I'M PREGNANT!!!

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks x

Hello.Kitty

right, firstly - and this will be a BIG decider... your health insurance will almost certainly not cover your pregnancy as it is deemed an "existing condition", so it'll be down to you to foot the bill. Yar.

Secondly, as for it being a gazillion times better than the NHS, well, that very much depends where you're from in the UK (it's going to be better than an East London suburb, for example, but in my area of the UK I simply cannot fault the maternity care offered, so imo the NHS is better than Dubai private healthcare) and what your take on "good" is.

With regards to giving birth, here in Dubai, the general opinion seems to be the more medicalised, the better. It also depends what you want out of it (apart from a healthy baby!). I've always been up for the natural/ home birth scenario and they simply don't entertain it here. One pg mum-to-be was told that she could have a natural birth as long as she got up on the bed and put her legs in stirrups.

Have a look at the wiki on the subject.

I don't want to put you off giving birth in Dubai, because many women do (and have done) and are happy with the care they've got. Others did and weren't so happy, but that goes for back in the UK too. Anyhow, I chose to go back to the UK for my second, I have 2 friends who are going back to the UK, another who went back to Oz, a midwife who decided not to stay in Dubai to give birth and another who went back to Canada. On the other hand, I also know lots of mums who've had theirs here and are very happy with their c-sections.

Anyhow... yes, there are lots and lots of active M&B groups, especially via facebook. There's also a breastfeeding mums support group that's just been created.

I would also add that ante and post-natal care is much better in the UK... especially post-natal.

Feel free to pm me if you fancy a more in-depth chat!

As for the rent cheques - in Dubai, you have to supply a years' worth of post-dated cheques. The number depends on what you and the Landlord decide.

fiestyredhead

Hi...firstly congratulations on your pregnancy!

I've had experience on both sides, my eldest was born here in the UK and the 2nd and 3rd were both born in the UAE (Sharjah). I opted to stay in the UK during my 1st pregnancy as I was unsure of how the healthcare was in the UAE and brought my son out to the UAE aged 8 weeks.
I have to say though that I had no hesitations in having my other children in the UAE. I found the ante-natal and post-natal care to be excellent, lots of regular scans etc but this was covered under our employers private Healthcare so we didn't have to foot the bills ourselves!

So I would recommend getting lots of info on exactly what you are going to have to pay if not covered by employer:-)

Millhouse

I'm not sure about Dubai, but here in the wild south of Abu Dhabi, men are not allowed in the room when it's all kicking off.

Blue Cat

they are in Dubai, however they never used to be I did it on my own

Millhouse

quite right. it's no place for a man!

shakh your bootie

LOL - you may well be right. Despite my predisposition to being a re-constructed member of the male gender, I must admit that the experiences in the birthing room somewhat de-mystified the wonders of the female anatomy for me...

So much nicer when one's experience is limited to the delights of unwrapping the female form from silks and satins, without the nature red in tooth and claw stuff.....

Hello.Kitty

I'd just like to add that I agree with Feistyredhead - being pregnant over here is absolutely fine. Antenatal care isn't that expensive. We didn't take up the hospital's package, but paid-as-we-went (had a lame insurance policy!) and so picked and chose how many appointments we had. As it was at the time, prices were about 350 for the appt, 170 for the ultrasound (they like to do one every time, but you can tell them not to - to looks of disbelief, but hey) and I can't remember how much for the routine tests. I think it came to about 700 a pop.

Saying that... 14 weeks... so due mid-July? It's going to be HOT!

As for all you blokes - get some backbone!

fiestyredhead

My husband was in attendance when I last gave birth in Sharjah and that was 2002 so I'd imagine its the same in Dubai

Roadking

Immaculate conception, then?

shakh your bootie

PMSL - there's nothing immaculate about BC's conceptions....

Tockalosh

Can only speak for AD here and not what happens in Dubai but the following may be of use.
In AD there is a whole heap of hospitals who will deal with maternity however if things get difficult during the birth they will hoof you off to the Corniche which specialises in child birth. All good so far.
So check out where you want to give birth. If there is a specialist hospital then book yourself in there first
Now if you pregancy goes according to plan then there is a nominal fee to pay the hospital
If however things get involved then it change very much for the worse. The corniche didnt use to charge excessively for premmies but that changed in April 09 and the fees are now excessive for looking after premmies.

As has been mentioned before, you need to check hubbies insurance. We had Bupa Gold which meant that pregnancies were covered regardless of when the cover was taken out and at what stage your pregnancy was at. Some of the guys had standard BUPA which meant you wouldnt be covered for maternity until you had been a member for a certain amount of time. Please check and read the small print. If you are in any doubt then have the small one in the UK and then fly out.
The pre natal in AD was really good but as it was mixed nationalities as you would expect then there was limited friend building so your support network will be limited when you come to drop and hubby may be tied to work. better to have at home with family then bring the wee one out.

As said that is just about my experience in AD and we sent the mrs home. A decision afterwards that we both agreed was right even though we were covered by our medical

Tockalosh

Can only speak for AD here and not what happens in Dubai but the following may be of use.

In AD there is a whole heap of hospitals who will deal with maternity however if things get difficult during the birth they will hoof you off to the Corniche which specialises in child birth. All good so far.
So check out where you want to give birth. If there is a specialist hospital then book yourself in there first
Now if your pregancy goes according to plan; then there will be a nominal fee to pay the hospital
If however things get involved then it can change very much for the worse. The corniche didnt use to charge excessively for premmies but that changed in April 09 and the fees are now excessive for looking after those who come into the world early.

As has been mentioned before, you need to check hubbies insurance. We had Bupa Gold which meant that pregnancies were covered regardless of when the cover was taken out and at what stage your pregnancy was at. Some of the guys had standard BUPA which meant you wouldnt be covered for maternity until you had been a member for a certain amount of time. Please check and read the small print. If you are in any doubt then have the small one in the UK and then fly out.
The pre natal in AD was really good but as it was mixed nationalities as you would expect then there was limited friend building so your support network will be limited when you come to drop and hubby may be tied to work. better to have at home with family then bring the wee one out.

As said that is just about my experience in AD and we sent the mrs home. A decision afterwards that we both agreed was right even though we were covered by our medical insurance.
The corniche were funny about what times they would let men in to see the scans etc. I think you were ok in the afternoons but not in the mornings for some reason

The staff there were predominately European and Filipino with the leading hands all European. A freind of ours was the senior child birth bod in charge and she was fantastic so also have a look at the staff at where you are going as they make a huge difference.

Good luck

Roadking

Stella causing the hiccups too?

Hello.Kitty

It's the same in Dubai. Only the government hospital has a Special Care Baby Unit and if you're showing signs of early labour/complications, the other hospitals won't even admit you, even if you've been having antenatal there.

A mum I know was in this very situation: bleeding at 20-odd weeks, turned away at the door of her own hospital, sent to Al Wasl, who refused to look at her, beyond a check-up, saying there was nothing much they could do and "she could always have another one". Thankfully, she went on to have a healthy baby, but went to Canada to do so.

I agree with T, having the baby in the UK meant 6 difficult months apart (timing!), but I am so, so happy we decided to do it that way.