April/May/June 2012 Moomies

Hello All,

I had my appointment yesterday with a pro VBAC doctor at the American Hospital here in Dubai. She was great! Asked me about my history and why I had a cesarean the previous time around and said that there is no reason why we shouldn't try for a normal birth this time around. I loved her attitude. What a difference to my previous OB/Gyn who would just sit there pushing paper and then kind of dismiss any questions. Anyway, keeping my options open so if by chance I cannot go back to SA for the birth, I have the option to birth here in Dubai with a pro VBAC doctor.

The only problem is that this hospital is extremely expensive and this time around my insurance does not cover maternity. She ordered blood work and the cost was over Dhs2000 for the consultation + blood work (over R4000!) I almost fainted when I went to pay the bill. They do have antenatal packages but that will set me back another R12000 if I take it out and I would rather just pay cash for this consultation. I know that I will be seeing her once more at around 22 weeks after the morphology scan and then will do the GD test at around 28 weeks. I fly back to SA at 31 weeks. The cost of the package is around the same amount that it would cost for the birth at Genesis. What a dilemma! I can take out insurance at this stage but that would be around R60k payable upfront. Haha.... the joys of not having maternity cover. Its normal for employers not to have maternity cover on insurance here so that they can save a couple of bop.

Michelle, I am happy for you that you have done your research and have opted for an elective c-sec. So apologies if I came across as too personal. Nothing wrong with a bit of healthy debate . No it doesn't have to get ugly but educating yourself and getting various opinions is great. I think thats why all these boards are so popular.

On a personal note, I am here fighting my VBAC battle and praying that I never ever go through that pain again. I suffered with loads of PND for at least 18 months and could never bond with my daughter during that time. I still feel kind of cheated that I did not have a normal birth. I just don't want to be dragging my foot around for another 4 months post part-um and have constant pins and needles in my ankles and suffer with more hyperhydrosis . I wish I had been armed with more information before just giving in to the c-sec so that the OB could go home in time for her dinner.

hi again ladies. Its just after 10pm and and I have finally got my LB to sleep. What a busy day! @Michelle, I live in Somerset west in Cape Town. Its a bit far but I would have loved a coffee meet. I will go in for my CS at around 38 weeks along. So the birthdate is the 30th of May 2012. If the baby stays put I will see if I can persuaee tn doctor to wait till 39 weeks. Have you had much movement yet?

Hi all,

Good luck 2kidmamma with the scan - how exciting! Mine is booked in for 17th Jan and can hardly wait - specially as I want to know for doubly sure its a boy! Yay too that you have the same birth/due date - where about's do you live and which hospital will you be going to? I'm glad too you've had such a positive experience, most people I know have had a very good one too.

Stacey - hmmm - the perfect house for us with one little snag, we can only move in June - interesting with a newborn! But I am hoping it works out - we both fell in love when we saw it (although sooo needs work - which we are happy to do....) I'm not scared about it all happening at once, my life usually runs in just about that fashion! - although maybe I need a reality check.... its in Randpark, so not the ridge -although to be fair I get slightly confused about it as I've lived overseas for so long! Its called the Fairway golf course and I think that's the Randpark one - not Randpark Ridge one (again may be very confused) When do you think you guys will move??? Congrats on it all going through - yay yay yay!! (although a lot of work ahead of course!)

Would love to meet other mums so really up for a coffee meet!

Any suggestions as to where to buy baby stuff? We are off to Sydney for two weeks in March so will buy some cute clothes there but have not ventured out into the scary JHB baby shopping sphere yet! Is baby-city the best and if so which one is the best biggest one to go to? We were thinking we would wait till the mama magic show in May to buy heart rate monitors etc (again all a bit last minute, but then the poor child, at the rate this is all going won't even have a prepared nursery anyway as we'll be moving!!) Tutt tutt - already a bad mother!!

Have a good Monday everyone!

hi ladies, just popping in on my phone, I am still on leave till next week. Going to see baby again on wednesday for 18week scan. Its my daughters birthday today and so we went to go get our ears pierced. I had let mine close many years back. I must say she was brave because its actually quite sore. Welcome Michelle, good for you with being able to make your own birthing decisions and not being scare talked out of what you have decided. I'm up for my 3rd cesearian birth and so far they have been very positive happy experiences. I'm 36 at the end of this month and also due 14 June.

Hi ladies,

Michelle, Where about in randparkridge u moving? My parent live there, and have been for years!
We are also in the process of selling and buying, all the bonds were confirmed this week so now it's a definite, very excited! The whole moving thing is such a waiting game! (will hold thumbs for u)

The fairways golf club-is that the randparkridge golf club? If so, then yes I know where it is.

I did ante-natal classes at the sandton mediclinic (where I had my 1st baba) it was great, was 1 day and all done! Also being a mediclinic (not sure about morningside) but they gave it for free.

Regarding meeting other moms, I'm lucky - a lot of my friends all had babies round the same time as me, so to be honest haven't really met new moms as such...

Which of you other ladies live in jhb, we should meet for a cuppa!

How are the rest of the ladies doing?

Xxx

Hi everyone - thanks so much for the welcome's and replies - I ended up taking some salene based nose spray that sort of helped - still not good strong hayfever tablets but at least some relief!!

Stacey - at the mo in Boskruin but moving towards Randpark (do you know the Fairway golf club? around a block or two away) - fingers crossed it all works out, we are in the process of buying Do you do ante-natal classes around that area at all - I am exploring that at the moment but now thinking I might do it at my hospital as they are supposed to do a great course - (morningside mediclinic)

How have you all found the best way to meet other mum's? None of my friends have kiddies - well they do, but mostly they are not in this country - I've lived in the UK and Sydney for the last 15 or so years....

Thanks Firefly for the link and I will try a netti pot - although a crazy concept I have heard it actually does help. Must just give it a go!

Anni - thanks for your link - in the nicest possible way, if its all the same to you I'd rather not get into that - we all have our own views and opinions and sometimes, like religion its best left alone on these boards - it gets a little nasty...... the beauty of being 36 is I get to make all my own decisions - just like a big girl!

Anyway ladies, hope you all have a lovely weekend - yuck to those who have to go back to work on Monday

xxx Michele

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