Possible Move to Qatar & Pregnant
Hi
My husband and I could be making a move from the UAE to Qatar, we are waiting on a job offer being finalised. I am 30 weeks pregnant with first baby and am wondering what the implications would be for me moving in the next month?
1. Will I be able to register my pregnancy this late, will a hospital accept me for delivery this late?
2. What maternity hospitals would you recommend? If public does that mean my husband can't be with me during labour/birth? Costs for private hospital?
Thanks in advance from an anxious mum to be,
Faciedo
thanks so much Chelsea, thats a load off my mind. Today is decision time, am going to call Al Ahli hospital and see if they will accept me on a visit visa at 35 weeks for antenatal and then obviously to give birth. If there is no problem there I think we will finalise offer today with company and move within the next 4 weeks. Scary!!!
I have checked airline policy re flying and it says up to max end of 35 weeks will I be let fly (with doc cert) so will sort that out. As you say its only an hour so hopefully it won't be an issue.
Its all so worrying at this stage of the pregnancy but trying not to think about it too much and just get on with it.
thanks again for your help
Faciedo
Don't worry if you're residency isn't processed - I was here on a visit visa when my son was born at Al Ahli hospital. My husband was still there at the birth and I had the same treatment as everyone else! The only difference was they wanted a credit card up front and there were a couple of metabolic tests that residents get done free that we had to pay for. All in all it was about QR11,000 which includes 2 hearing tests and a follow up visit.
I was worried about giving birth and not being resident but there were no problems at all. As long as you get a 3 month visit visa you should be fine.
Just be careful when flying so late - the airlines were really funny about me flyng so pregnant but then I was doing a long-haul from the UK whereas you're just popping over from UAE. Make sure you have all your paperwork with you and a letter stating you're fit to fly.
As soon as you get to Qatar, make an appointment to see a doctor here. I registered at 32 weeks and didn't have a problem with the change over - I just gave them all my notes from the UK. There were a couple of blood tests that they require here that they don't do in the UK and I had to have them done straight away but other then that it was easy.
www.qaws.org
thanks again for the replies and USAExpert, thanks for the reassurances. I have to say pregnancy hormones coupled with anxieties of the unknown is not a pleasant combination.
I guess once we know if we will accept offer then I will call Al Ahli to see what our options are. Really hope its not an issue as our other alternative is for me to stay in Dubai and give birth here with the possibility of my husband not being here in time ... couldn't cope with that at all.
Thanks again
Just start checking out hospitals as soon as you get here. Both my babies were born at Doha Clinic, but my Dr. is now gone so I tend to recommend Al Ahli to people now. Point is, you will be fine whatever hospital you choose. Like any place in the entire world, you will hear good stories and bad stories about EVERY hospital.
If you have insurance and you want your husband involved, go with Al Ahli. It's the most expensive, but it's probably the best choice.
It is illegal to give birth at home, so I am SURE that you will be able to get into a hospital even though you don't have your residence permit yet.
Don't worry about this before you get here. I know you are dealing with those crazy, raging pregnancy hormones. You'll be fine :)
If you're not coming here until 35 weeks then it's highly unlikely you'll get your RP processed in time (and even less likely if you're sponsored by your husband, as he'll have to get his RP first).
So you definitely need to find out for certain if an RP is essential to be able to register at a hospital (I expect it is).
Cost wise at Al Ahli, they have different packages (number of nights stay etc), and if I recall correctly it's ~QR11,000 for the birth with 2 night stay (~QR18,000 for a caesarean)
You also have to pay QR300 every time you have an appointment, QR400 for a radiology scan, plus all the tests - but I guess you wont have much of this if you're already 35 weeks when you arrive here.
RP stand for Resident Permit.
thanks for the quick replies.
Formatted Soul, what does RP stand for?
Also I would be about the 35 weeks when I get there (last possible time I could fly) as I work full time in Dubai and like I said we are still waiting on offer to be finalised. So would even 35 weeks be too late. I should have notes from both private and public hospitals here as I am attending both as insurance covers me.
Also when you say expensive for Al Ahli - approx how much for maternity package?
Cheers again,
Faciedo
Once your RP is stamped it wont be an issue. But it takes sometime to stammp your RP.Hamad Hospital is very good for Delivery but its a Govt hospital, they wont allow your husband to be with you during delivery.
In Private Hospitals... Al Ahli Hospital is good. Dr. Rizwi is the best Gynec there. Normal Delivery costs around QR.8000 to 10,000/- and if its cesarean it will be 12,000-14,000 riyals
All the best!
30 weeks pregnancy is not too late for registration in hospital. The public hospital Hamad will not allow your husband with you during child birth. If you want him to be with you better go to Al Ahli hospital. Its private & expensive but very good patient care. new born care is also good, I had a baby in Al ahli in April 2009. Hamad hospital also good, their neonatal care is ver good.