Lessons for Future Deliveries

Do not ever get pregnant again! Kidding:)

If this is how you feel like at the moment, let me tell you this feeling passes rather quick:)

HERE IS REAL THE LIST:

1. Go to the hospital if you feel something is wrong: I do have a high pain threshold and I never thought contractions I had at night were actual signs of delivery. We should have gone to the ER right away. It is ok to get checked and get that OK even if you do not have anything serious.

2. Pick an attentive doctor and a team: My original doctor was on leave, which is OK. However, Hospital’s replacement system was not working properly. NOT OK! I was assigned to some doctor who was very eager to leave work at 5 pm sharp, which is OK. I have seen the doctor only twice (one before delivery & one post delivery for 2 minutes). NOT OK! There was no proper follow up done by the doctor.

3. Have an open discussion with your doctor about the safe way of delivery: Mine was a normal/natural delivery, which sounds great right? However, things just happened the way they came along without a decent talk/conversation whether normal delivery is risky or not for a 28 week old premature baby. Zero conversation!! Things were just let be. We got lucky but we might also have not got so lucky. Normal delivery is always encouraged BUT C-section is usually preferred way of delivery in high risk pregnancies to avoid any complication to baby's already fragile brain and body. Whichever way is picked, normal or C-section, it should thoroughly discussed and aligned with your doctor.

4. Pick a decent doctor with a solid team: So you will know even if your doctor is not able to attend, he will make sure you will be at good hands. To be specific, for people living in Dubai, I would definitely work with a doctor in a clinic (not a hospital) who performs the delivery in a highly equipped hospital. (For example Genesis clinic docs are doing their operations such as delivery, C-section, etc. in Mediclinic Hospitals). I have personally seen a few Genesis doctors visiting families in the NICU to check both on the baby and mother. Imagine, how nice! Post delivery I haven't seen my original and substitute doctor not even once, even though my original doctor was back from vacation.

5. Daddies, this one is for you!! You have to think fast: Initial investigation was held by the Emergency OB. The minute she realized the water sac was on the way, her reaction was ‘OH MY GOD!’ without explaining us a word. Me and my husband looked at each other. I started crying thinking we were losing D. My husband immediately wanted to have a word with the Hospital Management. He clearly stated that we did not want to proceed with someone unprofessional. Hospital took immediate action and replaced the emergency doctor. The other emergency doctor and the nurses who performed the delivery have been our heroes. I thank them everyday on my life, every single day!

6. Daddies, you need to stay calm: My husband explains this ‘Oh My God Moment’ as if he experienced a chill running down his back and this is the first time ever he experienced such a thing . If he did not tell me later, I would have never been able to tell he was that devastated. However, him staying calm gave me relief and opportunity to focus on myself and D.

7. Keep in mind that things have a way of working themselves out. We coincidentally picked the hospital with one of the best NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) team in town. Who would have known? Will tell more about this later.