Pregnant in Doha, Qatar

Congratulations!  

You find out your pregnant what to do next?

Most people will ask someone they know, or a friend of a friend, to find out what they did, who they saw and the best place to buy everything mother and baby!  As a first-time expectant mummy i'm learning as I go and happy to share the information with you and try to assist you too!

Where to go?

Many ladies I have spoken to have started off at Al-Emadi hospital and went to see Dr.Sonia.

Website here: Al-Emadi

Al-Emadi is expensive, however, as I am fully covered with insurance it was not something I needed to contemplate.  Should you wish to go to Hamad hospital (i'm yet to go there), you will first need to register to obtain your Hamad medical card, and then you will be able to go along.  I suspect like most NHS hospitals in the UK it will be very busy, however, I have not been in there and cannot advise!  Hamad hospital is the place you will be sent to in the event of an utter emergency during labour and they have many great Dr's to hand.  The reason I didn't go there is because Dr. Sonia came highly recommended to me, and I had seen her before in the past.

Dr. Sonia is a wonderful, kind lady whose office is showered with thank you cards and small gifts; it's safe to say she knows what she is doing!  The only caveat i've been told is that she does not deliver, so you will need to decide whether or not to remain there and have the Dr on rota at that time of your delivery, or move to a Dr who will be there throughout the pregnancy and there for the delivery too.  The latter I am contemplating however, I do trust Dr. Sonia a great deal and it's certainly not a hasty decision to be made.

When you first go there, it's always a good idea to carry your marriage certificate too in the event they ask for it - we weren't asked but I had already registered there and my ID shows that I am under husband sponsorship. My biggest piece of advice is: avoid weekends!  If you can't avoid the weekend, go first thing in the morning eg: 8am. 

First appointment

You will have a scan, blood tests and given pregnancy tablets to take.  I was in the hospital for 3 hours, but I didn't go there until 5pm on a saturday evening - big mistake.

Thereafter, you will meet with Dr. Sonia once a month for scans and then at key stages you will have more tests etc.

Maternity Clothes in Doha

Given the huge families here in Qatar I was certain that the one thing clothes shops will not be short on is maternity wear..... how wrong was I?

I have managed to get a top  and two pairs of shorts from H&M, Bras (very unflattering) from Mamas & Papas and that's it so far.  At the moment i'm living in unbuttoned trousers and jeans, stretching into my 'fat-day' tops and soon I will be in a desperate situation! 

I have been to: Marks & Spencers (1 set of maternity bras only), Mamas & Papas (bras, granny & casual clothes: think flair jeans, low cut dresses etc), Zara (nothing), Mango (nothing), H&M (two racks of clothes which aren't the greatest), Gap (nothing), Next (nothing), Mothercare (Nothing, baby clothes only), La Senza (Nothing), as you can see it's shocking!  Luckily for me I am going to the UK in July where I will raid every shop possible and come back with 30kg of clothes that Doha severely lacks to cater for.

For those of you who aren't going to the UK, or back to your home country, I suggest shopping online at: ASOS, New Look, Gap, Next, the list is endless.  ASOS offer free international shipping and they usually deliver to your home or office - which beat's queuing at Aramex and risk having your clothes sliced as they open the parcel to check what's inside! 

I will keep updating you all with what happens, if you are pregnant and due in 2014 get in touch!  Maybe we can meet for a decaf coffee and go hunting for clothes together :)

Good luck xoxo

Photo Source: Telegraph.co.uk