Saturday, May 14, 2011

Mama La Vida Lanka: Doctors La Vida Lanka

Knowing that hubby and I were ready to add a new dimension to our lives, the first order of the day was to search for an Ob-Gyne.  I had a wonderful OB in Manila so I had high standards for finding one. I set out in my fact-finding mission the best way I know how: Ask.  In November I asked my Sinhala Class friend of referrals but her doctor was an elderly gentleman, and in the Philippines we are used to having a woman for our OB.  So ok fine… next I asked a general practitioner.  During the same time I had an ear infection and after getting checked-up on that I just asked him.  The poor guy must have thought I was crazy as he asked me why.  Or maybe he prescribed something bad for expectant mothers.  Oh well, anyway he referred one of the top ranking Doctors and Professors in the country.  He was also the OB of my officemate – she was ok with it.  Not really liking or disliking but another good friend from the office had an unfortunate experience with him.  It wasn’t like he was a bad doctor or anything but after that incident, she went out to search for another OB that suited her.  So she also referred me to another top ranking Doctor and Professor, Dr. Harsha Seneviratne, chair of the Vindana Reproductive Health Center. 
Photo courtesy of doctorcrab.blogspot.com
So I decided to pay doctor a visit last March.  The first thing that “shocked” me was the place was apparently a fertility center.  So the intern was asking me how long have I been trying and actually found it strange that I wasn’t trying that long yet I came knocking on their doors.  Doctor of course understood why I was there, I had a check with him and he gave me some tips as well as a prescription for Folate Tablets even when you’re still trying to conceive (TTC).  Second shocker was that I had such a pleasant experience with the fellow.  He is a grandfatherly man and I felt like I could work with him.  Apparently being with a male OB wasn’t all that bad. 

However another friend from work recommended her cousin’s OB.  A woman.  During the same time that I took a schedule with Dr. Harsha, I also took a schedule with Dr. Nalini Prasad.  But apparently she has quite a waiting list and I was locked in for April 23.  More than a month of waiting.  I said, ok fine let’s just go and see.  You see, aside from her being a her, the hospital where she channels* (and I would assume deliver) is just a 5 minute drive from our place.  So in all practicality, it was the best deal for us.    

Now looking back, there was some sense of order in all that frenzied search.  One, I think the “vibes” of the fertility center (and the magical hands of Dr. Harsha) rubbed off on me and gave me some fertility magic.  Second, who would have thought that a month from the time I would see Dr. Nalini, I would actually go there for my 1st pre-natal visit?  The world works in mysterious ways.  And it has a funny way of leading you to your OB Gynecologist!  Now let’s see how it leads me to our baby’s pedia…


*Channel is a term they use here for holding a clinic.  And did you know that both doctors operate in a centralized environment?  Shared secretaries and cashiers?  Quite different from how it is back home. 

Doctor Contacts

Manila OB-Gyne
Dr. Ado Morales
St. Luke’s, QC
(632) 7230101, 7230301 (trunkline)

Colombo General Practitioner
Dr. Shabir Akbarally
Alshifa Medical Center
14 Sakvithi Lane
Thimbirigasyaya
(011) 2585424

Lanka OB-Gyne
Dr. Harsha Seneviratne
Vindana Reproductive Health Center
9 Barnes Place, Colombo 7
(011) 2682102, 2689685, 2671079

Lanka OB-Gyne
Dr. Nalini Prasad
Lanka Hospitals
578 Elvitigala Mawatha
Narahenpita, Colombo 5
(011) 5431131


Note: After 6 months and a dose of creative inspiration, I've changed the series title from Mommy Diaries to Mama La Vida Lanka :-) 

5 comments:

  1. male OB-GYNs aren't so bad. my OB in Manila was a woman too but when we moved over here, I ended up with a guy doctor, for when I gave birth to haley and now. I guess it really depends on how you get along with them and how they click for you. strangely enough, i like both my male OBs here than I ever liked my doc in Manila so go figure. :)

    good luck, good luck! we're so happy for you guys!!! :D

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  2. Haha! Oo nga, male OBs - what a revelation right? But happy too with my lady OB too! So I guess I've been lucky to find doctors I can work with :-)

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  3. Well at least we know you're in good hands. Have a happy journey to motherhood, sweetie! Wait.. you are already there! :)

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  4. You are so lucky to find a woman! It's the same here... most of the OBs are men. Which is surprising for us Filipinas because we are so used to having female OB gynes. So happy that you found a doctor that you are comfy with which is the most important thing!

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  5. I know right! Yes happy with my OB :-) Both here and in Manila so I guess I'm lucky!

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