Abu Dhabi – Parents can now avail of assistance and medical support at home from licensed providers in the capital, and these programmes have seen an increasing uptake.
Providers also expect demand to continue growing as more working and expatriate mothers become aware of the professional help that is provided.
“There is a tremendous gap in the amount of postnatal support that is available for new mothers, especially those without extended family here,” Christine Woolmer, mother and baby programme supervisor at Manzil Home Health Services, told Gulf News.
“Childbirth is a stressful process and the first few months with a newborn can seem scary without adequate guidance. Many women also find it difficult to breastfeed in the beginning, and lactation advice at this point can be invaluable,” she added.
Traditionally, homecare services in Abu Dhabi have focused on aiding the elderly and special needs individuals, and a number of providers offer care for these groups. But expatriate mothers say that they could use assistance after delivery.
“I came to know of postnatal programmes three weeks after my five-year-old was born. I was having a difficult time nursing her, and that is when I contacted a homecare provider,” said Amal Chabbi, 35, a Tunisian-American building conservator.
“I was able to get help with breastfeeding, and learnt to pick up on what my baby’s cries meant and even how to sleep-train her. So I recommended the provider to my friend, who availed of their support as soon as she took her baby home,” Chabbi added.
Manzil began offering postnatal services, as well as assistance for mothers-to-be, this summer. So far, it has worked with 45 women in Abu Dhabi, including two Emiratis.
A typical session with a care provider can last from an hour to a whole day, depending on the mother’s needs. Woolmer, who previously worked with newborns and mothers as a nurse and lactation consultant at Abu Dhabi’s renowned maternity hospital, Corniche Hospital, assesses their needs in an initial visit.
“We can help women learn how to get their babies to latch on correctly for breastfeeding, and this is one of the biggest areas where new mothers need support. We also assist with taking care of babies, bathing them, and putting them to sleep, and also teach mothers how to read baby cues for hunger or exhaustion,” Woolmer explained.
The key is to help new mothers feel confident in their childcare abilities, she added.
Manzil also provides professional nurses who can take care of babies while their mothers are away.
Similar services are available in Abu Dhabi through Aster Grace Nursing and Physiotherapy.
Dr Amer Alata, administrator and consultant at Aster, said educating new mothers is the most important help they provide.
“New mothers are quite a neglected group, and the lack of assistance can mean that mothers needlessly suffer from prolonged anxiety. Our caregivers can also help new parents take care of children with congenital illnesses,” he said.
Costs differ on a case-by-case basis, but most providers supply customers with an initial quote that can be negotiated. For example, a postnatal package at Manzil that includes four one-hour sessions a week, as well as phone-based support for four more weeks, is priced at about Dh2,000. Some are also covered by certain enhanced insurance plans in Abu Dhabi.
