How to embrace motherhood and the challenges that new mums face

The recent edition of wknd. conversations, in partnership with Zulekha Hospital, gathered medical professionals, health coaches and influencers to celebrate and embrace modern motherhood.

The event that took place on December 15, gathered guest panellists and audience members at One Life Kitchen and Café, Dubai Design District, to discuss motherhood and post-natal care, a topic that deserves more mainstream awareness than it currently enjoys. Being a pioneer in gynecology services within the UAE healthcare industry, Zulekha Hospital facilities offer premium solutions designed to serve every need of new mothers and children. Striving to make motherhood a pleasant and joyful experience, the organisation gave a new identity to their maternity care services, naming ‘Zulekha Embrace’. The founder and chairperson of Zulekha Group and the UAE’s first gynecologist, Dr Zulekha Daud, herself unveiled the logo for this new healthcare initiative.

The event kickstarted with a mindfulness and sound healing session conducted by yoga practitioner, Mohit Tyagi, following which the panel discussions took place.

The first session was a discussion around the journey of new mothers, from conception to childcare, and the panel members included Dr Humera bint Raees, laparoscopic gynae surgeon and specialist obstetrician, Dr Jasbir S. Chhatwal, specialist — obstetrics and gynecology, Dr Henna Kutty, lifestyle medicine physician, holistic health and nutrition coach and Melda Akin, CEO, D14.AI.

“The most important thing is to give mothers a safe environment during their pregnancy,” said Dr Humera. “They should remember their pregnancy as a joyful experience rather than a stressful one. That will also lead to a happy and heathy baby. Zulekha Hospital clinicians are also specially trained in dealing with patients with high-risk pregnancies, making sure they get enough support.”

Defining high-risk pregnancies, Dr Jasbir added, “Any pregnancy in which we anticipate more complications in the mother or the baby, we define it as high-risk pregnancy.” The reasons leading to high-risk pregnancies can be varied, the doctor pointed out. “Some conditions that can cause high risk pregnancies are when the mother has diabetes, blood pressure, autoimmune diseases or if there are complications in the baby,” said Dr Jasbir.

Adding to that, the holistic health coach, Dr Henna, mentioned, “It is very important that mothers look out for support when they need it, especially when it comes to nutrition and mental health. I always tell new mothers that they first have to take care of themselves otherwise they will not be able to look after their child.”

The second session comprised panellists Dr Hend Amin Atwa Khalil and Dr Laxmi Vijay Yaliwal, who are specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, Haniya Mahmood, holistic health coach, Melissa Kai, head of marketing, Mumzworld and Amina Chokaeva, entrepreneur and co-founder, Females Freedom.