It’s again the time of the year for that jab (We know you don’t like it though). Taking a flu vaccine in Dubai has lots of merits.
This year amidst the corona virus/Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to take your flu vaccine. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has made it easy and affordable for everyone. By taking the vaccine, you are not just protecting yourself, but your family, friends, colleagues and the community (especially for your children).
Few facts about flu and the vaccine:
The flu – short for influenza – is a viral infection that affects your respiratory system (Ring any bells? We will come to that later). Seasonal influenza outbreaks usually happen in winter. Starts as early as October and continue till May. Flu symptoms vary from asymptomatic or mild through to severe symptoms and complications that can lead to death. Laboratory testing is required to confirm a diagnosis.
There are around 5 million cases of flu reported every year which result in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Talking about the respiratory system, Flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses, but are caused by different types of viruses. It may be difficult to tell the difference between them as symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar. A flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19.
There are mainly four types of influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses are the main cause of seasonal epidemics. And there are more than 100 subtypes, and the ones in circulation change from season to season. Now you know why we get the flu every year and the importance of getting the flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine contains a deactivated form of the virus (as in almost all the vaccines – though chickenpox or measles vaccine contains a weakened live version of the virus), which teaches your body to recognize a real flu virus and respond. Way back in 1933 the very first generation of live-attenuated vaccines was developed; and in 1942, a bivalent vaccine was produced after the discovery of influenza B.
Everyone starting from the age of 6 months is advised to take the vaccine.
Every year scientists meet and analyze the current year’s data (142 national influenza centers in 113 different countries!) and prepare the composition for the yearly vaccine. Fun fact is that for northern hemisphere the composition is decided in February and southern hemisphere in September.
Will there be flu along with COVID-19 in the fall and winter? – Yes and that’s why we are asking you be on the safer side. For you and for the community. If you contract Covid -19 and Influenza at the same time you may become quite unwell, hence best to get vaccinated and do PCR tests for COVID.
Keep your baby cool and protect them from the sun.
Babies less than 6 months old should always be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun.
Older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly in the summer months and between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. If you go out when it’s hot, attach a parasol or sunshade to your baby’s pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight.
It’s good to buy a rash vest or cover up for your child as the sunshine in the UAE is particularly strong, in addition to this if they still have skin exposed apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to your baby’s skin. Make sure the product also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many brands produce sunscreen specifically for babies and young children, as these products are less likely to contain additives that might irritate the skin. Apply the sun cream regularly, particularly if your child is in and out of the sea or paddling pool. Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or a long flap at the back to protect their head and neck from the sun (NHS 2018).
Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better.
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
This includes applying it straight after you have been in water, even if it’s “water resistant”, and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off.
It’s also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.
Check for signs of heat exhaustion
The signs of heat exhaustion include:
a headache
dizziness and confusion
loss of appetite and feeling sick
excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
fast breathing or pulse
temperature of 38C or above
being very thirsty
The symptoms are often the same in adults and children, although children may become floppy and sleepy. If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion, they need to be cooled down.
Things you can do to cool down someone who has heat exhaustion:
Follow these four steps:
Move them to a cool place.
Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly.
Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are OK.
Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good, too.
Stay with them until they’re better.
They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.
When to call an ambulance
You or someone else have any signs of heatstroke:
feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water
not sweating even though too hot
a temperature of 40C or above
fast breathing or shortness of breath
feeling confused
a fit (seizure)
loss of consciousness
not responsive
Heatstroke can be very serious if not treated quickly.
Put the person in the recovery position if they lose consciousness while you’re waiting for help.
Heat rash (prickly heat)
Heat rash is uncomfortable, but usually harmless. It should clear up on its own after a few days.
The symptoms of heat rash are:
small red spots
an itchy, prickly feeling
redness and mild swelling
What to do when someone has a heat rash?
Use sponge with cool water to soothe the affected area. Place them in a cool room
Dry their skin with a soft towel by patting slowly and apply some calamine lotion to keep it damp
Bathe them in lukewarm water and pat the skin with a soft towel so that it stays between dry and damp.
Medical attention to be given if the spots are not fading away even after 12 hours or there is a rise in temperature. If you need a helping hand to manage your children, our expert DHA and BLS (Basic life support) certified home nurses are just a call away.
*The data listed here might change from time to time and is sourced from different places.
Probably the biggest influencing factor in terms of disease outcomes is how old you are. The older you are, the worse your chances of surviving it.
In other words, if you are aged, for example, between 65-74, you have 198.7 chances in 100,000 of being hospitalized, for the virus, during the period up to 6 June 2020. Let’s make that easier to grasp – 198.7 in 100,000 is the same as 0.2% – one chance in 500. That’s not quite so scary a number, is it.
This is not a meaningful number, unfortunately, because we don’t know what percentage these numbers are of all people getting the disease in each age group. Any hospitalization first requires you to get the disease and then to become sufficiently seriously unwell and require being admitted to a hospital. To tell us the overall number of people being hospitalized is a great example of a statistic that may be perfectly correct, but which is also unhelpful to the point of being meaningless!
This chart below gives a very vivid depiction of the bottom-line impact of age on death rates.
Physiotherapy post COVID-19
Compared to people aged 18 – 29, if you are 65 – 74, you’ve a five times greater rate of being hospitalized and a 90 times higher risk of dying. And if you’re over 85, the number is astonishingly greater again. It can also be derived from this chart that the risk of dying, after being hospitalized, goes up with age as well. You see that 30 – 39 year-olds have twice the chance of being hospitalized, but four times the risk of dying, while 50 – 64 year-olds have four times the chance of being hospitalized, but not four times the risk of dying, but a massive 30 times more.
These numbers are helpful, but there’s still a vital pair of data points missing. What is the risk of hospitalization or dying for the benchmark 18 – 29 yr old? We can’t conveniently determine that from this chart. So yet again, while we know the risk is much higher or lower depending on your age, it is difficult to put an exact number on it, and of course, that’s what most of us instinctively would wish to have.
We need to point out something that is little appreciated. While it is true that very few children seem to contract severe or fatal cases of Covid, that does not mean they are not at risk. There are a couple of important considerations.
First, an infected child can still pass their infection on to other people. Second, there is increasing awareness of recovered children now showing signs of various lasting harm and damage to their arteries and veins. Another source studied the chance of patients dying in a number of countries. The word “patient” isn’t defined, but we assume it mean “someone who has been admitted to hospital” rather than referring to everyone known to have been infected.
There are surprising differences in death rates in different countries (huge differences – in some countries you have a ten times greater chance of dying than in other countries) so we hesitate to consider the numbers in the study as anything other than indicative and confirming the general concept that older people are much more at risk.
age related risks of covid
As you can see, there is a similar massive increase in mortality with age. The actual values are unfortunately quite different from the previous set of data (why?), but the concept of major increases in risk/mortality with advancing age is consistent. There’s one more thing to keep in mind. We don’t know for sure (not yet, anyway!), but we’ll guess that when you’re over 80, your chances of dying if hospitalized for any illness are very much greater than if you’re half that age. So are the higher numbers we’re seeing here “just because that is how it goes for everyone and every disease” or are they truly/significantly higher because the coronavirus is more dangerous? That’s something that would be helpful to know, but not something any of the studies we’ve seen have chosen to consider.
Dr. Amelie Hofmann-Werther extends her expert advice on COVID-19 and Pregnancy
Dr. Amelie Hofmann-Werther, Specialist Gynaecology and Obstetrics extends her free advice during the Covid-19 pandemic for Mothers-to-be. Be informed about what to expect and how to be prepared during a worst case scenario.
Dr Amelie Hofmann-Werther is a German board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician with over 12 years of experience in fetal medicine and prenatal ultrasound diagnostics, high-risk pregnancy management, cytology and dysplasia diagnostics, colposcopic procedures and endocrinology and infertility diagnostics.
Last edit: Apr 18, 2020 * Below data may/may not change in due course of time. This blog is written as a service to assist the community during COVID-19 outbreak. You can reach us using the toll free number (800823) or send an email if you need further information or if you have any questions. You are advised to go through the Disclaimer and Privacy policy in case of any concerns.
Table of Contents
COVID-19 and Pregnancy
I’m pregnant. How can I protect myself against COVID-19?
Pregnant women should take the same precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection as other people.You can help protect yourself by:
Washing your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water till dry or soap and water for 30 seconds
Keeping space between yourselves and others and avoiding crowded spaces.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Practicing respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Avoid wearing jewelry, accessories and watches as it is difficult to keep them hygienic
Husbands are advised to avoid a long beard
What care should be available during pregnancy and childbirth?
All pregnant women, including those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections, have the right to high quality care before, during and after childbirth. This includes antenatal, newborn, postnatal, intrapartum and mental health care. But on top of that, much more patient education and mental support is needed.
Isolation, financial difficulties, insecurity, inability to access support systems are recognized factors putting mental wellbeing at risk. The corona virus epidemic increases the risk of perinatal anxiety, endogene depression, sleep depriviation and malnutrition. It is crucial that support for women and families is strengthened as far as possible.
A safe and positive childbirth experience includes:
Being treated with respect and dignity;
Having a companion of choice present during delivery;
Clear communication by maternity staff;
Appropriate pain relief strategies:
Mobility in labour where possible, and birth position of choice.
It is essential that care remains available and accessible to ensure continued support for women with their complex needs.
If I tested positive for COVID-19, can it pass through the placenta or birth canal to my baby?
We still do not know exactly, if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. There is no evidence so far, that COVID-19 has teratogenic potential, meaning causing any malformation in the fetus.
Vertical transmission i.e. transmission from mother to baby antenatally or intrapartum is so far unknown, presumably there is no. So far no virus could be detected in amniotic fluid or cord blood.
According to a case study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, there is no evidence that COVID-19 could be transmitted vertically to the fetus from the pregnant mother and cause a clinically significant infection. You can get a PCR COVID test from home by clicking here.
If I tested positive for COVID-19, what are the chances for a miscarriage or any complications?
Regarding a risk of miscarriage or early pregnancy loss related to COVID-19, there is so far not data suggesting an increased risk. Early pregnancy studies with SARS and MERS did not demonstrate a convincing relationship between infection and increased risk of miscarriage or second trimester loss4. There is also no evidence so far, that COVID-19 has teratogenic potential.
Is there a risk for fetal growth restrictions if I tested positive for COVID-19 in pregnancy?
No, there is no such evidence as of now, but in ongoing pregnancies after SARS fetal growth restrictions were observed. There is a recommendation for serial growth scans every 2-4 weeks in suspected cases, depending on the week of pregnancy at time of infection and gestational age.
How do I distinguish between a fever related to my pregnancy or to COVID-19?
The symptoms to ask about are: fever ≥37.8 AND at least one of acute persistent cough, hoarseness, nasal discharge/congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, wheezing or sneezing. Women with an isolated fever should be investigated, including sending a full blood count. If lymphopenia is identified on the full blood count, testing for COVID-19 should be arranged.
Do pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 need to give birth by caesarean section?
No. COVID-19 infection itself is not an indication for caesarean section. WHO advice is that caesarean sections should only be performed when medically justified. The mode of birth should be individualized and based on a woman’s preferences alongside obstetric indications.
At what week of pregnancy is delivery recommended in a term pregnant woman with confirmed COVID-19? Do you suggest induction of labor?
COVID-19 infection itself is not an indication for delivery, unless there is a need to improve maternal oxygenation. The timing and mode of delivery should be individualized, dependent mainly on the clinical status of the patient, gestational age and fetal condition. In the event that an infected woman has spontaneous onset of labor with optimal progress, she can deliver vaginally. Shortening the second stage by operative vaginal delivery can be considered if there is a need to improve maternal oxygenation or a woman’s respiratory condition demands urgent delivery.
Can I still have pain relief and an epidural in labour?
Yes. There is no evidence that epidural or spinal analgesia is contraindicated in the presence of corona virus. Epidural analgesia may be recommended in labour, to women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to minimize the need for general anaesthesia if an urgent delivery is needed.
Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms should be reserved for patients undergoing aerosol-generating procedures. There is no evidence that the use of Entonox is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP). Entonox should be used with a single-patient microbiological filter.
Can I still request delayed cord clamping?
Yes. Given a lack of evidence to the contrary, delayed cord clamping is still recommended following birth, provided there are no other contraindications. The baby can be cleaned and dried as normal, while the cord is still intact. The neonatal team should be informed of plans for the birth of the baby of a woman affected by moderate to severe COVID-19 as far in advance as possible and should also be given sufficient notice at the time of birth, to allow them to attend and secure PPE before entering the room/theatre.
What could be potential risks of delayed cord clamping?
An extended exposure of the newborn to the confirmed/suspected COVID-19 mother as the distance of separation would be less than < 1 meter.
Can my birth partner be present during the birth?
Yes. Asymptomatic birth partners should adhere to hygiene guidelines. If symptomatic, birth partners should remain in self-isolation and not attend. Women should be advised to identify an alternative birth partner in advance, should the need arise. Husbands are advised to avoid long beard.
Is a surgical mask adequate or is it recommended to wear P3-masks for during active labor?
Most guidelines recommend using a FFP3 or N95 respirator if attending to a delivery of a confirmed/probable/suspected COVID-19 patient. For all other patients, we recommend the use of a surgical mask as in all other clinical areas.
Can I breastfeed my baby if I’m COVID-19 positive?
Yes. Women with COVID-19 can breastfeed if they wish to do so. Currently, the primary concern is not whether the virus can be transmitted through breast milk, but rather whether an infected mother can transmit the virus through respiratory droplets during the period of breastfeeding. So the main risk of breastfeeding is the close contact between the infant and the mother. The risks and benefits of breastfeeding, including the risk of holding the baby in close proximity, should they be infected, needs to be discussed with the parents. Some guidelines recommend a temporary separation of mother and baby if the mother is tested positive. This is currently the recommendation US, China, Singapore, HK. Rooming-in for PUI’s requires special precaution to limit viral spread to the baby:
Wash hands before touching the baby, breast pump or bottles.
Avoid coughing or sneezing while feeding.
Consider wearing a face mask and gloves while feeding or caring for the baby.
Where a breast pump is used, follow recommendations for pump cleaning after use.
For babies who are bottle fed with formula or expressed milk, strict adherence to sterilization guidelines is recommended.
Where mothers are expressing breast milk in hospital, dedicated pumps to be used.
In limited case series reported to date, no evidence of virus has been found in the breast milk of women infected with COVID-19; however, it is not yet known if COVID-19 can be transmitted through breast milk (i.e., infectious virus in the breast milk).
Should I continue with my pre-natal visits during COVID-19 lockdowns?
Maternity care remains essential in times of social distancing. Antenatal & postnatal care based on years of evidence aim at keeping mothers and babies safe during pregnancy and childbirth. Women not attending or being deprived of antenatal services are known to be at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes including maternal morbidity, stillbirth, depression and others.
Women should therefore be encouraged to adhere with antenatal care guidelines and screening recommendation despite being advised to otherwise strictly engage with social distancing measures.
There may be a need to reduce the number of antenatal visits or replace face-to-face visits by online consultations, but visits should not be reduced without agreeing so first with the treating healthcare provider or facility. This should be communicated with the patients taking into account available evidence on the safe number of visits required.
If a routine scan or visit is due, patients should contact the maternity unit or clinic for advice and to agree on a plan. Scans should be prioritised in the following order:
Anomaly scan at 18+0 -23+0 weeks
Ultrasound +/- screening at 11+2 -14+1
Growth scans
Patients should be encouraged to attend antenatal care unless they meet current self-isolation guidance for individuals and households of individuals with symptoms. For women who have had symptoms recently, appointments can be deferred until 7 days after the start of symptoms, unless symptoms persevere. For women who are self-isolating because someone in their household has possible symptoms of COVID-19, appointments should be deferred for 14 days.
The symptoms to ask about are: fever ≥37.8 AND at least one of acute persistent cough, hoarseness, nasal discharge/congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, wheezing or sneezing. Women with an isolated fever should be investigated, including sending a full blood count1. If lymphopenia is identified on the full blood count, testing for COVID-19 should be arranged.
Clinics should develop a system to flag women who have missed serial appointments, which is a particular risk for women with other children who may become repeatedly unwell or can’t be left unmonitored. Any pregnant who has a routine appointment delayed for more than 3 weeks should be contacted proactively by the clinic.
Does prenatal corticoid treatment in COVID patients worsen their condition?
For preterm cases requiring delivery, we urge caution regarding the use of antenatal steroids for fetal lung maturation in a critically ill patient, because this can potentially worsen the patients clinical condition, based on data from MERS. An individualized decision needs to be made based on maternal and fetal condition an gestational age.
Should I be worried about COVID-19 at the hospitals when delivering my baby?
When a woman with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 is admitted to the delivery ward, the following staff should be informed: consultant obstetrician, consultant anaesthetist, midwife-in-charge, consultant neonatologist, neonatal nurse in charge and infection control team.
If the women is confirmed to be COVID-19 patient, she may not be admitted to the regular delivery ward as some hospitals have prepared special isolated delivery rooms.
Efforts should be made to minimize the number of staff members entering the room and units should develop a local policy specifying essential personnel for emergency scenarios. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be in line with the guidelines for the current COVID-19 pandemic.
With regard to mode of birth, an individualized decision should be made, with no obstetric contraindication to any method except water birth.1 Caesarean birth should be performed if indicated based on maternal and fetal condition as in normal practice.
Given the rate of fetal compromise reported in the two Chinese case series the current recommendation is for continuous electronic fetal monitoring in labour. There is currently no evidence to favour one mode of birth over another. The mode of birth should be discussed with the patient, taking into consideration her preferences and any obstetric indications for intervention. Mode of birth should not be influenced by the presence of COVID-19, unless the woman’s respiratory condition demands urgent delivery.
Patients with known or suspected COVID-19 should be cared for in a single-person room. Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms should be reserved for patients undergoing aerosol-generating procedures. There is no evidence that the use of Entonox is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP). Entonox should be used with a single-patient microbiological filter.
There is also no evidence that epidural or spinal analgesia is contraindicated in the presence of corona virus. Epidural analgesia may be recommended in labour, to women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to minimize the need for general anaesthesia if an urgent delivery is needed.
An individualized decision may be required regarding shortening the length of the second stage of labour with elective instrumental birth in a symptomatic woman who is becoming exhausted or hypoxic. Given a lack of evidence to the contrary, delayed cord clamping is still recommended following birth, provided there are no other contraindications. The baby can be cleaned and dried as normal, while the cord is still intact.
The neonatal team should be informed of plans for the birth of the baby of a woman affected by moderate to severe COVID-19 as far in advance as possible and should also be given sufficient notice at the time of birth, to allow them to attend and secure PPE before entering the room/theatre.
Will I be able to see an OB/GYN during my self-isolation?
When a face-to-face visit fails or appointments are missed due to self-isolation, recordkeeping remains paramount. Clinics should appoint a team coordinating patients forced to miss appointments due to self-isolation, reviewing appointments for urgency and either convert them to remote appointments, advice attendance or defer to a later point.
Patients should be encouraged to attend antenatal care unless they meet current self-isolation guidance for individuals and households of individuals with symptoms.
For women who have had symptoms recently, appointments can be deferred until 7 days after the start of symptoms, unless symptoms persevere.
For women who are self-isolating because someone in their household has possible symptoms of COVID-19, appointments should be deferred for 14 days.
Can I touch and hold my newborn baby if I have COVID-19?
Close contact and early, exclusive breastfeeding help a baby to thrive. You should be supported to:
Breastfeed safely, with good respiratory hygiene
You should wash your hands before and after touching your baby, and keep all surfaces clean at home. Consider wearing a face mask and gloves while feeding or caring for the baby.
Some maternity units recommend breast pumping and offering the milk to the newborn by the partner or other family members to decrease the risk of infection from close contact with the mother during direct breastfeeding
Can I access any type of Newborn care and Postnatal Care for Mother and baby at home after Delivery?
As the majority of both clinics and hospitals are following the guidelines from our authorities and the government, home sessions with professionals is not recommended due to precautions taken in line with COVID-19.
You can schedule online teleconsultations with Midwifes and pediatric nurses and if needed with a Doctor as well, you will be dedicated a certain amount of time with the professional on the phone. Start with giving a brief history of;
Type of pregnancy (normal/complicated)
Type of delivery
Date of delivery (hospital and doctor)
Birthweight baby
Any medical interventions done after delivery for Mother or baby?
Feeding method at the moment (breastfeeding/formula)
Most recent weight measured-?
The session will then continue as a normal consultation visit at home or in a clinic, with the client having chance to ask questions about her newborn baby, physical and psychological health and recovery or simply just ventilate for some time.
The professional might decide that a follow up session is needed after a certain amount of days, packages is normally available with a reduces price/ session.
A good advice is to make sure that you are prepared for the session, take a pen and paper and write down all questions that you might have, you can also take notes during the session. Try to schedule the time when the baby is settled (if possible) to make the best time out of it, but all midwifes and professionals are flexible and if the session end being chaos you can simply reschedule at a more suitable baby-time.
The professional might ask for pictures or videos to be sent for certain follow up, or for the purpose of a more detailed anamnesis and as part of the assessment plan.
One to one sessions are available for online preparation and education, join as a couple or just yourself. Theses sessions will help you getting both physically and psychologically prepared for your upcoming birth and labor.
Schedule an hour session to talk about your topic of choice or sign up for a full class to make sure you cover everything from last stage in pregnancy, labor/delivery, first time with a newborn, breastfeeding and a lot more…
Keep watching our Instagram and Facebook channels for free Webinars and Live sessions.
At Nightingale we are keen to promote all topics related to Public Health.
Raising awareness on the subject of Children being bullied at school is one such topic.
There are many warning signs that may indicate that your child is affected by bullying, either being bullied or bullying others. Recognising the warning signs is an important first step in taking action against bullying. It is important to remember that not all children who are bullied or are bullying others will ask for help.
Some signs that may point to a bullying problem include:
Unexplainable injuries
Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewellery
Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating.
Children may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
Self-destructive behaviours
Possible signs that your child is bullying others
Gets into physical or verbal fights
Has friends who bully others
Are increasingly aggressive at home
Gets sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently
Have unexplained extra money or new belongings
Blame others for their problems
Don’t accept responsibility for their actions
Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity
Children do not necessarily feel able to tell grownups about their problems for various reasons
Bullying can make a child feel helpless; children may want to handle it on their own to feel in control again. They may fear being seen as weak or a tell-tales.
Children may fear backlash from the child who bullied them.
Bullying can be a humiliating experience; children may not want adults to know what is being said about them, whether true or false. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak.
Children who are bullied may already feel socially isolated. They may feel like no one cares or could possibly understand.
So what next?
In the first instance, at a primary or secondary school, see the class teacher/form tutor and explain your worries in a friendly non-confrontational way.
Questions that you might consider:
Ask how your child is getting on with others in class and raise any issues of conflict with other children.
Ask if the teacher has noticed that your child seems unhappy and isolated and is being excluded from games or social groups in the playground or regularly not having a partner to work with in class.
Ask the class teacher, or the head of house at secondary school, if he/she can keep an eye on the situation and let you know if they have any concerns.
Ask what the teacher suggests would be the best way of sorting it out. This puts the ball very firmly in their court and makes it clear that action is required.
If you have spoken in person to the teacher follow this up with an email conforming key points, ask that a copy be placed in your child’s school record and also ask for a written response or action plan from the school.
Let’s hear what Malin – our head midwife has to say about her job!
What made you decide to be a midwife?
I always knew I wanted to work with something that involves interacting with people, coaching, teaching and caring, so the choice of education was easy for me, my goal was to become a pediatric doctor, but the road was too long at that time. There is also a vast variety in my job as a community midwife which is important to me as I know I have the tendency to get a bit fidgety if still for too long! Also, my passion for babies is unlimited.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
Every day is a different day for me and that’s how I like it, every baby and Mum have their own requests and as a result of that, every day I learn something new, I learn a new skill and I am often tested, this is something that humbles me, and that suits my personality perfect!
Is there a typical Career path for a midwife?
I would say no, Midwifes comes in all shapes with different backpacks filled up with different experiences, I have worked as a barista, hotel receptionist, waitress, ski instructor, personal assistant, anesthetic nurse, pediatric ward, before I started my career as a midwife.
What are the tricky parts with your job?
With the great happiness of having a baby also comes the underlying knowledge that not all childbirths will go as planned. Part of a midwife’s role is to support families through difficult times, such as having a sick child, a mother going through a hard baby blues or maybe even developed a postnatal depression, you need to use all of your senses and abilities to create useful tools for the families that they can use in order to make things easier or better.
What is the strangest/funniest/best experience you’ve had training to be a midwife?
Well that must be when I was working in labour room and we delivered an albino baby with white hair for an Emirati family in Dubai, the grandma looked at the baby and looked at me and said – mashalla he looks just like her, and she touched and smelled my hair constantly.
In today’s scenario, in the bustling city as Dubai when both mum and dad are busy in their office, booking nanny services has become an imperative for numerous families who need their loving child to be well taken care of at their own homes. Following the inclusive trend, going through this necessity of working parents, the demand for the specialized babysitting service in Dubai is on the rise. Having a trusted helper at your home who knows your child’s routine inside out can provide busy mums a complete ‘peace of mind’ as they juggle work & home.
Nanny Services in Dubai: Yay or Nay
Working or single mum and dad often get provoked with a big challenge of where to leave their children & with whom? Crèche or playschool is becoming an increasingly popular option in Dubai. Having a relaxed for yourself while knowing that your children is safe after his/her playschool hours, wherein you can do whatever you want without having to bother about the child is yet another side of the coin which tempts you into hiring a babysitter. Some babysitters offer personalized attention for your child. Moreover, in the global country Dubai, individuals come from all over the world to work & live. And, thus, being the single-family cores having no family member to take care of their little ones under their sight. In such cases, exploring for a babysitter or a nanny turns into a priority.
Not all that Glitters is Gold
On the other note, when to bring a babysitter or nanny to look after our loving child, we lay our entire trust in that babysitter to take care of our child. But is this always the same case? In the modern era, babysitter misdemeanors & misconducts and even the examples of children’s abuse are becoming a more common issue than we are ready to acknowledge. Even in Dubai, people are really not fully aware of the psychological & emotional state of the people they entrust for their loved ones.
People just assume that since it is a person’s job to take care of their loving child, they will do so diligently. Nevertheless, people have to admit that their children get even us frustrated or annoyed. Thus, they should not simply jump to conclusions when the nanny or babysitter also loses a bit of her patience & gives in to lecturing the children. This is certainly not abusing it may lead to one if it frequently happens with little or no provocation.
Abuse sees no age limit & even children just a few months old have been exposed to violent conduct, but, a good nanny or babysitter has to have assured prerequisite skills which are necessary to take care of your loved ones properly & at the same time carry out all the tasks delivered.
What Kind of Baby Sitter or Nanny Services Should You Look For:
Finding good babysitter or nanny is vital for the health & wellbeing of your loving child. It is the chief area that you can’t compromise. When it comes to exploring for a babysitter or nanny in Dubai for your loved ones, you need to look for the one who is most experienced with small children. An ideal babysitter or nanny would be the woman who has a child of her own. A mum would know how to take care of their young child and understand its requirements.
It is the best option to look for the older & practiced child caregivers or nannies, as they are more compassionate and patient. These two qualities are necessary for the babysitter for your loved ones as they need proper loving care. The babysitter should be flexible with her schedule. Your child cannot be left alone if you are late at work, sometimes. The nanny should be able to extend her working hours to accommodate your emergencies. There should be a proper understanding between you & her about additional payment for such overtime. Your relationship with nanny should be friendly & communicative. If there is the communication gap between the two of you, your loving child is likely to suffer numerous consequences.
A babysitter or nanny should be clean & tidy. Cleanliness and hygiene are absolutely essential to the wellbeing of your loved ones. Most health issues develop from the unclean & dirty environment. Moreover, the babysitter needs to be reliable, trustworthy, and responsible. She should be active and have the ability to make her own judgments for the welfare of your child when you are not available for discussion.
Hiring a Nanny in Dubai
Dubai has a large workforce & all types of domestic services are simply available. Nightingale provides the skilled nannies who are BLS certified and it will ensure your child or loved one is in the best hands. Our nannies know how to respond in the event of a medical emergency. If you require to compare the babysitter prices or obtain useful tips & guidelines in Dubai, you can look up Nightingale Home Nursing services Dubai, a famous platform where you can search for & book a babysitter without much hassle & rather quickly.
Are you having a troubling time worrying about the ailing loved one at home? Is your loved one recovering at home in the post-operative phase or you have an elderly member at home of whom you are not being able to take proper care? You are not alone in this situation, in a fast-paced city like Dubai there are several people like you who are not able to do enough for their loved one at home due to their busy work schedule and demands of professional life.
You shouldn’t blame yourself for this inability. We can understand providing your loved one nursing home care always can burn a hole in your pocket. It is during these situations you can look for an alternative. And that alternative is home healthcare services or in-home healthcare agencies.
In-home healthcare agencies in Dubai provides home nursing and home healthcare services so that you can get nursing home-like care for your loved ones at home at a much more affordable price. If you are looking to hire a general nurse for the patient at your home do consider visiting one of the many in-home healthcare agencies in your city for specialised nurses.
In-home healthcare agencies have a workforce which comprises of nurses, midwife, caregivers specially trained to handle a specific health condition of a patient. So, a maternity nurse will vary from a nurse trained to provide care to the elderly, terminally ill or cancer patients. So, go and choose your nurse from an in-home healthcare agency for a specially trained person suitable to your needs.
Another advantage of an in-home healthcare agency is that the Agency doctors will be in constant touch with the nurse and maintain a report about the health condition of your patient. Which will be shared with you periodically so that you can monitor the developments closely and even report the same to the doctor that you have been consulting for your patient. Besides, a trained home nurse is much better equipped for responding to emergencies, promptly and correctly advocating the medicines, checking the blood pressure of the patient and doing some preliminary tests on the patient or injecting the medicine.
You can ensure that by hiring a nurse from a reputed home healthcare agency you are not duped as you can always check the certificates of a nurse employed by a home nursing agency. We doubt nurse whose contact you get to know through your neighborhood hardly could produce a certificate of her course. So be careful about choosing your nurse and lessen your worries. it’s not just about entrusting the keys of your home to someone it’s about taking care of the health of your loved one at home and in your absence.
Let’s understand the services of the nurse provided by the home healthcare agencies.
Maternity Nurse or a Nanny
A maternity nurse or a nanny is someone who takes care of the mother and the newborn in the postnatal phase after the mother has given birth to a child. In case of cesarean child and more intense care required by the mother your in-home health care agency will provide a nurse who is well equipped in dressing the C section wound of the mother and advocate her the medicines and also monitor the bleeding frequency of the mother.
A maternity nurse takes care of both the baby and the mother. She maintains cleanliness in the house, maintains a high standard of hygiene, can even prepare meals for the mother as per the diet chart. She will also teach first time mother how to breastfeed her child and will be a complete counsellor for the new mother of how to take care of her child and her health and also would encourage the new mother to come out of the depression phase that sets in a woman after giving birth to a child and help her cope up with normal life.
Nurse for Aging and terminally ill patients
You may have an elderly at home who constantly gives you blues for not being able to manage their daily activities. Simply taking a bath or eating on time can become irregular for them. Since you cannot manage them the whole day due to your work, it is desirable to hire a part-time elderly care nurse from a home nursing agency.
The part-time elderly care nurse will not just create a strict routine for your elderly loved one but bring back dignity to his/her life. She will give your loved one company, make him feel important, keep depression at bay, take him /her for a short walk at the same time maintain hygiene in the house, monitor medicines for them and help them with daily chores.
Critical patient caregiver
With cancers becoming a reality of our society and more elderly people suffering from it, you should be both financially and mentally be ready for such circumstances. To help create some positivity at home you can hire a critical caregiver nurse from a home nursing agency, someone who is mentally tough and have handled such patients before. A good caregiver can share your pain and inspire your struggle.
Do consult a home nursing agency before making up your mind of hiring a nurse for the different circumstances discussed above or more situations to lessen your worries.
With a growing number of cesarean births a new branch of caregivers has emerged. This new branch of caregivers is none but midwives, nurses who have specialized training to take care of the mother who has undergone C section operation. These midwives are especially employed when the new mother is discharged from a medical institution and yet need support at home to get back to their normal lives and also recover from the post-operative stress.
What’s the need for special nurses after C section?
Where family members fail is routine monitoring of the health condition of the mother. A midwife in comparison maintains a chart of her health condition through the day, recording periodically the body temperature, blood pressure, checking the bleeding frequency of the new mother. Wound care, heparin injections under any kind of special circumstances or any developing health complication of the mother, the nurse would promptly report the same to the doctors at the centre from where she has been employed. She should be also an expert in monitoring the medicines to be taken by the new mother during the postnatal phase. She can monitor the health condition of the mother and can advocate SOS medicines in case the patient developing any kind of complications. For quicker action, she can even inject medicines if required.
Your maternity nurse will provide baby care to the newborn when you are hardly in a position to take care of your baby due to your health condition after a c section operation. The maternity nurse assist you with feeding bathing of the baby, maintaining the cleanliness of the household so that the mother or the newborn doesn’t catch any infection. The maternity nurse will teach the mother how to breastfeed her baby. New mothers face a lot of difficulties with the techniques of breastfeeding so the midwife will be of great support. Newborn care would involve creating proper sleep patterns for the baby and the mother so that the mother doesn’t feel deprived of sleep. Sleep is essential in the mother’s recovery and restoration to normal life. The after delivery care nurse will also monitor the medication for the baby if suffering from mild fever and other common ailments.
After delivery care for the mother also takes into account the counselling that is being provided by the nurse to mother. Maternity, especially for the first-time mother, is a new phase in life that one needs to get used to and at the same. The nurse often counsels the mother to slowly regain her composure about daily life, answers queries related to the change that has occurred in a mother’s life and also lend a patient ear to the mother to hear her experience of childbirth that she might likely to share with someone who could relate to it better.
In a fast-paced city like Dubai where the population comprises expats and others coming and settling from all over the world and smaller family sizes, it is advisable that you do fix a maternity nurse to help you cope with childbirth in the postnatal phase. More so when your spouse is also a working member. To book a maternity nurse don’t delay it to the last leg of your pregnancy, plan, interview and fix an appointment with a nurse right before you get into the delicate phase of childbirth. For getting a trustworthy nurse who is well trained and certified it is better if you visit a home nursing centre and request for a maternity specialist. In case you are going for a cesarean baby, which your family will get to know in the last minute, the centre will come to your help in that matter and provide a nurse who is well equipped to handle the scenario. With a specialist post c section nurse or midwife, you can easily and in a more calm and relaxed manner get across the most challenging part of your childbirth.
In a fast-paced metro like Dubai, it is a fact that despite how much we want to spend time with our elderly at home but hardly manage to spend quality time with family due to the professional rat race in our lives. As a result, our elderly loved ones feel extremely lonely at home and may slip into a depression. Also at their senile age, they often behave like children and may say that all is well but in reality they may be ignoring their health condition, skipping medicines or are simply not adept to take care of their daily chores or maintain the required standards of hygiene. In such a scenario or your loved elderly has undergone any operation or old age-related health condition do consider taking the services of a senior home healthcare agency or appoint a professional old age care nurse as our city of Dubai is seeing a proliferation of old age care services.
What is included in Senior home health care services?
ADLs or Assistance with daily living. As suggested from the name appoint a senior care nurse to take care of the daily chores of an elderly living in your house. Appoint the nurse during the day shift if you are not at home during day hours due to office. An elderly care nurse would assist with bathing, cleaning, feeding of your elderly as per a strict diet chart and even can assist with food being prepared at your home for the elderly. The elderly home care nurse will ensure that your loved one gets care that of a nursing home at your house by maintaining the hygiene of the strictest quality. She will also ensure that your elderly is safe in your house by mitigating risks like falling due to wet floors, particularly in the washroom.
The second most important aspect of ADLs is monitoring medicine prescribed for the elderly. If your elder has conditions like hypertension or diabetic then the nurse would advocate timely medicines, closely monitor the condition of the elderly and in case of any irregularities would report to y0u or even the home healthcare agency that has appointed her. She can even maintain a record of the readings to better understand the improvement of the patient over some time. A senior home health care nurse will advocate a routine of exercises recommended to a diabetic person or can even take the diabetic person out for a stroll or a walk. She should be knowledgeable about the exercises recommended in such health condition and routinely ensure that your elderly get their share of workout. For other conditions like post-operative care, post-surgery care, senile health condition, terminally ill patients go for a nurse who is trained to handle such cases and consult about the same with your elderly home healthcare agency. Some scenarios may require you to appoint a nurse who is sound with postoperative wound dressing so that no infection develops and your elderly receives proper care at home. For more serious elderly patients at home, you can even appoint a nurse for the night shift. So that you get your night’s sleep without having to worry about your loved one and at the same time your loved one’s condition is constantly monitored.
Mental health and companionship
Statistics in a fast city like Dubai, unfortunately, point out that a major chunk of the city’s elderly population is suffering from mental health issues, depression and loneliness. It is quite unfortunate that the generation who enabled us to lead a life where we can today satisfy most of our material wants have relegated our parents and seniors to this position of pity and loneliness. Appointing a senior home healthcare nurse at your residence not only takes care of your loved ones physically but provides companionship through the day when you are out and busy with professional commitments. This companionship of a home nurse can bring joy to them, restore dignity in their lives and fills them with appreciation and positivity for you. A home health care nurse specialised for seniors are trained to an extent about the mental health of the elderly, how to make them feel loved and cared for. Most importantly these home healthcare nurses in Dubai lends a patient ear to whatever your elderly have to say and engage with them through storytelling.
There are multiple benefits of appointing an elderly home healthcare professional at your residence from a standard and professional elderly home healthcare service provider. In the long run, they may also help you save health expenses incurred on elders if their health condition goes unchecked or he/she contracts a lifestyle disease. All you need to do is keep your mind open to these newer concepts coming in to make our elderly population’s lives a little better and explore more on this by actually visiting a elderly home care centre for your elderly loved one to age at his home with dignity rather than having a harrowing experience in an old age home or suffer in a hospital just for the sake of better care.
