Category: Postpartum

Midwifery Care, Musing, Postpartum, Pregnancy

International Day of the Midwife

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

Today is May 5th, the International Day of the Midwife You might wonder why there is an international day of celebration for such a seemingly smaller or insignificant profession.  You might even be someone who struggles to categorize “midwife” as a profession at all. I will save you the history lecture for the moment but suffice to say that midwives have been around for as long as human beings, sex, birth, and death. For a profession that is utilized most commonly for perinatal care around the world, and in many places globally where health outcomes for the birthing parent and … Continue reading International Day of the Midwife

Adulting, Grief & Loss, Parenting, Postpartum

Postpartum Grief, Depression, and Anxiety

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

I spend a lot of time with postpartum people. Figuring out how to hold their hearts and help them thrive after the birth. Talking through the transition from person to parent, or established parent to parent of yet another. All of it is new, and all of it fraught with uncertainty. People rarely talk about the grief of being a new parent, and really of parenting, period. When you choose to parent, we have to acknowledge that not all people choose and some are forced to. And even still, in all situations, there is a grief. We decide or have … Continue reading Postpartum Grief, Depression, and Anxiety

Adulting, Breastfeeding, Musing, Natural Childbirth, Parenting, Postpartum, Pregnancy

El Dia Internacional de la Matrona

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

Today is May 5th. Some folks think of it as a good day for margaritas and tacos. It’s also International Day of the Midwife. This is a day, acknowledged all around the world, where we honor the people who quietly walk through fire as a way of life and a profession. Midwives are the attendants for most births around the world. In some places they are traditionally trained by their elders. In many or most places (and in ALL the places that have better maternity and neonatal outcomes than the USA…) Midwives are very highly trained in sitting on their … Continue reading El Dia Internacional de la Matrona

Immune Health, Parenting, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Community Midwives Tending to Low-Risk Families and Adapting to Changes in Hospital Resources

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is so much that feels uncertain for families, especially families that are expecting a child in the coming weeks and month(s) and planning to birth in hospitals. Some of the questions that families are coming to me and my colleagues with are: Is it safe for me to birth in the hospital if there are potentially infected or exposed people in the same environment? Does this put me and my baby at risk? Will there be enough beds, space, and medical personnel to attend my birth? What if my OB, CNM, or … Continue reading Community Midwives Tending to Low-Risk Families and Adapting to Changes in Hospital Resources

Adulting, Musing, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Being Born Isn’t the Only Thing That Hurts…

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

In the last two years I have changed my work-life balance. One may look at my 4 or 5 spinning plates and not find a shred of balance…It’s a practice; not a destination. At least that’s what I tell myself. One of the ways that I have radically shifted my life is not being on call anymore. I started being on call nearly 20 years ago, working with adolescents who were becoming young parents or were already parenting. And then I shifted into being on call as a midwife attending births 13 years ago. Pagers and phones have accessorized my … Continue reading Being Born Isn’t the Only Thing That Hurts…

Grief & Loss, Musing, Parenting, Postpartum

Being born hurts…

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

I mean they don’t call it labor for nothing…  It’s been a awhile.  I have been taking my own advice that Winter is For Sleeping (you can check out the Muse-letter archives to read that one from last year).  I have been sleeping, thinking, reading, writing, and hibernating within myself quite a bit in the last 2 months.   And then all of a sudden it was Rohan’s 9th birthday and I realized it was time to step back out.  Time to stop growing on the inside and get born already.  If you remember those last weeks of pregnancy, you know what I’m talking about…Let’s get … Continue reading Being born hurts…

Adolescent Health, Immune Health, Nutrition, Pediatrics, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Self Care

Happy Acupuncture Week 2019!

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

I love talking about how acupuncture has been part of my life for 16 years, even before @jp.boisvert brought it full circle to our clinic and home We have used acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tui na, gua sha, and cupping for years to treat fevers, stave off colds, deal with whiplash and sticky shoulders, vanquish back pain and migraines, and generally manage our health for a long time It’s true that we also take care to move our bodies and sleep, but I definitely credit acupuncture and Chinese medicine with our family’s pretty rocking health. And I credit @jp.boisvert for … Continue reading Happy Acupuncture Week 2019!

Events, Fitness, Natural Childbirth, Parenting, Pediatrics, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Miles For Midwives!!

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

I am personally involved in planning this wonderful event that helps support birth in Washington State and the local non-profit Families of Color – Seattle. Better yet, Rohan and I are run/walking! Join us on Oct. 19th at Marymoor Park for a family-friendly run/walk 5K! Strollers and leashed pets are welcome to join in on this community enriching event! Register for the race at https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Redmond/WAMilesforMidwives5K To learn more about Miles for Midwives please visit our website: https://www.wamilesformidwives.com/ We are also looking for sponsors. If you are interested or know a business who might be, please let me know. I would LOVE to … Continue reading Miles For Midwives!!

Events, Natural Childbirth, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Join us for the MAWS Clinical Update!

Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM

We are getting together on Thursday September 26th to discuss new changes to our laws and legend drugs for Licensed Midwives in Washington state. If you are a midwife, an aspiring midwife, or other birth attendant serving families in WA State, please come learn more about how this affects midwives, their support teams (including doulas), and families! #washingtonmidwives Continue reading Join us for the MAWS Clinical Update!