Healthcare

Written by Sonal Patel, MD Postpartum AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering health care, including postpartum care, a high-stakes period marked by physical recovery, infant adjustment, and major mental health risks. But “AI in postpartum care” can mean anything from simple symptom check-ins to full clinical decision support. For readers and clinicians alike, the key question is not whether AI can be impressive, it’s whether AI can be evidence-based, safe, and c

A Guide by Dr. Sonal Patel (July 14, 2026) Cyclosporiasis: Explosive Diarrhea. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you already think carefully about food safety and for good reason. Cyclosporiasis (also called Cyclospora infection) is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis. It’s not one of those infections people talk about every day, but with the recent outbreak we have to address it. And the biggest problem with this parasite is tha

Big sister helping out in a home visit. “Didn’t you just give birth?” A simple acknowledgement from my contractor forced me to face a reality that I had conducted like clockwork. Get pregnant, give birth, return 2 days after said birth and follow a postpartum medical system built upon a paternalist view and reinforced by policies and insurances. A system that demands achievement (exclusive breastfeeding, bounce back, and no postpartum depression) without any scaffold to help

Black mother with her newborn nesting in the postpartum period in her home. Juneteenth is a day of profound reflection: a commemoration of the end of slavery and a celebration of Black resilience. It reminds us that the fight for freedom is never finished; it is a continuous evolution that seeks to dismantle the structures that prevent individuals from living with dignity, safety, and health. If we are to take the legacy of Juneteenth seriously, we must confront one of the mo

The reality is that birth is not the finish line. It is the beginning of recovery.

Introduction Across the last several centuries, war did more than redraw borders and topple empires. It also transformed family life, labor, motherhood, and the way women were expected to participate in society. As men were sent to battlefields and economies reorganized around survival and production, women were drawn in increasing numbers into the industrial and wage-earning sectors of society. Yet this shift did not come with meaningful social support. There was little stru

Discover the latest WHO and CDC maternal mortality statistics for 2024-2026. Explore global trends, U.S. racial disparities, and progress toward the 2030 SDG goals.

Introduction The period immediately after birth is one of the most important and vulnerable times in human life. For centuries, healthcare systems have treated the mother and newborn as two separate patients, often dividing care across different departments, teams, and priorities. While this approach has helped organize medical services, it has also created gaps in support during a period when the health of mother and baby is deeply interconnected. In response, a new model ha