Sonal Patel, MD

Key Takeaways The Problem: Postpartum mental health issues are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S., yet standard care relies on delayed, office-based checkups. The Gap: Even medical professionals (like NICU doctors) often suffer in silence due to cultural pressure to "bounce back" and a lack of proactive screening. The Solution: Mandating universal postpartum medical home visits to treat the mother-infant dyad together in their home environment. The Evidence: Data from over...

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 clinically...

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 that when it hits,...