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What if rest wasn’t something you earned, but something essential for healing and thriving? In episode, Dr. Seema Desai and Dinesh Melwani sit down with Dr. Sonal Patel, pediatrician and fierce advocate for moms navigating the mysterious and often overlooked “fourth trimester.” But don’t let the parenting focus fool you because this conversation goes beyond childbirth and into the heart of our culture’s obsession with achievement, productivity, and the pressure to prove ourselves.

Whether you’re a parent or not, this conversation explores what it really means to slow down, why so many of us resist rest even when we know we need it, and how reclaiming ancient wisdom, from siestas to Ayurvedic practices, might offer the way forward. 

About Dr. Sonal Patel:

Sonal Patel, MD.  She is a pediatrician, neonatologist, & breastfeeding specialist whose education has been centered on infant nutrition with its impact on development and maternal wellbeing in the 4th trimester.  She founded NayaCare in 2018. NayaCare is a home health clinic focused on improving postpartum care.  She has written several articles on this subject published in Scary Mommy, Kevin MD, and Colorado Sun.  She wrote her first book, The Doctor and Her Black Bag that examines maternal mortality in historical and personal context and solutions to reduce maternal mortality.  She is a TEDx speaker: The Economics of the 4th Trimester.  She is also the co-founder, co-executive director of Center for 4th Trimester Care, a physician-led national nonprofit organization challenging the status quo of maternal healthcare. She has co-created a breastfeeding toolkit helping mothers of premature babies achieve their breastfeeding goals:  Small Steps, BIG Gains. Lastly, since 2018, she has been a member of Good Business Colorado, a nonprofit helping small businesses have a voice in policy. She lent her voice to passing FAMLI, paid family and medical leave in Colorado.  

The views expressed in the podcast do not reflect the views of any organization affiliated with the hosts or any guest.

Connect with Dr. Sonal Patel: 

Dr. Sonal Patel (@nayacare)

NayaCare

Sonal Patel, MD - Independent Business Owner - NayaCare | LinkedIn

Tiktok: @sonalpatel4tridoc

Links: 

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com, IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast