Dr. Danielle Watson, ND

09/04/2026

One of the most dangerous things we can do in postpartum care is make “postpartum” the explanation instead of the context.

Yep, hormones change dramatically after birth.

But “postpartum” doesn't tell you *why* a patient is unable to sleep, disconnected or just not herself.

It should make us ask better questions.

The answer issn't to blame hormones.

And it certainly isn't to suggest that supplements can fix everything.

**It's to recognize that postpartum care requires a team.**

This is where I believe NDs can complement conventional medical care.

We can spend more time assessing the broader picture, identify potentially modifiable contributors, support nutrition and recovery, an perhaps most importantl recognize when a patient needs medical, psychological or psychiatric care beyond our scope.

Good integrative care isn't about competing for the patient.

**It's about knowing who needs to be in the room.**

And if a postpartum mother says, “Something isn't right,” I don't want her reassured simply because her symptoms are common.

I want someone to ask:

“What if this isn't just postpartum? What else could be going on?”

Because being a mom isn't a diagnosis.

08/13/2026

“It’s 2026, not 1928. Is postpartum depression/psychosis in the DSM?”

This question stopped me in my tracks.

Because the answer is complicated and I think that complication matters.

Postpartum depression is recognized in the DSM-5-TR. It isn't a standalone diagnosis; it's classified under depressive disorders with a peripartum onset specifier. So saying that postpartum depression “isn't in the DSM” isn't quite accurate.

Postpartum psychosis is different. It is a very real, well-recognized psychiatric emergency but it does not have its own DSM diagnosis or dedicated diagnostic criteria. Instead, clinicians diagnose the underlying mood or psychotic disorder.

And I think we're allow d to ask is that good enough?

Because postpartum psychosis isn't simply “psychosis that happens to occur after having a baby.”

It has a strikingly characteristic timing. It can emerge rapidly. It is strongly associated with bipolar illness. It can look dramatically different from typical postpartum depression. And the consequences can be devastating.

And as of now, many providers need specialized training to feel comfortable diagnosing even PPd and PPA...one of the most COMMON diagnosis of pregnancy....that also, like...can be fatal?

Pardon me if I take it very seriously.

There are psychiatrists and researchers arguing that it deserves its own diagnostic category precisely because of these distinctive features.

So yea, we should be careful with the facts. But we should also be willing to question whether our diagnostic systems have kept pace with what we know about postpartum mental illness.

Because when we're talking about conditions that can change lives in a matter of days, the way we name, recognize and study them matters.

08/07/2026

This isn't helpful

Current systematic reviews and psychiatric guidelines have not found sufficient evidence to recommend progesterone as a treatment for postpartum psychosis.

That's an important distinction between a promising hypothesis and an evidence-based therapy.

08/06/2026

Hearing them read a mother's diary entries about obsessions with nap times down to the minute...insomnia...feeling not like themselves...worry for the health of their children...

It's something SO many new moms experience. Diary entries and therapy visits that never make the news. But moms everywhere are desperate for care postpartum.

We need to do better for mothers. We need to do better for their babies.

🤍🤍

07/14/2026

Small changes really do matter

Every healthy habit you build creates a ripple effect.

The walk after dinner, adding more fibre, going to bed on time ...they all add up

We don't need perfection but we do need habits that support the life you want to live and the mom you want to be

You know a lot about what to do. It can be hard to create a priority list to figure out what you need to address first

If you need help, send me a DM to book in (in-person in Sudbury or virtual throughout Ontario)

Your health isn't separated from your life, it's all connected

06/25/2026

A recent study in Obstetrics & Gynecology looked at an important clinical question: **does early pregnancy anemia matter if it improves later?**

In this cohort of >70,000 pregnancies, first trimester anemia was associated with higher rates of adverse outcomes, including a higher risk of transfusion.

The finding I found most interesting was around resolution:
When anemia improved by late pregnancy, SOME risks decreased
But resolution did not completely eliminate risk for all outcomes

This raises an important clinical consideration: anemia may identify patients entering pregnancy with reduced hematologic reserve.

A few questions worth discussing:
• Are we focusing enough on early identification and intervention?
• Are we evaluating iron status beyond hemoglobin alone?
• Does normalization of hemoglobin always mean the underlying issue has been addressed?

As always, observational data can show associatiON but it adds to the conversation around optimizing maternal health before and early in pregnancy.

Article: PMID: 40839881

06/09/2026

Thank you to all my wonderful patients. If you have a chance, vote for me at the link below :)

https://sudbury.communityvotes.com/2026/02/healthcare/naturopaths

05/14/2026

Can we talk about this?

Let's talk about it

What questions do you have?

05/12/2026

What's in a name? 🌹

I like PMOS as the new name for PCOS, even though it'll take me a bit to remember the acronym 😂

Even though we have the great Rotterdam Criteria to help with diagnosis, we still see struggles with understanding that application in practice--since the name implies that cysts are part of the picture

If you have PCOS or PMOS, there's so much nutrition and lifestyle can do for your health

Let me know in the comments below what you think of this name change

03/12/2026