Women are busy. We work, we run households, we take care of children, we are there for our friends and family. The list goes on and on. However, sometimes being there for everyone else means we put ourselves last. Instead, we need to take time out of our busy schedules to take care of ourselves.

“You can’t take care of everything else if you do not take care of yourself,” Nichele Salazar, Certified Nurse Midwife at San Juan Health Partners Midwifery and Women’s Health, said.

As a midwife, Salazar sees women on all ends of the spectrum, from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. While there is a misconception that midwives only care for pregnant women, they are actually there to help all women with whatever stage of life they’re going through. Important during any stage is routine, preventive care. That’s why Salazar urges women to schedule those yearly well woman exams. 

“During these exams we provide education and counsel women, working together do some goal making that can help improve their health,” Salazar said. “This helps to keep families healthy because if mom is healthy the family is moving in the right direction.”

Well woman exams are personalized to fit your individualized needs and can include:

• Health maintenance labs to look at risk factors for diseases like diabetes or thyroid issues
• STD screenings
• Stress 
• Sleep hygiene 
• Improving activity levels
• Intimacy concerns
• Safety 
• Smoking cessation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the midwives are seeing a lot of issues related to the changes that COVID has brought upon us like stress and dietary changes. People are eating more processed foods and getting less exercise which can lead to the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Dietary changes can also affect a woman’s hormones and reproductive system.

“People aren’t aware or think that what they eat has anything to do with their reproductive organs. But those things make a big difference. We are seeing changes in menstrual cycles.So we want women to come see us,” Salazar said.

The clinic is also offering telehealth appointments with visits either over video or phone for patients who don’t feel comfortable coming in the clinic or who don’t have the ability to make it in person. 

“We understand your concerns and are taking precautions to keep our patients safe. The best thing to do is to call us at 505.609.2590 and ask some questions. Then we can see how we can help,” Salazar said. “It’s not selfish to take time for yourself. Set aside that time to focus on yourself.”

San Juan Health Partners Midwifery and Women's Health can be reached by calling 505.609.2590.