The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms. There are working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Riya Nanda. Each month we will feature one special mom as the Mom of the Month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
Meet our September Mom of the Month: Riya Nanda
Riya Nanda is a born-and-raised Maryland mom who has been working in clinical research for over 15 years. She lives in Montgomery County with Raj, her husband of almost 7 years, an adorable Jack Russell rescue named Milo, and a beautiful 1 year old boy, Kairav (Kai for short).
Riya has a master’s degree in healthcare administration and currently works as a clinical research associate for oncology trials. She loves what she does and enjoys that she gets to travel a bit for work too!
Riya loves spending time with her family and going on walks. She is a big mental health advocate, previously working for The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now CALL 988). Recently she has been a huge advocate for new moms, fighting the stigma of postpartum mental health which she struggled with herself during and after pregnancy.
Here is our Q&A with Riya Nanda
1. What did your life look like before becoming a mom?
My husband and I got married in September 2018 and we loved to travel. My husband has worked remotely since 2014, but when the pandemic hit we both worked from home. It wasn’t easy. Then, I started a new job where I traveled a lot. At the end of 2021, we both wanted to start a family and we rescued our sweet dog Milo. In March 2023, I found out I was pregnant with my son Kairav. Shortly after giving birth, I realized that I had postpartum depression.
I have always been a huge mental health advocate. I started as volunteer on the Montgomery County crisis hotline and enjoyed the work so much that I eventually joined the organization as a Quality Assurance Manager. In the South Asian community, mental health isn’t something you broadcast or talk about. I really want to be a part of changing that.
2. What was your postpartum experience?
Given my history with mental health, I expected that postpartum depression or anxiety might affect me — but I had no idea just how deeply it would hit. In those first two weeks after coming home from the hospital, I barely left my bedroom except for doctor’s appointments. I cried constantly. I didn’t want to be alone for even a moment, and I couldn’t bear to be away from my son.
On top of that, I experienced something called Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (DMER). DMER is a condition that causes sudden emotional distress when breastfeeding or pumping. It’s rarely talked about — and often not even recognized by healthcare providers. I’m incredibly grateful that my lactation consultant identified it. Without her, I would’ve felt even more isolated and confused.
One of the most shocking things about postpartum care is how little support is built into the system. During pregnancy, you’re regularly monitored — every four weeks, then every two, sometimes more. But after birth? You typically see your OB once at six weeks postpartum. So much happens in those six weeks, and yet there’s virtually no formal check-in for the mother. I was stunned when my son’s pediatrician gave me a postpartum depression screening. I remember thinking, Wait — you’re the only one asking me how I’m doing?
3. How did you communicate your needs and feelings to friends and family?
I’m fortunate that my parents live just 15 minutes away. My mom was constantly by my side, helping in every way she could. Even now, my parents play a huge role in supporting us and caring for Kai when we work. My brother, a fellow mental health advocate, was also nearby during this time, completing his residency at a local hospital. Having someone with that kind of medical insight just a phone call away brought a lot of comfort.
And my husband — I truly don’t know what I would’ve done without him. He came with me to every appointment, stayed close when my thoughts turned dark, and gently encouraged me to open up. He was the first to recognize that I wasn’t myself and took the important step of reaching out to my family. That helped open the door to the support I needed.
Therapy has been a cornerstone of my healing. My therapist helped me find the words to express how I was feeling — and how to talk honestly with my family. Being open and vulnerable wasn’t easy, but it was essential. These conversations are never simple. There’s so much pressure to “have it all together” — to be strong, capable, and in control. And when you don’t feel that way, the guilt creeps in, whispering that you’re failing somehow. That stigma around asking for help? It needs to go.
This experience, as challenging as it was, has changed me in powerful ways. It’s made me a more present, empathetic mom — and a better advocate and friend to other new moms walking their own paths through early motherhood.
4. What resources did you find helpful?
Postpartum Support International. They are so focused on the mental health and mental well-being of pregnant moms, new moms, and moms in general. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve cried in those support groups! The women there have just been beyond amazing and beyond supportive. I am so grateful that I was given the number to get connected with this organization after texting at 3 o’clock in the morning one night. I was also provided information about support groups that met via Zoom. Joining new mom groups and just being able to share how I was feeling and knowing that I wasn’t alone was a huge weight off my shoulders. Women across the country – both new moms and moms who have done this before – sharing their journey and providing hope was just such a breath of fresh air.
Helpline – 1-800-944-4773
Do you know an amazing mom? Nominate a mom of the month here!
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