Meet Eva Zasloff of Tova Health: Integrative Newborn & Maternal Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Zasloff 

As a family physician and a mother of three, Eva knew that there was a better way to provide care for new families. So after years of training in both women’s health and pediatrics, last year she created a new model of care for the fourth trimester. Now she brings her stethoscope and doctor bag to the homes of new families to provide care for both the newborn baby and the postpartum mother. Everything that is typically done for the newborn in the doctor’s office, she does in the home. Plus she supports the mom around breastfeeding and postpartum mood. For each new family, she comes with a gift of the ingredients and recipe for an Indian postpartum tea — a drink she learned how to make by one of the grandmothers of a baby she was caring for. Amazing how many cultures have traditions embracing this time, Eva hopes to elevate and honor this moment for families in America. She is located in Arlington, MA and her practice is booming- with growing interest from all over the country.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely was a leap of faith to start this new model of care. I didn’t know if this was an idea that would resonate! I knew as a mother that this was something that I wanted after my babies were born, but it just did not exist. But the support from families and providers has been totally incredible. People want this kind of service and care all over the country.

Like anything new, there is a lot of trying and exploring. I have to be comfortable with pivoting and being open to change.

tova health: integrative newborn & maternal care at home – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Tova health is a new way of caring for newborn babies and postpartum mothers. In this model of care, we go to the new family’s home, and provide the services that would regularly be done in a pediatrics doctor’s office in the home. This is particularly helpful model for this time because we can decrease illness exposure to the delicate immune system of a newborn baby AND allow the mother to recover from the birth experience in her own home. Also this is an integrative model- where the provider cares for both the mother AND the baby together. During the fourth trimester, i.e. after the baby has been born for the first 3 months of a baby’s life, the health and physiology of the newborn and mother are very interconnected. For example, how the mother is doing with breastfeeding is absolutely tied to how the baby is gaining weight and growing. So at tova health, we check-in on both the baby and the mother during our home visits. We are in the process of evaluating the data, but we are curious how this model affects important issues- like rates of postpartum depression and newborn emergency room visits.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is when I am able to be a useful woman in the world and enjoy what I am doing. When I am doing something successful is feels similarly to me as when I am making a good painting or sculpture— the composition just feels right. What a gift to be able to be helping others, loving my time, and starting something new.

Contact Info:

• Address: Tova Health
  1337 Mass Ave #118
  Arlington MA 02476
• Website: www.tovahealth.com
• Phone: 617-855-8682
• Email: info@tovahealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drevazasloff/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tovahealth/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tova-health-arlington-2

Image Credit:
Jenny Nelson

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