June 2025 Newsletter

June 13, 2025 | Uncategorized

Community,

At Dar a Luz, we believe that love makes a family, and every family deserves
compassionate, respectful, and inclusive care. This Pride Month, we’re celebrating
the beautiful diversity of the families we serve and the community we belong to.

DAL is proud to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community every day. We know how
essential it is to feel safe, seen, and supported in healthcare spaces.

We remain committed to:

🌈 Offering inclusive perinatal, gynecologic, and wellness care

🌈 Creating a welcoming space for people of all gender identities, sexual
orientations, and family structures

🌈 Continuing to learn & grow in our efforts to provide equity-centered, affirming
care

We see you. We celebrate you. We’re here for you.

With Pride and Love,

The Dar a Luz Team

Donate Here!

DAL Updates

A Farewell to Kate

Dear Community,

After three incredible years of welcoming new life and supporting growing families, it
is with both deep gratitude and personal grief that I share I will no longer be
practicing at Dar a Luz.

Over these years, I’ve witnessed first breaths, immense courage, joyful and sorrowful
tears, and the profound bonds that form in life’s most sacred moments. I am
endlessly grateful to have been present at each and every birth that chose me—
whether I quietly stood witness as a partner caught their crying newborn, offered my
hands and skills when they were needed most, or accompanied families through
unexpected transitions to the hospital.

I am humbled by the trust you placed in me, and by the faith you had in my guidance
during some of life’s most uncertain and transformative experiences.

To every family who allowed me to walk beside you on this intimate journey—thank
you. Serving you has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

To my fellow midwives, nurses, and the entire Dar a Luz team—your support,
collaboration, and friendship have meant the world to me.

With love and deepest respect,

Kate

Expansion of Lactation Services!

Dar a Luz is excited to announce the expansion of our lactation services to better
support families in their feeding journeys.

We now offer consultations 7 days a week for anyone needing help with breast,
chest, or bottle-feeding with our expert International Board Certified Lactation
Consultants (IBCLC).

Whether you’re facing issues like low milk supply, nipple pain, pumping challenges,
or preparing to return to work, or your baby is experiencing latch difficulty, weight
concerns, or feeding complications, we’re here to help.

Appointments are 1.5 hours for new clients and 1 hour for follow-ups.

We accept most insurance plans, including BCBS, Presbyterian, United, Molina,
Tricare, GEHA, and ALL Medicaid and Turquoise Health plans.

You can schedule your appointment today by calling or texting us at 505-924-2229,
or by clicking the button below!

Make an appointment HERE!

Improved Car Seat Testing Standards

If you have attended one of the Dar a Luz car seat classes, you may remember that
all car seats must pass specific federally-mandated testing standards. Up to now, in
the U.S., that only included testing for frontal-impact crashes.

As of June 30, 2025, all car seats that hold children under 40 pounds must also pass
testing for side-impact crashes. While frontal crashes are more common, side-
impact crashes are more dangerous and often result in more serious injuries.

If you already own a car seat, there’s a good chance it already meets the new
standard as more and more manufacturers have been performing side-impact tests
in advance of this deadline. If so, your car seat may have labels that say so. You can
also contact the manufacturer or check their website for more information. Look for
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213a.

If your current car seat has not undergone side-impact testing, it is still safe to use as
long as it has not been in a crash and is not expired. You can continue to use your
current seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

FMVSS 213a also changes the minimum weight limit for booster seats without an
internal harness. This means children will have to be in a harnessed car seat until
they weigh at least 40 pounds.

For more information:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-improves-child-safety-seat-testing-standards-final-rule-side-impact-protection

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/05/2023-26082/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-child-restraint-systems

Help Us Create a Mobile Lactation
Station for Families

We are seeking the donation of an RV to transform into a mobile lactation station that
will be used at Dar a Luz as an additional lactation room.

Your generous donation will directly support breastfeeding families, promote infant
health, and help create a more inclusive, family-friendly community.

If you have a vehicle/portable to donate or know someone who does, please reach
out! We’d love to give it a second life in service of parents and babies.

Contact us by responding to this email.

💙 Thank you for your support!

DAL Support Groups

Support Group Highlight

Queer & Trans Parents Support Group
Meets every 4th Sunday of each month from 10 am – 12 pm at DAL

For families with young children and those just starting the journey! Come and enjoy
community, conversation about queer familyhood, and yummy snacks!

For any questions, contact Meagan at meagan@daraluzbirthcenter.org

Support groups are drop-in style. Please sign in upon arrival.

Donate to DAL!

Please consider donating to Dar a Luz to set us up for an impactful
2025! Every donation has a profound impact on staff and clients alike
and allows us to continue offering our exceptional care to New Mexican
families.

You can now donate via PayPal directly through our donor platform,
Network for Good by clicking the button below.

We thank you for your support!

DONATE HERE!

Other ways to donate: