Zaia & Carlos recently welcomed their baby,

Atmanu, through a beautiful, natural home birth in Costa Rica.

While this experience was sacred and powerful, it has also brought unexpected legal, medical, and financial challenges that have made the post partum time for their family one of stress, uncertainty and instability.

Since Costa Rica doesn’t easily recognize home births, they are now facing a lengthy and costly legal process — first to register the birth, and then to obtain a passport so their baby can travel back to their home country. This process can take up to two months and requires multiple administrative steps and medical verifications.

During this time, Carlos cannot leave Zaia and the baby alone, but he has to go back to his home country for multiple reasons, as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, from the second week after birth, Zaia’s milk production almost completely stopped for reasons that are still being investigated with specialized doctors.

It likely has to do with the severe blood loss/ post birth hemmorage that Zaia faced. Because of this, Carlos has also taken on the ongoing task of collecting donor breastmilk so that baby can be nourished in the healthiest way possible instead of relying on formula — a full-time effort on its own.

This situation has created a severe financial strain.

Zaia is still in a delicate postpartum recovery, needing support in all areas, with baby, home, logistically, emotionally and physically.

Baby Atmanu had a challenging start as well due to not recieving the sufficient amount of nourishment he needed.

Without the ability to work and with rising medical and logistical costs, they need immediate help to cover essentials like:

Medical and postpartum care for Zaia and baby Atmanu.

& Medical expenses to complete the extensive testing required to figure out the peculiar postpartum crisis Zaia is in.

Every contribution — no matter how small — helps them stay safe, nourished, and supported while they navigate this deeply sensitive time.

Your support will give them the space and peace needed for Zaia to recover, Atmanu to thrive, and their family to move forward with wellbeing.

With deep gratitude, Zaia, Carlos & Baby Atmanu.

Ps. go fund me takes quite the chunk of $$ out of the donation, and all those $$s could be going towards supporting us instead. If you prefer to— you can send money to Zaia direct on PayPal/Wise.com, message Zaia or Carlos for the email address