Health, Happiness, and Family: Why True Well-being Goes Beyond Medicine

Health, Happiness, and Family: A Gynecologist’s Reflection on Holistic Well-being | Dr. Santoshi Nandigam, Gynecologist in Chennai

Success Redefined

The biggest achievement in life isn’t always a career milestone. Sometimes, it’s something far simpler-seeing your parents happy.

Recently, I came across a video of my father on a cruise in the Bahamas, laughing and enjoying himself alongside his sister. It was a trip I had to miss because of professional commitments, but the joy on his face reminded me of something powerful: health is not just the absence of illness, it is the freedom to live fully.

As a doctor, I spend my days guiding families through the deeply personal journeys of fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth. But as a daughter, watching my father live the life he deserves after years of sacrifice reminded me that true well-being is measured not in reports or scans, but in moments-moments of joy, laughter, connection, and love.

This blog is about that realization, and why holistic health-in medicine and in life-means creating opportunities where families don’t just survive, but thrive.

The Hidden Cost of Sacrifice

Like many parents of his generation, my father sacrificed much so I could stand where I am today-a practicing gynecologist in Chennai, running a holistic women’s health and fertility practice. His dreams were simple: to see his children happy, educated, and independent.

For years, his happiness took a backseat to responsibility. And now, in his retirement, to see him smile so freely on that cruise felt like the world had come full circle.

In medicine, I often see patients-especially mothers-put themselves last. They pour all their energy into raising children, running homes, and meeting expectations, often sidelining their own health and happiness. By the time they finally think about themselves, years have passed.

It makes me wonder: how do we create a system where well-being isn’t postponed, but prioritized?

Health as a Family Journey

One thing I’ve learned in my practice is that health is rarely an individual experience-it is a family journey.

• When a woman conceives, her partner, parents, and in-laws are equally invested in the journey.

• When a mother gives birth, it transforms not only her life, but the lives of grandparents, siblings, and the wider family.

• When one member falls ill, the entire household feels the ripple.

And conversely, when one person thrives, the joy spills over to everyone.

This is why holistic healthcare-whether for pregnancy, fertility, or general well-being-must always consider the family as a whole.

Lessons From a Cruise

As I watched my father’s video, a few reflections crystallized in my mind:

✔ These are the little joys we work so hard for. Careers, savings, responsibilities-all of it feels worthwhile when they lead to moments of connection.

✔ Health is meaningful only when it allows us to share experiences. What use is longevity if it isn’t filled with laughter, travel, and togetherness?

✔ Every family story is a reminder of why care, compassion, and connection matter most. Medicine saves lives. But compassion makes those lives worth living.

These aren’t just personal insights. They shape the way I practice medicine every day.

Holistic Health in Pregnancy and Birth

When families come to me-whether for fertility treatment, pregnancy care, or childbirth-I always remind them that health is more than protocols. Yes, we track ovulation, monitor ultrasounds, and check hormone levels. But true success lies in creating experiences where families can bond, celebrate, and grow together.

For example:

• A couple struggling with infertility finds joy not only in a positive pregnancy test but in rediscovering hope together.

• A mother preparing for natural birth experiences empowerment not only in her delivery but in the confidence it gives her family.

• A father holding his newborn feels healing for sacrifices made along the way.

This is what I call life-centered healthcare-where every medical milestone is tied to emotional well-being and family connection.

A Personal Parallel: Parenthood and Patients

Seeing my father reminded me of the unspoken parallel between my role as a doctor and his role as a parent.

• Just as he made sacrifices to give me opportunities, I often see parents sacrificing for the health and happiness of their children.

• Just as his joy on that cruise became my joy, the smiles of my patients after a successful delivery or fertility treatment become my fuel.

In both roles-daughter and doctor-the central truth is the same: happiness multiplies when it is shared with family.

Redefining Success in Healthcare

In today’s healthcare systems, we often measure success in statistics:

• Success rates of IVF cycles

• Reduction in maternal mortality

• Surgical precision and recovery rates

But real success goes deeper. It is when:

• A mother leaves the hospital not just alive, but empowered.

• A father feels seen in the journey, not sidelined.

• A family leaves my clinic not just healthier, but happier.

True healthcare is not just about adding years to life-it’s about adding life to those years.

For Every Daughter, Every Parent

To every daughter reading this-don’t forget to pause and notice the sacrifices your parents have made for you. Celebrate their joys, however small. Give them the gift of moments, not just milestones.

To every parent-your well-being matters too. Your joy is not indulgent; it is essential. A happy parent creates ripples of happiness for the entire family.

And to every woman on her pregnancy or fertility journey-know that your health story is also your family’s story. When you are cared for holistically, your family thrives alongside you.

Key Takeaways

1. Health is holistic. It’s not just medical treatment, but emotional and family well-being.

2. Sacrifice deserves celebration. Parents who gave so much deserve to enjoy their own joys.

3. Family is medicine. Joy shared with loved ones is the purest form of healing.

4. True success in healthcare goes beyond treatment. It’s about creating memories and empowering families.

 Conclusion: Life in the Years

Watching my father on that cruise reminded me of the ultimate truth: health is not about years in life, but life in those years.

 As a doctor, my role isn’t just to prolong life, but to help patients create lives worth living-where families laugh together, travel together, and celebrate each other.

As a daughter, my biggest achievement will always be seeing my parents happy.

And as a human, I believe this: the best medicine is love, the best therapy is family, and the best success is happiness.

If you’re navigating fertility, pregnancy, or childbirth, remember-you deserve care that respects not just your medical needs, but your emotional and family needs too.

📍 Visit us at THE BIRTHWAVE, Chennai, where we integrate natural birth, holistic women’s health, and advanced reproductive medicine-all centered around the heart of family.

💬 What’s one moment with your family that made you pause and think, “This is what happiness looks like”? Share it in the comments-I’d love to hear your story.