Esha Deol gathers the courage to open up about her struggle with postpartum depression and how mom, Hema Malini, came to her rescue.
With very little awareness about postpartum depression, thousands of new moms are struggling with it on a daily basis. Scared of what people & society might think, these moms choose to suffer in silence. But some brave new moms are coming forward to discuss the ‘unspeakable’ topic of postpartum depression. And they helping drive the conversation.
They are coming forward to let other mothers not only know how to tackle baby blues but also how to overcome postpartum depression. One such mom is Esha Deol.
Being a doting mom to two angels, Esha recently opened up about these topics. While speaking on a chat show, ‘Mama Says’, Esha spoke about how life changed as she embarked on the journey of motherhood and her experience with postpartum depression.
To begin with, Esha shared how motherhood has changed her life:
“For me it has been a complete transformation from being someone’s daughter, a brat, an independent woman who works, being in love with my boyfriend, who I married, Bharat; everything just changed as soon as I became a mother. And I would say, this is the best phase of my life. I love my mother much more because I know what she is going through and the connection between a child and a mother is just the most beautiful connection anyone can feel. I highly recommend to every woman, you must have a baby.”
Revealing how she felt when she held her firstborn for the first time, Esha Deol said,
“When I first held Radhya for the first time in my arms and she came on my face, her lips came on mine and then she was breathing, you know that breath was the sweetest breath I have ever felt. And that moment I was like, this is ‘mine’. She’s mine and I’m going to protect her and just be with her forever. Obviously, the same emotions happened the second time when I had Miraya. So, I would say I have found a new dimension on how I deal with people. I’m much more patient with people, I much more nicer the way I talk and there’s a lot of confidence that comes.”
But when she gathered the courage to speak on the postpartum depression, we couldn’t stop applauding her strength:
“When I had Radhya, there was no postpartum depression, nothing. People used to look at me and ask ‘Tu theek hai na?’ And I used to wonder why are they asking like this, I mean yeah main theek hoon. But after my second delivery, I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t experience so I didn’t know. And right after delivery, I didn’t know what was going on as I was in a room filled with people and suddenly, I felt like crying. I sat quietly and very dull, low. And I have given birth to a beautiful baby girl again and it’s a very happy moment in my life and I didn’t know what’s going on.”
As they say, moms are the first ones to know if their kids are suffering. And, for Esha as well, it was her mom, Hema Malini, who came to her rescue. Revealing how Hemaji noticed the change in her mood which was followed by a treatment to make her better, Esha Deol elaborated,
“Then my mom noticed me being a little off. So, she was like what’s up with you and I think you’re going through this. So, I was very lucky and fortunate to have my mother to notice this in me because at that stage we are very vulnerable as we have just delivered and all. She said, no get your blood test done and it’s your hormones are going for a toss and nothing else. And I did that and I realised that my progesterone was not to a good level etc etc. I treated myself with the right vitamins and everything and within a month I was back to my solid self. Touchwood.”
Esha isn’t alone who came forward to talk about postpartum depression. Recently, Sameera Reddy also shared how she took professional help to beat postpartum depression and why there’s no shame in seeking help.
At IFORHER, we request every mother struggling with postpartum depression to seek help and not continue to suffer in silence. It is not only important to seek help for your wellbeing but also important to enjoy the beautiful journey of motherhood with your kid and family.
Please spread the message that there’s no shame in admitting one needs help or therapy to tackle postpartum depression, and help save motherhood and moms.