Motherhood is perhaps the most celebrated role ever discovered. And it is touted to be to the acme of every woman's life as per the Indian culture. But few understand (or even make an effort) the trials and tribulations a women undergoes when she assumes a responsibility of such proportions.
Apart from the emotional (Read hormonal) highs and lows, motherhood takes a physical and mental toll on a woman. While sleepless nights, the need to be on guard 24 x 7 and additional household responsibilities drain a women of all her physical energy, additional factors like an absentee partner, lack of emotional support and loss of financial independence/social stimulation (if she has to quit her job to care for the baby) turn her into a time-bomb waiting to explode.
The above condition is often termed as postpartum depression ( more commonly known as baby blues ) but I wanted to take a more holistic view of the changes that a woman's life undergoes after having a baby. And it will be a generalized view keeping in mind that I do not hold a psychiatrist or a medical degree.
Some of the symptoms to look out for postpartum depression:
1. Anxiety
2. Unable to connect with the baby or people surrounding you
3. Weight gain/loss which is significant
4. Loss of sleep/concentration/energy
5. Feelings of low self-esteem
6. Thoughts of suicide or harming the baby
7. Affected problem solving ability
The above symptoms should ideally get over by the 2nd week after delivery. But if they persist for any longer, one should consult the doctor.
I really do not know why I chose Pallavi Dhawan as the talking point of this article. And I am not trying to jump into any conclusions about whether she did it or not. Also I am not trying to say that she was suffering from postpartum depression (Heck..I even do not know if it can linger for such duration). For some reason the predicament of the 30 something mother from Frisco who is accused of murdering her 10 year old son made me write this article. It is sad to see that a former NASA programmer who quit her job to care for her baby has to face such a heart-wrenching murder charge.
Few people try to fathom the emotional upheavals that a career woman undergoes when she has to quit a job and care for her baby. Loss of freedom, financial independence and lack of social stimulation have a big impact on her self esteem. Quite a few women feel unworthy and try to make up for it by establishing themselves as good mothers. But a wailing/colicky baby is quite a handful and more. And at times this feeling of total helplessness/desperation demonstrates itself in such horrendous ways. But there are signs which indicate whether a woman is suffering from such depression and I am sure they would be present in case of this lady too ( if at all she suffers from it).
In a way this article is more relevant for the family members of a woman who has recently delivered a baby and seems to be quite out of sorts. They need to recognize such behavioral deviations and address the issue at hand. It is nothing that some counselling and emotional support cannot tackle.
Apart from the emotional (Read hormonal) highs and lows, motherhood takes a physical and mental toll on a woman. While sleepless nights, the need to be on guard 24 x 7 and additional household responsibilities drain a women of all her physical energy, additional factors like an absentee partner, lack of emotional support and loss of financial independence/social stimulation (if she has to quit her job to care for the baby) turn her into a time-bomb waiting to explode.
The above condition is often termed as postpartum depression ( more commonly known as baby blues ) but I wanted to take a more holistic view of the changes that a woman's life undergoes after having a baby. And it will be a generalized view keeping in mind that I do not hold a psychiatrist or a medical degree.
Some of the symptoms to look out for postpartum depression:
1. Anxiety
2. Unable to connect with the baby or people surrounding you
3. Weight gain/loss which is significant
4. Loss of sleep/concentration/energy
5. Feelings of low self-esteem
6. Thoughts of suicide or harming the baby
7. Affected problem solving ability
The above symptoms should ideally get over by the 2nd week after delivery. But if they persist for any longer, one should consult the doctor.
I really do not know why I chose Pallavi Dhawan as the talking point of this article. And I am not trying to jump into any conclusions about whether she did it or not. Also I am not trying to say that she was suffering from postpartum depression (Heck..I even do not know if it can linger for such duration). For some reason the predicament of the 30 something mother from Frisco who is accused of murdering her 10 year old son made me write this article. It is sad to see that a former NASA programmer who quit her job to care for her baby has to face such a heart-wrenching murder charge.
Few people try to fathom the emotional upheavals that a career woman undergoes when she has to quit a job and care for her baby. Loss of freedom, financial independence and lack of social stimulation have a big impact on her self esteem. Quite a few women feel unworthy and try to make up for it by establishing themselves as good mothers. But a wailing/colicky baby is quite a handful and more. And at times this feeling of total helplessness/desperation demonstrates itself in such horrendous ways. But there are signs which indicate whether a woman is suffering from such depression and I am sure they would be present in case of this lady too ( if at all she suffers from it).
In a way this article is more relevant for the family members of a woman who has recently delivered a baby and seems to be quite out of sorts. They need to recognize such behavioral deviations and address the issue at hand. It is nothing that some counselling and emotional support cannot tackle.
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