Rustom actress, Ileana D’Cruz, expressed her recent mental health struggle post-welcoming her second child. The 38-year-old shared that she wasn’t expecting this experience, considering that Keanu Rafe Dolan is her second child, and she has been through the whole process previously. She described the difference between the first time being a mother and now the second time.
When welcoming Phoenix Dolan in 2023, the focus was to come to terms with the fact that “she wasn’t a single woman”. Along with that, making sure that the infant is healthy, thriving, and surviving. However, this time post-natal, she had new challenges as she had multiple tasks on her hands, such as taking care of the newborn, her toddler, and herself (physically and mentally). Therefore, she described her second post-pastrum journey as “incredibly hard”, while speaking to NDTV.
Missing people who understand
The actress mentioned missing her girlfriends from Mumbai, as they would have understood her situation, providing validation of emotions. However, she felt nice being in her private bubble as well.
Unmedicated Birth
The actress opened up about her birthing choice, wherein she didn’t go with an Epidural. It’s a procedure commonly used for regional pain management during childbirth or in certain surgeries. She described her decision as “wanting to do things differently”. Dr. GaaneSreenivas, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Bone and Birth Clinic & Rainbow hospital, Bannerghatta road, shared about the facts of unmedicated birth.
The experiences can be different for different individuals. On one hand, being an active participant in the process can make women feel empowered, and physical recovery is also quicker due to no lingering numbness or side effects. This leads to a sense of achievement. However, on the other hand, for some this could be an overwhelming process as the labour can be very painful and may cause fatigue or distress, affecting the birthing experience. Therefore, any decision made must be guided by realistic expectations about pain tolerance, preparation, and support.
Second Postpartum Phase
It is also known as the Subacute postpartum period, which typically lasts for two to six weeks, marked by a gradual recovery time required by the body. It includes emotional changes and breastfeeding challenges. Dr. Sreenivas highlighted that though the body is recovering again, the intensity is more of physical healing as the mother is unable to take proper rest compared to the first delivery. This results in sleep deprivation and hormonal shifts.
Supportive Strategies
The following were suggested by Dr. Sreenivas to build a strong support system
- Involving everyone in the caregiving task, such as the partner, family, and trusted friends.
- Structured sleep and rest positively impact the well-being of the mother
- Postpartum counselling or therapy can help to process emotions and reduce the risk of postpartum depression
- Support groups for breastfeeding or infant care give a sense of reassurance
- Focusing on gentle physical activity under guidance and hydration is essential.
