Esha Deol might come from film pedigree. After all, her dad is Dharmendra and her mom is dream girl Hema Malini, but she’s now an accomplished author, penning her thoughts about parenting in a new book called Amma Mia, where she shares healthy recipes, parenting anecdotes and much more. While promoting the book, Esha revealed in an interview that she suffered from postpartum depression after her second daughter was born, and her mom recognized it and got her help.
“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 it 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.”
She revealed how Hema noticed that something was amiss with her daughter saying, “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 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. I treated myself with the right vitamins and everything and within a month I was back to my solid self. Touchwood.”
Esha also revealed that she didn’t know she was pregnant for the second time, and it came as a happy surprise for her.
“Second time when I was pregnant, I didn’t know. I was shocked, you know I didn’t know. I definitely wanted a second baby and I was in Goa celebrating Radhya’s birthday around that time. And I was sitting over there, crying. I am wondering what’s going on and then I came back to Bombay and I got to know I am preggo.”
We’re glad that Esha chose to be open about postpartum depression, the more stories we as women share, the better new moms know they aren’t alone.
