Motherhood comes with a gazillion of changes, physically as well as emotionally, in a woman’s life and a child’s birth is also the moment when a mother is born. Be it Deepika Padukone addressing mental health, Sara Ali Khan speaking of her battle with PCOD or Deepika Singh, Chahatt Khanna, Surveen Chawla, Mandira Bedi, Shveta Salve and other mommies raising awareness about postpartum depression, time and again B-town and telly world celebs have come forward to discuss certain health concerns that were once considered ‘taboo’. (Also Read: 6 Television And Bollywood Mommies Who Suffered From Depression During And After Pregnancy)
This time it is Esha Deol, a doting mom to two angels, who has opened up about motherhood and postpartum depression. On her close friend, Simone Khambatta’s YouTube chat show, Mama Says, Esha spoke about her daughters, Radhya Takhtani and Miraya Takhtani, how life changed post their birth, shares her experience with postpartum depression and gives an insight into her journey of motherhood! To begin with, how motherhood has changed her life, Esha remarked, “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.”
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Revealing how she felt when she held her firstborn, Radhya Takhtani 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.”
Sharing her experience of breastfeeding with Radhya Takhtani and Miraya Takhtani, Esha Deol continued, “With the first kid you have more time alone, I used to do a lot of breastfeeding with Radhya but now with Miraya, because Radhya is still so small she wants me with her all the time. So, I’m not able to sit that much with Miraya and breastfeed her, so, we express. And when you have the provision to, what is the harm!”
Speaking on the postpartum depression and sharing her experience with the same, Esha Deol stated, “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.” (Also Read: Surveen Chawla Talks About Postpartum Depression, Reveals Her Phase Of Emotional Imbalance)
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Revealing how her mom, Hema Malini 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.”
In a rapid-fire segment, when asked, “What was your first reaction when you found out that you were pregnant?” Esha Deol retorted, “I was just like, okay now, yeah I’m going to be a mom and we are going to be parents and wow! 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 pregga.”
When asked, “Who was the first you called when you found out you were pregnant?” Esha Deol replied, “My husband and me got to know together. Bharat and I are literally joined at the hip. We didn’t tell anyone for the first three months. So, it was our secret both the time. I just had to fake a backache and a lot of things for the first three months. No one knew.”
Revealing the favourite food that she craved when she was pregnant, Esha Deol shared, “With Radhya, throughout I was eating rasam rice and lots of curd and with Miraya, I was doing lot of varan bhaat and thhesa. And I ate mirchis like a lot. Both the time it was only spicy stuff.” And the food that she hated when she was pregnant, Esha shared, “I just couldn’t handle the smell of Chinese. My staff wasn’t allowed to cook Chinese in my kitchen.” When asked, “How many hours a day would you sleep during pregnancy?” Esha retorted, “When I was pregnant with Radhya, I used to sleep in afternoon for one hour. Then with Miraya I slept a lot as I had Radhya and she does her afternoon nap. So, it was like Radhya and me in the afternoon, napping.” Describing her kids, Radhya Takhtani and Miraya Takhtani in a hashtag, Esha remarked, “Radhya is bubbly, and Miyu is innocence.” (Also Read: Ankita Bhargava Reveals Who Chose The Name Of Her Daughter Mehr Karan Patel And The Reason Behind It)
Dear mommies, it is completely okay if you are facing or have faced postpartum depression. But what’s important here is to notice it on time and get treated!
