Studies show that more than 70% of new mothers feel overwhelmed and isolated in the first year after childbirth, yet for decades, this reality remained hidden behind curated smiles.
Masaba Gupta, founder of House of Masaba, welcomed daughter Matara last year. At the Dubai launch of Ladies Who Lead, she spoke about her postpartum experience.
She confessed that while she wasn’t battling postpartum depression, her mental health was at its lowest. And just before this, she had spoken about flying high in terms of her career. The juxtaposition might seem contradictory, but Masaba says she is driven by the desire to tell her daughter one day that you can do it all. “I’m a beast right now, and I’m loving every minute of it.”
According to the WHO Bulletin, postpartum depression affects 22% of Indian mothers, which is nearly double the global average of 10-15%. While some mothers experience temporary emotional lows — including a sense of hopelessness, fatigue, or lack of interest — for others it can be very intense, persistent and last weeks or months.
Masaba has around 2 million followers on Instagram and she highlighted the role that social media can also play in fuelling a feeling of inadequacy. WhatsApp groups and social media drive her insane, the fashion designer says, because they make her feel like she’s not doing things right. There’s an expectation that women need to know everything and get everything right, which is completely unrealistic, she adds.
Her advice to parents is to keep it real with kids and to talk to them through each stage of life because it’s a difficult world out there. It’s especially pertinent, given rising incidents of bullying and cyber crimes among children and teenagers.
In the past as well, Masaba has been open about going for therapy, the importance of self-care and staying fit, and urged followers to seek help if they need it.
It takes a great deal of honesty and effort to discuss such personal topics, but the idea is to promote a healthier dialogue and create safe spaces for women to speak openly and benefit from the collective wisdom.