Motherhood's silent struggle: Why mothers begin to go through mental distress after giving birth

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:00]Not every woman who gives birth enjoys the glory of the blessing of a child.

[00:00:08]Some, even before they deliver, begin to go through mental distress, which stretches through the beginning of life after birth. Postpartum depression or PPD affects millions of women worldwide, with some describing its toll as overshadowing the joy of motherhood, where the child's well-being sometimes becoming a source of overwhelming anxiety.

[00:00:34]Survivors argue that routine mental health monitoring should be mandatory for all pregnant women and new mothers.

[00:00:42]On tonight's Mother and Child Edition, NTV's Electina speaks to mothers in Machakos County who endured the PPD and narrate their journeys of healing.

[00:00:56]The confirmation that Elizabeth was pregnant with her second child would ideally have been news of joy, but instead, it marked the beginning of a bumpy journey.

[00:01:15]She remembers of how the struggle continued through her pregnancy and got worse after delivery.

[00:01:28]Elizabeth was alone going through the distressing emotions. At one point, she contemplated and even tried taking her own life. She survived.

[00:01:41]Desperate, she reached out to a friend who is a medic and served to be was a solid hand at a time of turmoil. The work environment was very toxic.

[00:01:55]suffer from severe depression. So, I was on antidepressant for more than 8 months.

[00:02:10]So, it's you alone to sit down and you will see the meaning and you will not be able to stress because the world but you cannot change your heart and you are not supposed to be on antidepressant for that long. Elizabeth was unemployed and after some time of enjoying the support of the community around her, she got a job.

[00:02:34]So, I had to resign and stay with my children and you will see I thank God Her friend, Kemunto, had also gone through a similar ordeal and was intentional in helping Elizabeth who had mastered the courage to walk the journey of healing.

[00:02:55]realize I have postpartum depression According to various United Nations bodies such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, say that postpartum depression bears symptoms such as inability to enjoy things that normally bring the mother pleasure, feeling sad or low, persistent crying, feeling overwhelmed, lack of bonding with your baby, fail to adequately eat, bath or care for herself. Suicidal thoughts, risk of infanticide, tiredness or loss of energy, poor concentration or attention span, low self-esteem and self-confidence.

[00:03:36]Disturbed sleep even when your baby is asleep. We do not have so many mothers but we do not miss at least two to three mothers in a month who have signs of maternal depression but we are able to screen them early and take it up before it goes further to uh treatment and referral. Experts say postpartum depression can be managed with the right support and treatment such as early screening during pregnancy, strong family and social support, professional counseling and therapy, medical care when necessary, community awareness, and reducing stigma. But these women have chosen to hold up a light for others who find themselves in the darkness of PPD, calling on government to ensure health facilities work with mothers through pregnancy and after childbirth.

[00:04:33]Studies show that up to one in seven mothers experience postpartum depression, which can begin during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. Unlike the short-lived baby blues, postpartum depression is more intense, longer-lasting, and can interfere with a mother's ability to care for herself and her child. Hellen Chena Dera, NTV, Machakos.