In the heart of rural India, where the rhythm of life flowed to the ancient beats of tradition, young women embarked on a journey that would forever shape their lives. It was a place where age-old customs and values held sway, and the concept of early marriages and motherhood was deeply ingrained in the fabric of society. This was the backdrop against which I, a young and idealistic medical student, started my journey into the world of medicine.
As I entered medical school, I felt relatively naive and young, surrounded by peers who, like me, were eager to make a difference in the world of healthcare. But as the years passed and I delved deeper into the world of medicine, my perspective began to shift. By the time I became a house surgeon working in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, I had gained a profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in rural India.
Our district government hospital was often filled with women from low-income and rural backgrounds, who had started their families at an age that seemed astonishingly young to me. The average age of first-time mothers was around 19 or 20, a couple of years younger than myself. The maternity ward echoed with the cries of babies born to mothers barely out of their own childhood.
But what concerned me even more was the hidden scars that I observed. Approximately 15-20% of the women who came to us bore the physical evidence of their silent battles – scars on their wrists, a result of self-harm. These scars were grim reminders of the mental anguish that many of these women endured. The rural environment, poverty, and the societal pressure to conform to traditional roles had taken a toll on their mental health. These were just the visible signs; the true number of women facing depression and poor mental health was likely much higher.
Amidst the celebration of motherhood, it became clear that the importance of postpartum mental health was not adequately addressed, overshadowed by age-old traditions and the urgency of physical well-being. Postpartum blues were extremely common and occurred in about 50% or more of women within the first few weeks after delivery. Postpartum major depression was approximately 4 to 11 times more common among women who had experienced postpartum blues. This stark statistic highlighted the urgent need to prioritize mental well-being in the journey of motherhood.
Women should feel more empowered to seek help, share their struggles, and embrace the joys of motherhood without sacrificing their mental well-being. In this day and age, where tradition and modernity intersect, it is crucial to bring attention to the often neglected aspect of postpartum mental health. As I looked around at mothers and their newborns, I felt a sense of determination, knowing that we need to bridge the gap and provide comprehensive care for both the physical and mental well-being of these women.
Geethika Simma 