Why postpartum depression is so often missed
New motherhood arrives wrapped in an expectation of joy — visitors cooing over the baby, family celebrating, everyone asking "how wonderful, isn't it?" When what you actually feel is exhaustion, flatness, guilt, or a strange emptiness you can't explain, it can feel impossible to say so out loud. Many mothers stay quiet for weeks or months, assuming they should feel grateful, assuming it will pass, or fearing they'll be judged as a bad mother for admitting the truth.
Postpartum depression (sometimes called प्रसवोत्तर अवसाद in Hindi, or પ્રસૂતિ પછીની ડિપ્રેશન in Gujarati) is not a character flaw, a lack of gratitude, or a failure of willpower. It is a recognised medical condition, driven by a combination of hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, physical recovery from childbirth, and life upheaval — and it responds well to treatment. Naming it is often the hardest and most important step.
Baby blues vs postpartum depression — an important distinction
| Area | Baby blues | Postpartum depression |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Starts within days of delivery | Can start any time in the first year, often weeks in |
| Duration | Settles within one to two weeks on its own | Persists beyond two weeks without treatment |
| Intensity | Tearfulness, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed | Persistent low mood, numbness, or hopelessness that doesn't lift |
| Daily functioning | Generally still able to care for yourself and baby | Meaningfully affects caring for yourself, the baby, or daily life |
| What helps | Rest, support, time | Usually needs a proper psychiatric assessment and treatment |
What postpartum depression can look like
Emotional signs
Persistent sadness, emptiness, irritability, excessive guilt, or feeling like a failure — sometimes alongside intense anxiety about the baby's health or safety.
Physical signs
Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix, appetite changes, and difficulty sleeping even when the baby is settled — beyond what's explained by newborn care alone.
Connection and bonding
Feeling distant, numb, or disconnected from the baby, or intrusive worries that feel frightening to admit to anyone.
If you need help right now
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, feel unable to keep yourself or your baby safe, or feel completely unable to cope — this is a psychiatric emergency, not a sign of weakness, and it is treatable. Please reach out immediately.
- Emergency — 112, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department
- Tele-MANAS — 14416 (also 1-800-891-4416) — national, 24/7, English & regional languages
How partners and family can help
Postpartum depression affects the whole family, and recovery is easier when it isn't carried alone. Practical support — sharing night feeds, protecting stretches of rest, taking over household tasks — matters just as much as emotional support. Just as important: believing her when she says something feels wrong, rather than putting it down to normal new-parent tiredness, and gently encouraging (without pressuring) a psychiatric assessment. With the mother's consent, a partner or family member is very welcome to join a session — many families find that helpful, especially early on.
How postpartum depression is treated
Treatment is built around what you're actually experiencing and your circumstances — never a one-size-fits-all prescription. It typically includes a thorough, unhurried assessment; talk therapy such as CBT; and, where appropriate, medication. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, medication choices — including whether medication is needed at all — are discussed individually and in detail at your consultation, weighing your specific symptoms against the risks of leaving depression untreated. This isn't a decision to make from a website; it's one Dr. Heena works through with you, openly and without pressure.
What to expect from a first consultation
The first conversation is unhurried, private, and non-judgemental. Dr. Heena will ask about how you've been feeling, how you're sleeping, how things are going with the baby, and what support you have at home — building a full picture rather than ticking boxes. Sessions are available in person at Mahavir Health Campus, Ring Rd, Athwa Gate, or online by video, which many new mothers find easier to arrange around feeding and rest schedules.
A quick check — does this sound like your experience?
- Has low mood, emptiness, or persistent worry lasted more than two weeks since delivery?
- Do you feel exhausted in a way that rest doesn't touch?
- Have you felt distant, numb, or disconnected from your baby, and felt ashamed to say so?
- Has it become hard to manage everyday tasks — feeding, your own basic care, simple decisions?
- Have thoughts about not being a good enough mother, or about not wanting to go on, crossed your mind?
If any of this feels familiar — for you, your partner, or someone you love — a confidential conversation can help. You don't need to wait until things feel unbearable.
About Dr. Heena Khanna
Dr. Heena Khanna, MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Heena Khanna is a Consultant Psychiatrist practising at Mahavir Health Campus, Ring Rd, Athwa Gate, Surat. She holds an MBBS and an MD in Psychiatry, and is a member of the Indian Psychiatric Society and the Indian Medical Association. Her practice includes perinatal and postpartum mental health alongside depression, anxiety, and women's mental health more broadly, using evidence-based approaches including CBT and, where appropriate, medication. No referral is required to book a first session.