Prabha Chandra, senior professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, describes being pregnant and postpartum as a section of profound neurobiological change. , Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs/iStockphoto
“It takes a village to lift a child,” goes the previous saying. However in at this time’s hyper-connected world, it may additionally take a village — each actual and digital — to emphasize out a mom.
This irony set the tone for a session on maternal well being at Manotsava, the psychological well being competition that started in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The dialogue, titled ‘Maternal Well being Unfiltered: Pressure, Tales and Research’ examined how the normal “village” of kin and group that when supported moms has fragmented into fashionable, typically digital, areas that may each nurture and stress them.
Moderated by Jahanvi Nilekani of the Aastrika Basis, the panel featured Prabha Chandra, senior professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, psychologist and podcaster Bakul Dua of Mommy Combined Tapes, and therapist Poornima Mahindru of Inexperienced Oak.
Village to nuclear house
Dr. Chandra, who has spent over 20 years learning perinatal psychological well being, described being pregnant and postpartum as a section of profound neurobiological change — a interval she likened to “matrescence”, or “the adolescence of motherhood”.
“It is a time when a girl’s mind adjustments greater than at every other level in her life,” she mentioned.
“Areas linked to empathy and caregiving turn into extra lively, however these identical adjustments make her extra susceptible to nervousness, guilt and fatigue.”
She famous that conventional household and neighborhood networks as soon as supplied a protecting cushion for brand new moms. “At this time, these help methods have shrunk,” she mentioned.
“Sleep deprivation, lack of planning, and an over-focus on the newborn reasonably than the mom’s well-being are main threat elements for misery.” She additional mentioned, “Motherhood ought to convey neither disgrace nor a trophy. It ought to convey care.
Pressures of contemporary mom
Dr. Mahindru mentioned that cultural expectations and rituals proceed to form, and typically pressure, ladies’s early experiences of motherhood.
“Even in essentially the most fashionable households, postpartum seclusion and meals taboos persist,” she mentioned. “What might as soon as have been protecting now typically results in isolation.”
She mentioned that the stress to bear kids stays deeply gendered. “Ladies are nonetheless anticipated to show their price by way of motherhood,” she mentioned. “As soon as the newborn arrives, the mom’s bodily and emotional restoration turns into invisible.”
“For generations, ladies have been informed to easily ‘cope’ or ‘alter’. True maternal care ought to give attention to restoration, relaxation and respect,” she mentioned.
Solidarity, surveillance
Dr. Dua explored how on-line platforms have turn into the brand new “villages” for a lot of moms. “WhatsApp teams, parenting boards and Instagram communities are lifelines — particularly for these away from household,” she mentioned.
“However this solidarity comes with surveillance. Each feed is filled with picture-perfect moms who’re ‘doing all of it.’ It turns into an limitless cycle of comparability and guilt.”
“Motherhood at this time is a efficiency,” she mentioned. “We curate milestones and internalize unrealistic requirements of care. The result’s a era of girls burning out whereas making an attempt to be ‘good moms’.”
She pressured that maternal psychological well being can’t be mentioned in isolation. “We’ve to speak about fathers, childcare, coverage and social help,” she mentioned.
The panel additionally examined the paradox of company amongst fashionable ladies. “Many assured professionals give up management throughout childbirth out of concern or guilt. Motherhood is without doubt one of the most celebrated roles, but in addition one of the regulated,” the panelists added.
Printed – November 08, 2025 11:25 pm IST