Childbirth is often celebrated with fanfare. Family and loved ones gather to celebrate, gifts pour in, and the new mother is expected to radiate joy and happiness. Yet, beneath the surface of the joyous naming ceremonies and families happily trooping in and out of the house, many new mothers struggle silently with postpartum depression (PPD) and no one is listening.

Postpartum depression is not just moodiness; it is a serious mental health condition that affects one in 10 women globally, and Nigerian women are not exempted. But postpartum depression remains largely unspoken in Nigerian society.

In the Nigerian society today, motherhood is often treated as the ultimate badge of honor. But behind the congratulations, text and Instagram posts, many Nigerian women are drowning in exhaustion, fear, and depression they cannot explain.

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Take Dakore Egbuson-Akande, a Nollywood actress who bravely shared her experience with PPD in 2021, shedding light on such a sensitive but unspoken topic. She discussed her mental health struggles following childbirth and her journey towards healing.

In many homes, mental health is still seen as a weakness or even a spiritual attack. New mothers are expected to bounce back immediately or she will be seen as lazy; they are also to care for the newborn while their own needs are unmet. If she complains, she comes across as an ingrate, if she expresses that she is not okay, it is brushed off as hormones.

And when there is no language for what she is experiencing, only shame, she suffers silently.

Undiagnosed Postpartum depression is also as a result of the under-resourced health system. Many antenatal stop checking on the mother once the baby is delivered. There is rarely mental health assessment post-birth.

A 2021 study published in the Nigeria Journal of medicine found that 22.9 per cent of postpartum women surveyed in Lagos showed depressive symptoms, but most were not diagnosed or treated.

Nigerian researchers who conducted a study among 392 new mothers at the Jos teaching hospital made emphasis on the low awareness, cultural stigma, and inadequate mental health support contributing to the silent suffering of Nigerian mothers with postpartum depression in the Health, Medical and Rehabilitation Journal article.

The burden on Nigerian women is enormous. Many are expected to care for a newborn, return to work within weeks, manage the home, host guests while they maintain appearance, often times without help.

These experience leads to breakdown, anxiety, detachment from their babies for some, and in rare cases, thoughts of self-harm. And in a society where motherhood is idealised and vulnerability a weakness, they are often left to suffer alone.

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Postpartum depression in Nigeria requires more than awareness. It demands full cultural and systemic shift. Some these include creating spaces where new mums can speak openly without fear of judgement. From places of worship to clinics, Postpartum needs to be named and normalised.

In addition, doctors and nurses should receive better training to identify emotional distress in mothers. Regular mental health screening should also be part of postnatal care.

Maternity leave is a mere three months in most sectors. This does not allow for real recovery. The government should implement maternal mental health policies and extend paid leaves. And our communal lifestyle should really come to play here, as partners and family members need to show up, and not just for the baby but for the mother too.

Motherhood is sacred, yes. But it is also messy, complicated and overwhelming. New mothers do not just need diapers and dedication, they need empathy, support, and serious attention to their mental health.

So, next time you visit a new mother, do not just hold the baby and do all the expected, ‘awnnn, she’s lovely and looks like the dad.’ Ask how she is really feeling. And listen.

Anita Chinedu