‘I wanted to harm my daughter’: Sarwat Gilani bravely talks about postpartum depression

Famous Pakistani actress Sarwat Gilani has bravely talked about her difficult experience with postpartum depression, including having thoughts of harming her newborn daughter.

In a recent TV interview, Sarwat explained that she didn’t have postpartum depression after she gave birth to two sons so she didn’t know much about it. However, she went through severe postpartum depression after her daughter was born.

She described meeting her daughter four days after birth because they were in different hospital wards after surgeries. During this time, her baby needed breastfeeding, but Sarwat was very depressed and had upsetting thoughts of dropping her baby to end the stress.

“I was crying uncontrollably and told my husband that I wanted to harm our daughter to stop all the tension,” she shared with tears in her eyes.
Sarwat talked about how many women lack proper information during their first pregnancy, often turning to books and social media for help. The first pregnancy is especially tough, she stated, recalling the many psychological challenges women face, making support from husbands and in-laws very important.

“When a pregnant woman receives support from her family, it positively impacts her mental health,” she explained. Her husband helped her by explaining that what she was feeling was postpartum depression and that it wouldn’t last forever. His reassurance gave her much-needed comfort and understanding.

Sarwat stressed the need for awareness about postpartum depression for both men and women, saying, “I realized then how important it is for everyone to understand this condition.”