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Preventing Postpartum Depression: How I got saved!
This picture of me and my children taken three years ago bring back so many memories. It reminds me of how hard I fought postpartum depression so it never set in at the time.
The birth interval between my kids is just a year and a half so you can just imagine how motherhood was challenging for me during that time.
My biological mum whom I was hopeful would be the main support in my motherhood journey, unfortunately got very sick when I was just three months pregnant with the second child (boy) and my first (girl) was also just a few months after a year old.
I had to rely on my own energy first of all, my husband, my step-mother, in-law of blessed memory and my husband’s mother. At some point even my father- in-law had to also babysit so I could go to work in peace. These people I can’t stop thanking them with every passing day.
Just imagine all these number of people holding forth for me as a new mum. It means that, clearly motherhood derives a lot of energy from not only the new mum herself but from the people around her provided they gladly availed themselves or agree to support her if she requests for that.
On the other hand, if the support is not coming by the people around her and if she herself doesn’t psyche herself very well for the motherhood journey, easily she can end up physically, emotionally and mentally drained or go insane.
After child birth, a lot of things happen, even more complex than you can imagine. There’s the cause of high emotions, reactions and behaviour exhibited by the new mums.
Most often than not, these characteristics of some new mums demonstrated are not intentional if you ask but until you have been there or have knowledge about postpartum depression you will never understand them hence you see society, their own families resorting to name calling, name shaming, unhealthy comparison between them and other new mums who had or having it easy.
A lot of new mums go through different faces in their lives during this period but sadly do not even know what it is they are going through or what their sudden behaviour can actually lead into.
So we need the education on postpartum depression just as we do for malaria. If you are a new mum and your emotions often run high, if you constantly have mood swings, cry over little things, have little or no sleep at all and sometimes anxious and over-reacting over nothing, please take it easy on yourself because these traits can actually trigger postpartum depression and this is very easy to come about after childbirth.
Seek for help with your child/ children when you feel you can’t do it alone anymore. Here’s the main reason why I always tell young women to always look out for men who have compassion in choosing a life partner.
A compassionate man supports his partner during her pregnancy and after she delivers. He endeavours to play a significant role every step of the way in the motherhood journey.
Babies are made by two people and so it’s only in line that, a father just as the mother helps to cater for them from the moment they come into the world.
A father can organise the most expensive baby shower, naming ceremony for his child just to show how much he loves his partner but if he’s not helping with common basic stuff like sometimes taking turns at night to feed a baby who barely sleep at night, cleaning, cooking, running errands in getting essential needs for the house and also helping to take care of other children so mummy can focus on new born, it becomes overwhelming for the new mum if you ask me.
So also seek for assistance before you die trying to do it all alone when you know it’s beyond you.
Don’t be too concerned about how your body is looking after birth because it takes quite a time to get back in shape whether through caesarean or vaginal birth. Just as it took nine and sometimes over nine months to carry a baby in your body, you also need to heal before properly getting back in shape.
This is a gradual process, don’t stress or force it and don’t think you can never catch up at your own time.
Also, if you have a troublesome partner, kindly do yourself a great favour by not focusing on his ways that troubles your emotions, other than that it would have a great effect on your wellbeing and even the baby in the long run.
Your relationship problem shouldn’t be transferred to the new born, don’t focus on the negative energy of your partner, how you feel is the same way your child feels, they feed on your energy and vibe.
Do not be hard on yourself if you are struggling to get the right way of taking good care of your new born. It’s okay, it’s fine, you are a new mother with no hands on experience so mistakes are bound to happen.
Take it one at a time, do not let the noise of other mothers and those who are more experienced than you, get a better part of you to even make you feel you are terrible at motherhood.
Nobody was born with the best motherhood practices, we all learn to become masters.
Desist from comparing your motherhood journey with the other new mums because it’s not a competition. You and your newborn are very different from that new mum and her child. Every child grows different and are unique and special in their own ways.
Lastly, attend your post natal and return home without having to compare another woman’s child’s growth, weight, size, colour, beauty or handsomeness etc. to your child. When you do this and at the end of it, your child doesn’t look like that of the other woman you are comparing with, you begin to question yourself so much and might end up even not liking your own child.
Ever heard of new mums who kill their own children? It happens every time and this is one of the things that triggers that.
Postpartum depression is real, mothers better than you and I whom we think are the strongest and look “yummylicious” are probably suffering depression.
You and I may also be suffering or have suffered that without knowing.
Let’s be kind to new mums with our words, actions, gestures and support. If you see any sign of depression, speak to a health professional.
Motherhood is a priceless, beautiful and joyous journey. Enjoy it with all the maximum excitement but make sure you are sane.
Adizah Kuburah Braimah/ Kuburah Diamonds
Social Activist/ Commentator and Blogger
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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