Sarwat Gilani says she even thought about dropping her newborn during postpartum

Renowned actress Sarwat Gilani has revealed that after the birth of her daughter last year, she suffered from severe postpartum depression, during which she experienced disturbing thoughts about harming her newborn.

In an interview on a morning show, Gilani revealed that after her c-section, she was unable to hold her baby for four days and when she finally did, she struggled to breastfeed her, which triggered feelings of worthlessness and despair. Gilani said she even felt she should ‘’just drop her’’ to end the stress.

Her husband, actor and plastic-surgeon Fahad Mirza, recognised these as signs of postpartum blues, not lasting feelings, and encouraged her to seek help.

She emphasised the importance of awareness of postpartum depression, saying the depressive thoughts are “not you, it’s just a mental state you’re going through”. 

Claiming how common this is, Gilani stressed that postpartum depression is not just “baby blues” but a serious mental health dilemma that many new mothers go through.

She urged other mothers to assess themselves for changes such as constant irritability, detachment from their child, anger or self harm ideas, and reach out for professional support rather than dismissing these feelings. 

‘Fool me once’: Sarwat Gilani rules out return to ‘JPNA’ series

She revealed that during the initial four months after giving birth, she was in what she described as a “very dark place”, experiencing suicidal thoughts and feeling unable to bond with her daughter. 

Postpartum depression affects a significant number of women globally and is especially stigmatized in Pakistan. Gilani’s decision to speak openly about this aims to reduce the stigma and encourage early detection and treatment. 

By sharing her journey, she hopes to reassure new mothers that they are not alone, that these feelings do not reflect their worth or love for their child, and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.