Shark Tank India judge and Mama Earth founder Ghazal Alagh recently opened up in an interview with Official People of India about her pregnancy journey. She shared her struggle with postpartum challenges, weight gain during pregnancy, and the emotional and physical obstacles she faced, offering an honest and relatable perspective for many women. Let’s dive into his story and take away some valuable insights. (Also read: With red hair and power suits, Ghazal Alagh’s style has taken a 180° turn since her Shark Tank days ,
Ghazal Alagh opens up about pregnancy challenges and postpartum depression
Ghazal Alagh, a mother of two, opened up about her experiences with pregnancy, stating that ‘every pregnancy is different’, and for her, both of her pregnancies were ‘tough, especially the second’. Both her children were premature, with delivery before the ninth month.
Ghazal mentioned that her second pregnancy came with various physical and emotional challenges. “It was hard because there are a lot of supplements you need to take, and most of those supplements didn’t suit me.” She shared how her dietitian put her on a red meat diet to deal with iron levels and ensure proper blood flow to the baby.
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She also revealed how she experienced significant weight gain during her first pregnancy. In the last three months, she gained about 20 kg. By the time he arrived in August, he weighed 90 kg. After delivery, she thought it was just the weight of the baby, but she soon realized that it was not a 30 kg baby. When she stepped back on the scale, she was still 87 kg. Everyone told her it would take time for her to get back to normal, but the hardest part was getting used to this new body and what she was seeing, herself.
‘I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror’
She described her postpartum journey as equally challenging both physically and emotionally. She shared that even before postpartum, she was tired and realized that she was so used to seeing herself in a certain body that when anything changed, she became very uncomfortable with her own self. She didn’t want to look at herself in the mirror, and felt a little less confident, unhealthy.
The stress also affected her ability to breastfeed. Ghazal explained that because she had a lot going on in her mind about herself, her milk supply was not being adequate. Breastfeeding became a struggle, and at the time, she didn’t even realize she was going through postpartum depression. It was too much mentally and physically, and she admitted she wasn’t even aware of it back then.
The emotional struggle of the postpartum journey
She also opened up about the deep emotional struggle she faced during her postpartum journey, describing days when she couldn’t bring herself to leave her room. Even if he was happy to have guests come home to greet him, it made him nervous. She felt trapped, emotionally drained, and said it boxed her in a way, making her feel down and on the verge of tears. If someone came home, the second they left, she just felt like crying again.
They also shared a heartbreaking emotional struggle. “While I loved my baby with all my heart, breastfeeding was so hard that a lot of the time I thought: ‘Please don’t bring him to me. I don’t want to feed him.’ Ghazal explained how this caused her to feel like a bad mother, saying, “People are so happy when they have kids, and here I was, sc***ing my family. And didn’t love the child the way I felt I should.”
Ghazal credits her family’s unwavering support during these difficult times, saying that both her mothers can tell something, as can Varun. Their encouragement, such as complimenting them and suggesting outings, helped them feel emotionally supported.
She also discussed complications in her second pregnancy, which included low blood circulation to the baby, thick blood and daily injections. Despite these challenges, Ghazal continued with his professional commitments, even shooting Shark Tank during his seventh and eighth months. Before the shoot, she would take an injection, and after the shoot was over, she would go home and take another one.
Ghazal Alagh’s journey through pregnancy and postpartum depression sheds light on the often overlooked struggles that many mothers face. Her story is a reminder of the importance of family support, self-awareness, and asking for help when you need it.
