“There were so many people around me… but it was only my husband who asked if I was okay.”

For M Sharanya, those early weeks after childbirth weren’t just about sleepless nights or recovering from a C-section. They were a test of patience, strength — and support.

Across India, postpartum is often marked by isolation, exhaustion, and silent struggle. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With care from their families — especially their husbands — new mothers can find calm in the chaos and comfort in the small, everyday acts of love.

Two such women share their stories — of healing, of being seen, and of what it truly means to support a new mother.

‘I can give it all to my in-laws’

For M Sharanya, the early weeks after childbirth were nothing short of life-altering. Recovering from a C-section while tending to a newborn was physically draining — but what made the difference, she says, was her support system.

Sharanya, a Hyderabad-based mother of two girls who works at the Food Corporation of India, gave birth to her first child during the pandemic. “For the sake of the baby, both my mother-in-law and father-in-law decided to quit their jobs and look after her. This was such a relief — I could enjoy my maternity break and also confidently get back to work after six months,” she says.

Her biggest challenge, however, was........

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