Exclusive - Charu Asopa: The initial one month after Ziana's birth was full of anxiety as I couldn't breastfeed her for 6-7 days

Charu Asopa joined ETimes TV to share her journey of motherhood. The actress welcomed baby girl Ziana and recently shared stories from her postpartum period. Charu spoke about her emotions on first seeing her daughter, shedding extra kilos after pregnancy, breastfeeding and a lot more. The 6-months old mommy shared that the initial month was full of anxiety for her as she couldn't breastfeed her daughter for the first 6-7 days. Charu shared that a new mother goes through different emotions in the initial days after delivery and the phase is very isolating. She further stated that she learns a lot from her sister-in-law Sushmita Sen as she has raised her two daughters well and that too singlehandedly. (Photo: Instagram)

I started crying looking at her because she was very tiny. She was very small. As I gave birth to Ziana by C section, there was no immediate lactation. I couldn’t breastfeed her immediately as I was not getting the milk. I started stressing over it because I was not getting breast milk. People around me were telling me it’s fine, it will come in three-four days but in my case it took longer. There was no breast milk for 6-7 days. I was very stressed about it and on the other hand doctors would ask me not to stress. (Photo: Instagram)

I couldn’t control the stress and everyday I had anxiety attack and I would keep thinking about it. Kya main Ziana ko breast milk de nahi paaungi kya. But then it started and it was a relief. So during my initial phase after delivery, especially the first month, I was under a lot of anxiety. There are so many hormonal changes in your body especially during the first few weeks after delivery. Those moments are very isolating, aap ke andar itni saari cheezein Badal rahi hoti hai… it does get difficult to handle things. (Photo: Instagram)

Luckily, my family was very supportive. I have some amazing friends who would tell me it’s fine we have given formula milk as well to our kids and it has all the nutrients don’t worry. But as we have also heard so much about the benefits of breast milk for a kid since childhood, like the immune system is not good if a child doesn’t get breast milk, the baby is not strong enough, so all these things start bothering you. But my family was very supportive. (Photo: Instagram)

We never worried about the gender of the baby because we were trying for the baby after marriage. We didn’t want to delay things as later there are a lot of complications in pregnancy. So, for us it was the happiest news when we got pregnant itni Badi khushi thi ke ladki hoti hai yaa ladka it didn’t matter to us. We wanted a healthy baby. (Photo: Instagram)

I feel more than other things self love is very important for new moms. Because new moms just devote themselves to their babies and forget themselves and that’s the reason postpartum depression starts sinking in. So that’s the reason self love is very important. (Photo: Instagram)

I didn’t take up the workout immediately. Doctors had advised me that I should start working out after 60 days and I started after 2 months with some light weight. I don’t diet at all and just did light weight exercises. I eat everything. I’ve completed six months and now I’ll start working out full fledged because I’ll get back to work in the near future also. I don’t stress about gaining some extra kilos. (Photo: Instagram)

I share an amazing bond with my mother-in-law. In fact she keeps pushing me to workout. She tells me to go for a daily massage so that my arms are in the right shape. She keeps motivating me and she’s amazing. I’ve three amazing women in my life, my mother, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I learn from them on a regular basis. I've learnt from my sister-in-law Sushmita didi how well she has raised her two daughters despite being alone. She makes me believe that a woman can do anything in life. (Photo: Instagram)

When I went inside the operation theatre my husband and sister-in-law Sushmita didi were there inside with me. I was not conscious but I could hear them and they were happy. In fact, when I was leaving for the surgery they were cheering me up and cracking jokes and making the atmosphere so light. I was scared and nervous but just looking at them I went inside with a smile on my face. They were inside also celebrating Ziana's birth. (Photo: Instagram)

Sushmita didi loves Ziana a lot. She's her laadli. She keeps saying in Bengali “Mujhe Usko chautkana ka mann karta hai” which means Ladd karna… in-fact, now when my father-in-law was meeting us she told him especially Koop chautkana… (Photo: Instagram)

Rajeev and I both have become responsible in-fact, he has become so responsible. If I am busy with something, he on his own takes care of the baby. It is a relief when your partner is supportive and understanding. He even changes nappies and all. He takes interest and asks batao kaise karna hai…. He has changed as a father. (Photo: Instagram)

I believe we girls are very well trained in balancing everything. It is inbuilt, we don’t need to learn it. Like when I shoot for campaigns, it gets difficult to shoot when she is awake, so I make sure to make her sleep and then do it. Similarly, I make Vlogs on a regular basis, I edit all my videos either when she’s sleeping or when I am feeding her. If you have will power you can do everything. I’ve not taken up work completely. I am just doing brand endorsement and that too from home. I don’t want to leave Ziana and step out for work right now. I want to be with her and do small assignments. (Photo: Instagram)