‘I was 40 weeks pregnant’

Sania Mirza recently opened up about motherhood, sharing intricate details of her pregnancy, breastfeeding journey, and the reasons behind her retirement. In a candid conversation with podcaster Masoom Minawala, the tennis icon said one of the prominent reasons, apart from her body not allowing her to play, was that she wanted to spend more time with her son. “One of my main things was to spend as much time with my son. Because I feel he is at that age with school, etc, where they need a parent to be with them, and feel that security. I didn’t want to miss out on that. I felt that I had done enough. I felt that I had chased my dreams enough. This was also part of my dream,” said Mirza.
The four-time Olympian recalled the first time she left her six-week-old ba to attend an event. “The first time I left Izhaan, he was six weeks old. It was the hardest flight I’ve taken, I think. I had to go to Delhi for an event, and I said I can’t do it. I was being dramatic because, honestly, it isn’t. Like people do that all the time, and kids are absolutely fine. We beat ourselves over it because we are giving ourselves mom’s guilt,” said Mirza.
She reflected on how that decision has helped her become stronger. “I took the morning flight, and at that time, I was still feeding him. So, I had to pump on the plane. It was a nuisance. And I took that flight. I am so glad that I did because if I hadn’t taken that flight, I don’t think I would have been able ever to leave him and work. I did a morning-evening from Hyderabad to Delhi. I came back. He was absolutely fine. I was absolutely fine. I had shed a few tears here and there,” said Mirza.
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She praised her mother for pushing her. “My mother pushed me to go. She said, ‘What is wrong with you?’ She said he wouldn’t even know you are not here — he is just 6 weeks old.”
Mirza admitted that while pregnancy was a dream, it was breastfeeding that she found the hardest.
“I breastfed for 2.5-3 months. For me, that was the hardest part of pregnancy. I am like, I will get pregnant three more times, but this feeding business, I don’t know if I can do. For me, it was not the physical aspect of it, but the emotional and mental aspects that were draining. As working women, it ties you down. They are so dependent on it, time commitment, not enough sleep, and you are centering all activities around the feeding schedule. I did what was needful.”
Why can it be taxing? (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
She recalled going back to the paediatrician after three months and telling him, ‘I tried and I can’t do it anymore’. “He told me to try it for another month. I told him I would lose my mind. It was just very hard for me emotionally because you are already dealing with so many postpartum emotions and hormones. It may sound shallow, but it is the reality of what women go through. Knowing that a little human is totally dependent on me for food was a difficult thing to deal with. For me, that was harder than the actual pregnancy. My pregnancy was like a dream.”Story continues below this ad

She also recalled that she was physically keeping fit playing tennis, even the night before her delivery on October 30, 2018. “One night before (delivery), I played tennis because I was 40 weeks pregnant and nothing was happening,” said Mirza, adding that she went back to her workouts and training three weeks after giving birth.
Why do some women find it emotionally taxing to breastfeed?
Some women find breastfeeding challenging due to physical and emotional difficulties, said Dr Gazala Khan, lactation consultant at Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune. “Many women tend to experience problems such as sore nipples, low milk supply, or difficulty with the ba latching properly. Moreover, hormonal changes, stress, and lack of sleep can also make breastfeeding feel overwhelming,” added Dr Khan.

Even other issues, such as inverted nipples or past surgeries, may cause pain or complications. “Emotional pressure, lack of support, and unrealic expectations will also lead to struggle while breastfeeding. It is the need of the hour to seek timely help,” said Dr Khan.Story continues below this ad
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.