Renowned Nigerian Consultant Psychiatrist and Mental Health Advocate, Dr Gbonjubola Abiri, has addressed the multifaceted nature of postpartum experiences, cautioning against oversimplification and societal pressure on new mothers. She spoke during an interview on the WithChude Podcast aired on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
When asked about the tendency to present a single narrative of motherhood, Dr. Abiri responded: “...partum period is usually referred to as the first six weeks after a woman delivers. However, postpartum depression can occur within the first 12 weeks post-delivery, lasting even up to a year.”
She added, “Yes, I had a guess that was a year or two years. Yes, after the child has been born. And so it’s a type of depression, like you said, that occurs in those circumstances after the birth of a child, including the death of a child. Anything that happens after. So again, snapshots, not the full picture.”
She emphasized the dangers of relying on partial information, stating, “We give everyone, or people take on snapshots and not the full picture. And so, as you talk about this, I’m reminded about a story that I read in the papers a few years ago, about a woman who was delivered of twins somewhere in the southwestern state in Nigeria. And on the day of the naming, she took both twins to a bridge and she dropped them in the water.”
Dr. Abiri noted that such events often provoke judgment and misunderstanding. “Again, I mean, everyone would look at and ask the questions she wanted. Who doesn’t want double blessing? How come she wasn’t happy? How come she wasn’t? And so again, like you’ve said, the danger of a single story. And like I’ve said, just taking snapshots and exaggerating them,” she said.
She also highlighted societal pressures that contribute to postpartum challenges. “Again, the culture of silence, the culture of the fact that everyone else has done it. And so you should just fall in line and just do what, this is what is expected of you. This is what you should say. This is how you should say it. Unfortunately, not everyone can show up like that. And of course, many times you would be overwhelmed by what it is that even you cannot control,” Dr. Abiri added.See_More…