As I look into the mirror, I see a version of myself that feels both familiar and foreign. The same eyes, but now supported by dark circles of fatigue. The same face, but now lined with the silent sacrifices of motherhood. My hair, loosely pulled up into a soggy bun, retains bits of baby breakfast, and the stretched-out sweatshirt I wear has had more spit-up than I wish to disclose.

I adore my baby—more than words can say. And yet sometimes, I miss her—the person I was prior to motherhood taking over every aspect of my life. The woman who could sleep in on Saturdays, meet friends at a moment's notice for coffee, and luxuriate in long showers without guilt. The woman who had dreams and aspirations that extended past nap times and feeding schedules.

No one prepares you for this aspect of motherhood—the quiet grieving for your former self. It has nothing to do with regretting becoming a mother. It has nothing to do with not valuing the snickers, the milestones, the intense and all-consuming love you have for your child. But what it does mean is that occasionally, in the quiet of the night, when the baby is finally sleeping and the house is still, you find yourself thinking: Where did I go? Though the happiness of motherhood is second to none, many new mothers find themselves wrestling with an internal dilemma: the profound love for their children and the desire for the woman they used to be. This pull and push of motherhood is a reality usually whispered about, but it is one that is worthy of an open, honest discussion.

For Noina, a 32-year-old marketing executive in Mumbai, the transition from independent, career-oriented woman to full-time mother of a newborn was both lovely and perplexing. Two years ago, she was spearheading marketing campaigns for a large company, taking spontaneous weekend trips, and luxuriating in the privileges of solo time. Today, her universe is centered around feeding times, sleepless nights, and round-the-clock diaper changes.

"I always wanted to be a mother, but I never realized how much of myself I would lose in the process," Meera confesses. "I love my baby, but sometimes, I feel like crying out for the freedom of just being me."

Silent Struggles: Tiredness, Shame, and Alienation

As with many new mothers, Meera has moments of debilitating fatigue. Rising at 4:30 a.m. to feed the baby, keeping up with domestic chores, and finding a balance between work-from-home duties exhausts her. The assertive woman who dominated boardrooms now second-guesses every parenting move.

Exhilaration brings guilt. "There are days when I just want to sleep for hours, but then I feel guilty for not spending every waking moment with my child," she says. "And then, when I am with him, I sometimes find myself missing my old life—then the guilt gets even worse.

This intrapsychic tug-of-war is typical among new mothers. Based on several studies, almost 80% of women go through postpartum mood changes, with many reporting feelings of isolation, anxiety, and even mild depression. The social pressure put on the mother to be perpetually selfless is just another added source of pressure in the intrapsychic tug-of-war.

Weight of Guilt and Shame

Mothers get bombarded by images of 'perfect' parenting—beaming mothers with obedient babies, tidy houses, and undeterred careers. Motherhood in real life is messy, both literally and metaphorically.

"I feel guilty hanging up on a work call to take care of my baby. I feel guilty when I take a long shower just so I can have a few minutes to myself. I feel guilty when I let him cry for a few minutes because I am too tired to answer right away," Noina confesses. "But I've learned that guilt is part of motherhood—it doesn't mean I love my baby any less."

Experts say that guilt usually arises from unrealistic expectations. The secret is understanding that being a 'perfect mother' is a myth. Guilt must be a call to rethink priorities and not a sign of failure.

Identity Crisis Is Real, Rediscovering the Woman Beyond 'Mom'

Most women, such as Meera, find it difficult to feel like they lose themselves as 'mother.' Previously, she was a woman with goals, interests, and aspirations. Presently, her identity seems to be defined exclusively by motherhood.

"Sometimes I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself," she confesses. "The girl who once loved dancing, reading, and quiet coffee shop mornings is now a mom who barely has time to comb her hair."

Psychologists stress the need to create personal time, even in small measures. Whether it is reading a book for 15 minutes, going for a walk alone, or picking up an old hobby, these self-care moments can assist mothers in reconnecting with themselves.

How To Find Time And Accept the Chaos

Adjusting to motherhood doesn’t mean completely letting go of who you were. It means integrating your old self with your new reality. This can be done by setting small, achievable goals:

Accepting imperfection: The house doesn’t have to be spotless, and you don’t have to be available for your baby 24/7.

Asking for help: Spouses, family members, and friends can be involved in caregiving. It’s okay to step back when needed.

Prioritizing mental health: If sadness, anxiety, or resentment become overwhelming, professional help can be helpful.

Reclaiming 'me-time': Taking time—even 30 minutes a day—to focus on self-care can make a big difference in overall well-being.

Motherhood is a journey of extremes—overwhelming love and deep frustration, boundless joy and intense exhaustion. The secret is recognizing that it's okay to miss who you used to be while still loving who you've become.

"I wouldn't trade this life for anything," Noina says with a smile while looking at her baby, who gurgles happily in her arms. "But I am learning that a good mother should also take care of herself. I am more than just a mom—I am still me."

A giant baby weighing 5.9 kg was born to a mother in New York. She was left in shock and amaze when she saw that she had delivered a boy much bigger than she expected. The newborn baby weighed almost twice as much as an average baby. The baby is born to Terrica and Shawn on January 31 in Cayuga Medical Center. His weigh has made him the heaviest baby ever born at the Ithaca-based hospital, reported the NY Post.

The mother of four said she knew her son would be a little heavy, however did not know he would be this big. She said he is already wearing three-to-six month old baby clothes and diaper. She feels like she has given birth to a three-month-old.

The hospital also posted a photo of the baby on Facebook, comparing him with another newborn baby alongside. The other baby too was born on the same day, whose name is Margot and weighs only 1.8 kg.

Robyn Torgalski, System Director of Maternal and Child Health at Centralus Health, described the two births as a powerful reminder that every newborn and every birth story is unique. She noted that whether a baby weighs four pounds or thirteen, the medical team is fully equipped to deliver the highest level of care to both mother and child. Torgalski added that she is proud of the maternity services at Cayuga Health and feels privileged to support families during such an important life event.

Read: 99th Percentile Baby: What It Means, Risks, And What Parents Should Know

Giant Babies: All About Them

As per the Guinness World Records, the heaviest recorded baby ever was 9.97 kg born in Italy in 1955.

Dr Sermed Mezher, a digital health content creator, and a London based GP, shared: "Babies in the womb who measure in the 99th percentile for weight are referred to as macrosomic baby, meaning they are significantly larger than average for their gestational age. While most macrosomic babies are healthy, their larger size can increase the risk of certain complications during pregnancy and delivery."

What Does It Mean To Be A 99th Percentile Baby?

Babies in the 99th percentile for weight are larger than 99% of babies at the same gestational age. This may lead to birth complications such as shoulder dystocia—when the baby’s shoulders become stuck during delivery—or increase the likelihood of cesarean section. Mothers may also experience a higher risk of perineal tearing, postpartum hemorrhage, and greater pregnancy weight gain. Contributing factors include maternal diabetes, genetics, or excess weight gain during pregnancy.

This larger birth size is medically categorized under fetal macrosomia, which refers to babies in the top 10% of weight for gestational age—with the 99th percentile representing the most extreme cases.

What Causes A Baby To Be a 99th Percentile Baby?

While we do not know the cause in this case, there are certain reason a baby may fall into the category, which includes:

• You have a large fundal height (a measurement of fetal growth)
• Significant weight gain during pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes or pre-existing diabetes
• History of delivering large babies
• Prolonged pregnancy past due date
• Parental genetics (you were a large baby yourself)

A team of doctors in Uttar Pradesh successfully performed a rare and highly complex neuro-interventional procedure on a two-and-a-half-year-old girl that enabled significant neurological recovery.

The child initially had severe indigestion and mild fever. However, it quickly escalated into repeated seizures, altered sensorium, and sudden loss of movement.

At ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, the child was diagnosed with deep Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) with multiple brain infarcts -- a condition associated with high mortality risk and potentially devastating long-term neurological disability.

“Deep cerebral venous thrombosis in toddlers is exceptionally rare, and neuro-intervention in pediatric stroke is particularly challenging because of the small size of vessels and increased risk of bleeding,” said Dr. Dewansh Mishra, Interventional Neuro-Radiologist, at ApolloMedics.

“Literature on catheter-directed thrombolysis in such young patients is limited. In this case, the child was deteriorating quickly, and timely escalation to precision neuro-intervention was crucial to prevent irreversible brain injury and give her the best possible chance of recovery,” he added.

The Rare Brain Surgery

Dr. Mishra said that the child was also diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody (APLA) syndrome, a clotting disorder that increases the tendency of blood to clot excessively.

Infection and dehydration further worsened the condition and accelerated stroke progression.

Recognizing the urgency, a multidisciplinary team of doctors took a critical, high-risk decision to escalate treatment without delay. They performed intracranial catheter-directed thrombolysis, under general anesthesia, preventing irreversible brain injury in the toddler.

Through the femoral vein in the thigh, a microcatheter was carefully navigated into the intracranial venous system, and clot-dissolving medication was delivered directly at the site of thrombosis to restore venous drainage. This was successful in limiting further neurological damage.

"After nearly three weeks of intensive care and rehabilitation, the child was discharged with significant neurological recovery. She is now able to walk, speak, and perform activities that children of her age do," the hospital said in a statement.

The case, marked by rapid deterioration and a narrow window for intervention, will be presented at the Indian National Stroke Conference 2026 in Kochi, underlining both its clinical significance and the growing capabilities of advanced stroke care in India.

Can Stroke Occur In Very Young Children?

While stroke is more common in adults than in children, the condition can occur in children and debilitate their lives.

Pediatric stroke is a rare condition affecting one in every 4,000 newborns and an additional 2,000 older children each year.

Stroke in young children is similar to that of adults and is caused by a brain injury due to the interruption of blood flow to part of the brain.

In young children, the diagnosis is often delayed. A stroke typically begins suddenly in children and infants, with Seizures the most common symptom.

Extreme sleepiness or altered mental status and a tendency to use only one side of the body are other major symptoms.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, we all know them as a power couple. However, there are moments that have broken them and they both have talked about it. This was the moment of their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas' birth.

On February 4 episode of the Jay Shetty Podcast, Jonas, 33, opened up about his daughter's birth. "She came to the world under sort of very intense circumstances, which I have not really talked about ever. She came out, she was one pound and 11 ounces, and purple basically. These angels at the NICU kind of resuscitated her in that moment, got her taken care of really quickly, and intubated and everything else."

Also Read: Shingles Can Strike More Than Once, Vaccination Offers Protection, say experts

In fact, recently a video has been circulating of Priyanka Chopra Jonas talking about the premature birth of her daughter too. She described this period as "tough" and said that it was extremely hard on her. She also called Malti a "miracle baby".

On the Jay Shetty podcast, she revealed that the couple were forced to announce her birth, whereas they wanted to wait till her health gets better. They had put everything on halt and visited the NICU every single day. "We received a text saying that her (Malti) birth would be out in the newspapers, if we don't, they are going to put it in within three hours. So we were kind of forced into announcing her birth because we wanted to control our own narrative. We weren't ready. We didn't know what would happen with her or how she would be."

Malti's Premature Birth

Priyanka shared that she was informed about her premature delivery in the 27th week. This is what made her completely "shut down". She also recalled sitting in front of the fireplace for nine hours and was not able to process the situation.

Like Jonas, Priyanka too noted that Malti was purple at birth and required immediate NICU attention. She also said that the nurses' fingers were too big for her small mouth. She recalled feeling "numb" at that time.

However, Jonas shared that Priyanka and him "had a lot of tough conversations day in, day out about caring" for Malti. He also appreciated his wife's strength on handling the situation. "The way in which she handled it was so inspiring to me, and you know, allowing for those days to be tough, but to be tougher for our little girl was the focus."

Malti received six blood transfusions and gained weight in the hospital. After nearly three and half months, she was able to go home.

Priyanka reveals that in her house there is a "big mandir" with "a large Shiv Ji murti". This is where everyone sat as a family and she cried not out of fear, but out of gratitude. "Gratitude that she survived, that she was home, that she chose us, and that we were able to make it happen. IVF is tough."

Read: What Parents of Premature Babies Must Know About the NICU, According to a Neonatologist

What Parents Of Prematurely Born Babies Must Keep In Mind?

Health and Me had earlier spoken to Dr Sanjay Wazir, Medical Director, Neonatology and Pediatrics at Motherhood Hospitals, Gurugram who pointed out that Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or the NICU may seem overwhelming, however, it must be seen as a sanctuary of healing.

"In the NICU, premature or unwell newborns receive specialized medical attention, constant monitoring, and compassionate care from expert hands. Here, the mother and the baby are well taken care of. This will help the baby lead a healthy life. Hence, NICU care is important for all the premature or unwell babies," he says.

What Happens Inside The NICU?

The doctor explains that the NICU provides a controlled and nurturing environment where babies can grow stronger outside the womb. "It helps maintain their body temperature, supports breathing, and ensures proper nutrition through feeding tubes if necessary," he says.

Every machine in the NICU is for a specific purpose, right from oxygen support to heart rate monitoring, ensuring that each baby receives precisely what they need. Parents often find comfort knowing that the experts in the NICU are constantly watching over their child’s progress, explains the doctor.

The doctor points out that parents are essential part of the NICU journey. "Your touch, your voice, and your calm presence can help your baby feel safe and comforted," he tells to all the parents. However, what is extremely important is to maintain hygiene guidelines, staying involved in daily care, and communicating regularly with the doctors and nurses to "strengthen your bond and confidence as caregivers." The doctor says that during this time, the mother will also be taught about Kangaroo care, which is skin-to-skin contact that helps the mother bond with her baby.