Breastfeeding Was Harder Than Pregnancy’: Sania Mirza Gets Candid About Motherhood and Her Journey Post-Retirement
Sania Mirza reveals the emotional challenges of breastfeeding, motherhood, and why she chose to retire from tennis to be there for her son.
Sania Mirza Shares Emotional Journey of Motherhood: Why Breastfeeding Was More Challenging Than Pregnancy and the Real Reason Behind Her Retirement
Tennis legend Sania Mirza familiar, furious in a court, opened up in an emotional talk with podcaster Masoom Minawala, revealing her being not just a mother but also the struggles an unexpected mother face in her breastfeeding journey before she finally decided to call time on her professional tennis career.
Though rumors ran about injury or becoming burnt out in sport as her reason for retirement, Sania explained that it’s really a personal thing. At the very heart of it was her son, Izhaan. “One of my main reasons was to spend as much time with my son as possible. He’s at an age where kids need that sense of stability and a parent around,” she said, spelling out how formative those years are, adding, “I didn’t want to miss out on those moments.”
Another indelible memory was the first time she had to leave her newborn to go to work. Izhaan was six weeks old when she left for Pet Delhi for an event. It was painfully emotional: “I cried; I didn’t want to go,” she said. It’s worth it. She grew stronger in her believe to fulfill her dual roles as mother and professional. “I pumped on the flight and came back the same day. He was okay – and so was I.”
Father’s empty role by which I could have excelled encouraged me to take the chance. “He won’t even notice you’re gone,” my mom used to tell me – and indeed, she was right, laughing, Sania said, emphasizing how mother’s nod had to make a world of a difference during the transition that follows childbirth.
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Breastfeeding on the other hand proved the biggest challenge interestingly enough despite how “dream” sounding was her pregnancy overall. “I breast-fed nearly three months. That was the toughest – emotionally and mentally. I used to say, ‘I could get pregnant three more times, but the feeding part? That’s what broke me.'”
She opened up about that pressure of being the only source of food source for the little one: “Everything revolved around his feeding schedule. I felt tied down. It was more mentally draining than I’d ever expected.” The sleeplessness, the emotional drag, and the infrequent feedings eventually worsened the situation, leading her to speak to her pediatrician, who suggested that she continue feeding for a month. “I had hit my limit,” I told him.
Even through all that, Sania remained extremely active. She would be on the tennis court the night before giving birth to Izhaan on October 30, 2018, and started workouts again just three weeks later, a testament to her enduring passion and strength.
Experts say such not uncommon experience with Sania. According to lactation counselor Dr. Gazala Khan, Motherhood Hospitals, Pune, breastfeeding as a whole had more than mere physiological aspects like blood and hormones; it was emotionally burdened relatives in addition. “Between hormonal shifts, lack of sleep, and the societal pressure to ‘do it all,’ breastfeeding can be emotionally overwhelming,” she said.
By being candid, Sania throws a light upon those challenges new motherhood brings that are rarely talked about. Her message is that everybody carries a different journey, and at times strength lies in being vulnerable.
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