“It was almost 22 years ago. I was just coming out of postnatal depression, the kind that was brought about not just from the cocktail of postnatal hormones but because my husband (now ex-husband) was failing me in so many ways.”

She explained that as she was recovering from postnatal depression, she decided to begin tailing down her medication as she felt mentally stronger, but soon, “disaster struck” and she found out she was pregnant again.

“It was far from planned and the last thing I needed in my life. And whilst I cried my heart out, the husband cruelly cheered as did everyone else who had no idea what I was going through.”

Upon discovering the news, the woman went to seek advice from her psychiatrist who told her to go off her medication immediately, which she did.

Subsequently, her depression got worse and so did her relationship with her husband.

“He hated the sight of me pregnant. There were no reassuring words that all will be fine. No one ever asked about how I felt. My pregnancy was awful. Morning sickness lasted for many months and was an all-day thing. I ended up anemic.”

“But at every visit to the gynae, I was told to stop worrying as the baby was healthy and doing well. So I took it all in my stride. Until disaster struck again towards the end of the pregnancy.”

She began coming to terms with her pregnancy and was actually looking forward to welcoming the new addition. But something happened, and her baby died.

“I had to give birth to a stillborn baby.”

Her psychiatrist then put her back on the anti-depressants but no matter how many times she tried to wean herself off as she’d done before, the depression always returned.

“I am no medic, but I always wonder if it was the fact that I was made to stop them that gave me chronic depression.”

“So yes, mental health is important. We are not just vessels and we do not become insignificant when we get pregnant. We are still humans who feel and need attention and love and care. At all costs.”

Unfortunately, her doctors were able to figure out why her child died.

Her story comes amid a debate on whether mental health complications should suffice as a reason for abortion.

Do you think that mental health issues should grant pregnant people the right to an abortion?