Sat Nov 08 17:55:08 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Modern “Village” Stressing Out Mothers, Experts Say

Bengaluru, India – November 8, 2025 – A panel of experts at the Manotsava mental health festival in Bengaluru warned that the modern, hyper-connected world is often contributing to increased stress and pressure on new mothers, despite the traditional saying that “it takes a village to raise a baby.”

The discussion, titled ‘Maternal Health Unfiltered: Strain, Stories and Studies,’ highlighted how traditional support systems for mothers have fragmented, replaced by digital spaces that can be both helpful and harmful.

Prabha Chandra, a senior professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, likened the postpartum period to “matrescence,” a time of profound neurobiological change equivalent to “the adolescence of motherhood.” She noted that while areas of the brain linked to empathy and caregiving become more active, this also makes women more vulnerable to anxiety, guilt, and fatigue. The shrinking of traditional family support networks further exacerbates the issue.

Psychologist Bakul Dua of Mommy Mixed Tapes pointed to the rise of online platforms as new “villages,” offering lifelines to mothers, particularly those living far from family. However, she cautioned that these platforms also fuel comparison and guilt, with mothers facing constant pressure to live up to unrealistic standards portrayed on social media. “Motherhood today is a performance,” she said.

Therapist Poornima Mahindru of Green Oak emphasized the continued influence of cultural expectations and rituals, even in modern families. She argued that while some traditions may have been protective in the past, they now often lead to isolation. Mahindru also highlighted the gendered expectation for women to “prove their worth through motherhood” and called for a shift towards prioritizing recovery, rest, and respect for new mothers.

The panel emphasized the need to address maternal mental health within a broader context, including the roles of fathers, childcare, policy, and social support. They also explored the paradox of agency among modern women, noting that many confident professionals surrender control during childbirth. Ultimately, the experts called for a more supportive and understanding approach to motherhood, one that prioritizes the well-being of both mother and child.

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