Ileana D'Cruz opens up on her postpartum experience; calls it 'incredibly hard' and 'mentally very difficult'

Ileana D'Cruz recently discussed her second pregnancy, detailing her choice to have a natural delivery without an epidural. In an interview with NDTV, she shared that while the experience was empowering, her postpartum recovery proved more challenging this time around.

Speaking about delivering her second child

The actor explained that she aimed for a different approach to her second childbirth, opting to challenge herself. I said I'm going to go unmedicated this time. I'm not going to do the epidural. I told my nurse that we need to come up with a plan because this is what I want to do. And it was great because she worked with me, and we actually did it. It was amazing, Ileana shared.

Ileana on postpartum period

Although her choice brought a sense of accomplishment, Ileana acknowledged that the postpartum period was significantly more demanding. the second time, it's not just the baby, it's the baby, it's your toddler, it's you. It's all those factors. It's trying to figure out yourself physically and get your strength back, and the new mental space is completely messed up. So it's incredibly hard, she said.

Ileana on being clicked in India

In the same interview, Ileana openly discussed her feelings about being photographed with her children in India, explaining her discomfort. She stated that being photographed with her babies would be challenging and confusing for them, and she felt it wouldn't be fair to them as they wouldn't understand the situation. She added that she wouldn't be comfortable with it.

Ileana's Concerns

Her apprehension arises from the possibility that her young children might not comprehend the concept of constant photography and attention. However, Ileana also acknowledged her positive interactions with the Mumbai paparazzi throughout her career. She mentioned that she has always had a good relationship with them, and whenever she has expressed her discomfort, they have respected her wishes. She believes that if the situation arose, they would understand and refrain from photographing the babies.

Ileana’s personal front

Ileana and Michael joyfully introduced their son, Keanu, born on June 19th. Sharing a photo and a heartfelt message on Instagram, she expressed, "Our hearts are so full." Following a private May 2023 wedding, Ileana celebrated the arrival of her first son, Koa Phoenix Dolan, in August 2023, sharing, No words could explain how happy we are to welcome our darling boy to the world. Heart’s beyond full.

Ileana’s professional front

Ileana's most recent role was in Shirsha Guha Thakurta's 2024 romantic comedy, "Do Aur Do Pyaar," where she starred alongside Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, and Sendhil Ramamurthy.