Aronke Emmanuel: I once contemplated hitting my baby on the wall due to postnatal depression

Aronke Feyi-Emmanuel, the Nigerian entrepreneur, says she once contemplated hitting her baby on the wall while battling postnatal depression.

Aronke is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ChildAfrique Limited, an online marketplace for made-in-Africa children and maternity care products.

She spoke in a recent chat with Chude Jideonwo, the media personality.

Aronke said she gave birth to her child abroad and did not have people around to help her with chores as seen in many Nigerian homes after childbirth.

The entrepreneur also said while she was happy to have a child, she became overwhelmed with the demands of motherhood that “I wanted my life, sanity, and wellness back”

“I had my baby abroad so I didn’t have the experience of a mum just forcing over you, putting hot water or something on your belly, bathing you and helping you generally. I did not have that,” she said.

“There was no one to take care of me. I took care of everyone and everything but nobody cared for me. At least, not in the way that I should have been taken care of.

“This was the beginning of this period in my life. I was joyful to have a baby but I found myself alone at night, every day. I was sleeping and waking up around my baby.

“I don’t remember any night that my baby didn’t sleep beside me or have someone take the baby away from me so that I could rest. This was ongoing for the first four months — every night.

“Then, when I’m alone with the baby at night, several thoughts would come up. Thoughts like, how did I get here?  I would then say to myself: maybe I should just carry the baby and hit him on the wall and let everything just end.

“You, know, I just wanted my life back, I wanted my sanity and wellness back and it seemed I wouldn’t get it.”