Haunted: Postpartum experience

A woman's life is undoubtedly difficult; pregnancy and postpartum phase being the toughest of all. Physical pain, exhaustion, stress, lack of sleep, change of routine, hormonal changes, weakened immunity, and many more unexplained health issues over the horizon. New mothers find the postpartum period strenuous not only because of the body that works against them but also due to newly imposed restrictions. Most families do not allow the new mothers to step out of their homes for at least 40 days after the delivery. Main reason is that the mother's immunity is low and she can easily catch any infection, which could get transferred to the baby as well. However, it is also believed that the new mother's aura (not a Gen Z term but the protective spiritual layer) is weak and negative energies get attracted to them. Many new mother experience unexplained, often negative presence around them in the postpartum phase. Kartiki (pseudonym used for protecting the identity) my friend recalled her postpartum paranormal experience and it was a fuel for nightmares. 

Kartiki had delivered her first baby. She was glad that the baby was healthy. As per the tradition, she went to stay at her mother's home once discharged from the hospital. She was a new mother and was learning new things every day. She was enjoying how her baby was growing each day and how she herself was growing each day as a mother. Kartiki was forbidden to step out of her home (exception being hospital visits for follow-up). Her mother used to tell her that it is not safe to go out for her as well as for her baby; yet she never explained the reason. Kartiki did not mind staying at home and spending more time with the baby. She considered each day to be a blessing in her journey of motherhood, until that dreadful day.

That day was Kartiki's wedding anniversary. The baby was 20-days old. Kartiki was still in the caution period of her postpartum journey. Stepping out of the home was still not allowed. Kartiki's husband came to her mother's house. He requested her mother to allow Kartiki to go out with him for dinner. Kartiki's mother was hesitant at first but she could not go against her son-in-law's wishes. She informed them to return home as quickly as possible. She reiterated that it is not safe for Kartiki and the baby. Kartiki's husband assured that he will take care of his beloved wife and bring her home safely.

The couple went to a restaurant and had a nice dinner. After the dinner, they went to a nearby beach and then they were ready to head home. While they were on the way, Kartiki had a bad feeling. She felt heaviness in her chest. Breathing became difficult. In the winter season, she started sweating. She could not understand if this was a postpartum symptom, blood pressure fluctuation, or something else. She informed her husband and asked to stop the car for a few minutes. They stepped out of the car to get fresh air and waited for some time. After a few minutes, Kartiki felt better and they resumed their journey. Kartiki instructed her husband to not to tell anything to her mother. Kartiki returned home to her baby and hoped that everything would be normal.

That night Kartiki could not sleep well. She had a strange nightmare. She saw the same road where she felt uneasy earlier that evening. In her nightmare, she felt the same suffocation she felt while returning from the restaurant. Worst part is that she did not experience this just once. Whenever she tried to fall asleep she was haunted by the same nightmare. This nightmare continued for a next few days. At one point, Kartiki was scared. She was unable to understand whether this was a medical problem or an unexplained phenomenon. She felt as if she is a character from "A Nightmare on Elm Street". She was afraid to sleep.

When it became unbearable, she informed her mother about her experience on the road and subsequent nightmare. Her mother asked her which places they had visited. Kartiki told her about the restaurant, beach, and the road they took. Her mother scolded her at first and then explained the reason for the restrictions. She told Kartiki that beaches and lonely roads are breeding grounds for bad energies and evil spirits. Pregnant and postpartum women are easy targets for such entities, hence there is a restriction for stepping out of the house. That day, Kartiki, baby, and her mother visited a nearby temple. Kartiki's mother recited protection shlokas out loud while sitting next to Kartiki and the baby. Kartiki who considered herself to be a "modern woman" did not believe that these remedies would help her. However, while listening to shlokas she felt peaceful. That night she slept peacefully. The nightmare did not return.

This incident occurred several years ago but Kartiki feels as if it occurred yesterday. She still fears to visit that restaurant and beach. She still wants to avoid that road. She still cannot understand why she had the nightmare after visiting those places, why it kept repeating, how the nightmare vanished after the temple visit and shloka recitation. However, now she does believe in the power of prayers and the divine energy. Afterall, one has to experience it to believe it in.

[Note: The above image is AI generated.]