Kapuso actress Kylie Padilla has taken to social media to share her personal struggles with childbirth complications and mental health, following the devastating news of a mother in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, who allegedly set her home ablaze—killing herself and her three sons—reportedly due to postpartum depression.
The heartbreaking incident struck a chord with Kylie, prompting her to post a heartfelt reflection on Facebook. The actress, who is a mother of two boys—Alas Joaquin and Axl Romeo—said the news brought back painful memories of her own experience after giving birth to her second child.
“My last post is very personal to me. After giving birth to my 2nd son I also suffered and still suffer from complications of childbirth or ‘binat’ as they call it,” Kylie wrote.
She detailed how she dealt with complications from a spinal injection that left her unable to walk properly for three months, triggering a wave of pain, anxiety, and overwhelming stress.
“I could not walk without my lower body shaking, had headaches, nerve pain, and over fatigue. I also struggled with breastfeeding because my second baby couldn’t latch as well as my first. The stress, anxiety, and body pain absolutely took a toll on my body. I never thought I would ever recover.”
Kylie admitted she fell into a dark mental space and lacked a strong support system during that period. Fortunately, she had financial means to support herself—but recognized that many mothers do not.
With that, she called for greater awareness and systemic support for mothers, advocating for #PaidMaternityLeave and #PostpartumDepressionAwareness.
“This post is not about me. I had savings. I had the ability to support myself. But not all moms have this,” she emphasized. “Mothers deserve time to rest their bodies and minds after childbirth. They deserve to be able to take care of themselves as well as their children.”
She ended her message with a powerful call to action: “We need a world where everyone feels supported, so our moms can better take care of our children.”
Kylie Padilla is the estranged wife of actor Aljur Abrenica. Her openness about mental and physical challenges aims to break the stigma surrounding postpartum issues and maternal mental health.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline: dial 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free).
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