In Kosovo’s society, postpartum depression is a topic that isn’t discussed publicly. As a result, many new mothers don’t have information on its symptoms such as mood swings, or the risks that can be presented.
The importance of new mothers’ psychological state after giving birth triggered the performing and protesting artistic group Haveit to bring the topic into public discourse.
“Baby blues”, an emotionally intense performance by Haveit was presented on Monday at the National Gallery in Tirana, as a short journey through long-lasting days of new mothers struggling with their unknown ‘selves’.
“This period (postpartum) is described by doctors as two weeks or two months, but we think it is much longer and more difficult than it is explained,” Alketa Sylaj a member of Haveit told Exit News after performing.
Haveit consists of two pairs of sisters, Hana Qena, Vesa Qena, and Lola Sylaj and Alketa Sylaj from Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina.
During the performance, each of them had a cart full of glasses. As the performance starts, they began slowly moving their carts forward and backward. Glasses start hitting each other and breaking, culminating with fast and strong movements until all pieces of broken glasses fell on the floor.
“It is the noise of that moment when the baby is born, it is a commotion then everything falls quiet,” Hana Qena says.
She explains that the first time they performed “Baby Blues” was in Kosovo and part of the performance included videos of their mothers pushing empty carts.
“It is that image that reminds you of the mother as she commits to the family, having a cart and bringing food. A person who cares all the time about you and never, even if she thinks of leaving, never actually leaves you,” Hana Qena said.
“While breaking the glasses is the escape of our mothers. If I was in her place, would I run away? It is a moment when she has to break a cycle” she says.
Alketa Sylaj highlights the need for organized gatherings where new mothers can talk and share such experiences.
“A place or event where women would know they are not going crazy and it is not their fault if they do not feel big affection towards their child,” she says.
Pointing out that Kosovo’s society is not aware of the difficulties postpartum depression brings, Hana Qena recalls her friend’s experience.
“I had a friend which went through postpartum depression for about one year. She only told me that felt powerless to stand and thought it was a physical problem as well as the fact she felt she could not bond with her baby,” Hana said.
“But she was not informed that it was a very normal process and it wasn’t a physical issue,” she adds.
“Baby Blues” in Tirana was very important for the whole group for several reasons.
Lola Sylaj is a new mother, while Hana and Vesa Qena lost their mum which was part of the “Baby blues” performance presented in Kosovo.
“It was a very intense feeling,” both Hana and Alketa said after performing.
Lola, on the other hand, said she was very lucky to be told on time about the mood swings she was about to go through.
“My mother, my mother in law and my sister told me sometimes you will cry, sometimes you will laugh a lot, but it is what we all went through and will pass,” she said.
“Baby Blues” came to Tirana as part of the “Ambitions” exhibition of forty women artists from Kosovo and Albania which is open at the National Gallery.
According the World Health Organization, worldwide about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. 20 % of mothers in developing countries experience clinical depression after childbirth.
