Sania Mirza recently shared an emotional and honest account of her journey into motherhood. Now retired, she is focusing on raising her son, Izhaan Mirza Malik. In her candid conversation, Sania opened up about the struggles of breastfeeding, societal expectations, and the heavy responsibilities women face in parenting, resonating deeply with mothers everywhere.
Facing Guilt as a New Mom
In a chat with Masoom Minawala on her podcast, Sania opened up about the overwhelming guilt she experienced when she had to leave her newborn son, Izhaan, for the first time due to work. Just six weeks after giving birth, she flew to Delhi for an event—an experience she described as incredibly difficult. Reflecting on it, Sania acknowledged how mothers often burden themselves with guilt, even though such moments are common and children adapt well.
Breastfeeding Struggles and Emotional Toll
Sania shared that at the time, she was still breastfeeding Izhaan, which meant she had to pump milk on the flight—something she found challenging and emotionally taxing. Throughout the day, she remained anxious about leaving her baby behind. However, once she returned home and saw that both she and Izhaan were perfectly fine, it brought her a sense of relief. Looking back, she felt grateful for taking that step, as it helped her regain confidence in balancing motherhood with her professional life.
Unseen Labour of Motherhood
Her honest take on the challenges of parenting deeply resonated with working mothers. Reflecting on her experience raising her son with ex-husband Shoaib Malik, she shed light on the often unseen emotional and mental load mothers carry—from night feedings to constantly planning and juggling responsibilities. Despite being a world-class athlete, Sania revealed that breastfeeding was one of the most difficult parts of early motherhood. She explained that it wasn’t the physical strain, but the emotional toll of being the sole provider of nourishment that felt overwhelming. The lack of sleep, time constraints, and the need to plan life around feeding routines made the experience especially demanding for her.
Redefining Parenting Roles
Sania believes there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting—as long as the child is healthy and happy, that’s what truly matters. She emphasized that instead of burdening women with rigid societal and cultural expectations, parenting should be a shared responsibility between both parents.
Facing Guilt as a New Mom
In a chat with Masoom Minawala on her podcast, Sania opened up about the overwhelming guilt she experienced when she had to leave her newborn son, Izhaan, for the first time due to work. Just six weeks after giving birth, she flew to Delhi for an event—an experience she described as incredibly difficult. Reflecting on it, Sania acknowledged how mothers often burden themselves with guilt, even though such moments are common and children adapt well.
Breastfeeding Struggles and Emotional Toll
Sania shared that at the time, she was still breastfeeding Izhaan, which meant she had to pump milk on the flight—something she found challenging and emotionally taxing. Throughout the day, she remained anxious about leaving her baby behind. However, once she returned home and saw that both she and Izhaan were perfectly fine, it brought her a sense of relief. Looking back, she felt grateful for taking that step, as it helped her regain confidence in balancing motherhood with her professional life.
Unseen Labour of Motherhood
Her honest take on the challenges of parenting deeply resonated with working mothers. Reflecting on her experience raising her son with ex-husband Shoaib Malik, she shed light on the often unseen emotional and mental load mothers carry—from night feedings to constantly planning and juggling responsibilities. Despite being a world-class athlete, Sania revealed that breastfeeding was one of the most difficult parts of early motherhood. She explained that it wasn’t the physical strain, but the emotional toll of being the sole provider of nourishment that felt overwhelming. The lack of sleep, time constraints, and the need to plan life around feeding routines made the experience especially demanding for her.
Redefining Parenting Roles
Sania believes there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting—as long as the child is healthy and happy, that’s what truly matters. She emphasized that instead of burdening women with rigid societal and cultural expectations, parenting should be a shared responsibility between both parents.
