Ruth Aboagyewaa Nti, popularly known as Maame Queenie, a former TV3 salesperson now based in the UK, has opened up about her traumatic experience with motherhood, revealing that she was referred to a mental health specialist after battling severe postpartum depression.
Speaking in a motherhood conversation with MzGee on her show G’Oclock ahead of the annual Convergence of Mothers assembly, Maame Queenie described how overwhelming the transition into motherhood was as a first-time mother.
According to her, pregnancy and childbirth came with intense emotional and physical challenges.
“Pregnancy entails a lot. You go through a series of depression until you give birth. Taking care of your child, breastfeeding — everything is new to you. I got depressed. At a point, I was so depressed I became size 16, 18, getting to 20 after giving birth… I was referred to a mental health specialist,” she shared.
Maame Queenie explained that while she had strong family support during her pregnancy and after delivery in Ghana, relocating to the UK with her three-month-old daughter significantly affected her mental wellbeing.
She noted that the absence of the extended family support system she was used to made the experience particularly difficult.
“I relocated and it was not like being in Ghana where you have a lot of help. Out there, it is just you and your husband. Your husband is busy working and you are doing same, but you still have to take care of your child. So the depression was expected,” she said.
Her revelation adds to growing conversations around maternal mental health and the importance of support systems for new mothers, especially those navigating parenthood away from home.
