Actress Ileana D’Cruz, who became a mother for the second time this year, opened up about her postpartum struggles in a candid interview.

The 37-year-old, who welcomed son Keanu Rafe Dolan with husband Michael Dolan in June, admitted that her mental health took a toll after her second pregnancy.

 Speaking to NDTV, she revealed that “the new mental space is completely messed up” and added that the phase has been “incredibly hard.”

Talking about her birthing process, she disclosed that she decided to skip medication, as she noted,"I told my nurse that we need to come up with a plan .. And it was great because she worked with me, and we actually did it. It was amazing."

Furthermore, she admitted that coping after childbirth turned out more challenging, she stated, “The second time, it’s not just the baby, it’s the baby, it’s your toddler, it’s you. It’s trying to figure out yourself physically and get your strength back.” 

It is pertinent to note, the Rustom star and husband Michael tied the knot in a private ceremony in May 2023. 

They welcomed their first son, Koa Phoenix Dolan, later that year in August. At the time, the actor had introduced him on Instagram, writing, “No words could explain how happy we are to welcome our darling boy to the world.”

Notably, Ileana was last seen in Shirsha Guha Thakurta’s romantic comedy Do Aur Do Pyaar (2024), alongside Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, and Sendhil Ramamurthy.