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Cardi B on her postnatal depression: “Out of nowhere, the world was heavy on my shoulders”

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Cardi B performs onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on 10 February. Cardi B made history when she became the first female solo rapper to win in the best rap album category.
Cardi B performs onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on 10 February. Cardi B made history when she became the first female solo rapper to win in the best rap album category.

When Cardi B released the Bodak Yellow video in which she appeared on a camel in the deserts of Dubai, cheetah on chain, rocking her Louboutins with an anarchy sign on her chest, we knew we wouldn’t be messing with her, even if we wannidtooo.

But between Money Moves and Money and a Grammy win in 2019, Cardi also expanded her family and gave birth to Kulture Kiari, or KK, as she calls her baby girl.

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Cardi B performs o

Cardi B performs onstage during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on 10 February. Cardi B made history when she became the first female solo rapper to win in the best rap album category.

And although her subsequent Money video was just as elaborate, with her breastfeeding dressed in a ballgown with a full face of makeup, she admits in the March 2019 edition of Harper’s Bazaar that she, along with her outlook on life, has changed.

And things certainly haven’t been easy.


Also read: Money moves: How Baby Shark is taking over Netflix and Cardi B's there for it too


"Before, I cared about everything – relationship, gossip. Now I don’t feel like I have the time to please people,” she says. “I don’t care about anything anymore – just my career and my kid."

In most everything she does, even her nails, she considers what would be best for Kulture. But the first-time mom admits things weren’t quite as easy as she thought it would be.


Also read: Cardi B has just been declawed in the name of her baby girl Kulture


“I thought I was going to avoid it,” she says of the depression that hit her like a ton of bricks. “When I gave birth, the doctor told me about postpartum, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m doing good right now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“But out of nowhere, the world was heavy on my shoulders.
“For some reason, I still don’t feel like my body’s the same,” she says. “I feel like I don’t have my balance right yet. When it comes to heels, I’m not as good at walking anymore. I feel like I’m holding a weight on me. I don’t know why because I’m skinnier than I’ve ever been. But there’s an energy I haven’t gotten back yet…”

Sounds about right. Truth is, after your body’s gone through the most, cooking and carrying your baby for nine months, followed shortly by bringing your little one (who seems not-so-little at the time) into the world, it’s going to take a while for your body to get back to its old self – if ever it does.

But if anyone can do it, it’s Cardi B. So we have full faith that she’ll be rocking her "bloody" shoes in no time, okurrrrr?

via GIPHY

Suicide help:

If you're feeling that you may do harm to yourself or your baby (or someone else), urgently contact your GP and SADAG, The South African Depression and Anxiety Group:

  • To contact a counsellor between 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday, call: 011 234 4837
  • For a suicidal emergency contact 0800 567 567
  • 24hr Helpline: 0800 12 13 14
  • Visit SADAG's website.
  • Find a local counsellor on the TherapyRoute directory

Chat back:

Did you have postnatal depression after giving birth? How did you get back to your old self? Send your advice and we may publish it.

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