Actress Kylie Padilla has opened up about her personal struggles following childbirth, using her experience to advocate for stronger support for mothers—including paid maternity leave and greater awareness of postpartum depression.
The Encantadia star reflected on her own challenges after reading about a tragic case involving a mother in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, who allegedly set her home on fire due to postpartum depression and poverty.
“This is personal to me,” Kylie shared. “After having my second son, I couldn’t walk for nearly three months. I experienced shaking in my lower body, headaches, nerve pain, and extreme fatigue due to complications from childbirth and a spinal injection.”
She added that the stress of breastfeeding and a lack of support at the time deepened her physical and emotional strain. “I never thought I would recover. It’s hard to explain to those who don’t understand ‘binat,’” she said, referring to a Filipino term for postnatal relapse.
Despite her struggles, Kylie acknowledged her privilege, noting, “I had savings and could support myself—but not all moms are in that position.”
She called on society to push for paid maternity leave and stronger awareness of postpartum mental health issues. “Mothers need time to recover and care for themselves. When we support moms, we help them care better for their children too.”
Kylie shares two sons, Alas and Axl, with ex-husband Aljur Abrenica. While Abrenica is now dating actress AJ Raval, Kylie has remained private about her current relationship.