iarjimphIARJIMPHIARJIMPH2709-331X10.47310/iarjimph.2025.v06i01.007Beyond the Bump: Awareness of Postnatal Care and Mental Health Among New Mothers in DelhiBackground: The postpartum period, often called the "fourth trimester," represents a vulnerable time of profound physical, emotional and psychological adjustment for new mothers. While physical recovery is emphasized, emotional well-being, including the recognition and management of postpartum depression (PPD), hygiene practices and nutritional needs, often remain under-addressed, particularly in the Indian urban context. This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness about postnatal care and mental health among new mothers residing in Delhi, focusing on postpartum depression, hygiene, nutrition and emotional support systems. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted over three months (January-March 2025) among 420 new mothers in Delhi who had delivered a child within the previous 12 months. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method through social media platforms. Data were collected via a structured, pre-validated bilingual (Hindi and English) Google Forms questionnaire comprising socio-demographics, postnatal health practices, mental health awareness and barriers to care. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the responses and awareness levels were categorized into Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor based on cumulative scores. Results: The majority of participants were between 26-30 years of age (41.4%) and had at least secondary or undergraduate education (70.2%). While awareness about hygiene practices (85.2%), nutritional needs (80.0%) and breastfeeding support (82.9%) was high, knowledge regarding mental health aspects like recognition of postpartum depression symptoms (69.5%) and understanding severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts (63.3%) was moderate. Overall, 34.8% of participants demonstrated Very Good awareness (≥80%), while 41.9% had Good awareness (60-79%). However, 17.6% had only Fair awareness and 5.7% had Poor awareness, highlighting critical gaps requiring targeted interventions. Conclusion: Although awareness regarding physical aspects of postnatal care among new mothers in Delhi is commendable, significant gaps remain, especially concerning postpartum mental health. There is an urgent need for holistic maternal health education programs that integrate mental health literacy, address stigma and promote emotional well-being alongside physical recovery to ensure comprehensive postnatal care.