Strange empathetic feelings and late bonding

[Court125A]

Hi mamas!

Is this my hormones, I’m not sure so thought I’d reach out! Also wanted to share my experience in case other mamas feel the same and come across this, firstly I’m 8 weeks PP with a beautiful boy, I actually only bonded with him a week ago, I searched these threads to find comfort in that I wasn’t crazy! I didn’t feel like he was mine, I was expecting an overwhelming love as soon as he was put on my chest but after a traumatic birth and PP anxiety that didn’t happen, something clicked a week ago and I want to cry at how much I love him, omg I could just burst in to tears whenever I hold him, it’ll come any mamas struggling, hang in there and take your time with, we need to normalise it being not an instant thing always!

Secondly, I’m feeling strong emotions toward other bubbas and kids, it’s like I’ve grown more empathetic and hearing stories on the news about cruelty to children etc made me burn inside where as before I could hear about them and think oh that’s sad but now it’s like I’m horrified and get really emotional - anyone else get increased empathy or anything similar or am I on a hormonal high? TIA x

I feel the same way. I was never particularly taken with children or babies but since having my (now 9mo) DD, I feel very upset thinking about babies who are neglected. I also notice cute children or babies more whereas I never thought they were cute before having my own. I always said animals were much cuter than babies haha!

I think it's normal. Our brains are rewired when we have babies. The whole world feels different to me since having mine.

I've stopped watching the news since having kids because I end up in tears if there's a story about children on it.

Oh god yes. Also seeing drug addicts on the street - they used to be someone's little baby

You will never be able to watch a Christmas again without crying.

Why is it just now it’s making me sad!! Crazy the brain must change

It’s 4 years in and I still have the increased empathy; I get tearful at things to do with children that I never got emotional about before and I think I feel things more deeply. It’s probably made me into a nicer person in some ways.

I've always been a bit of a weeper, crying easily at emotional things on telly, etc. Until yesterday I wouldn't have said it was much different since having DD (6 months), but then I watched something, just a trailer for a documentary, and it was mostly just a minute-long close-up of this little swaddled newborn's innocent little face as he blinked and yawned and I could have cried, he was so beautiful. I just wanted to hug him!

On the "rush of love" topic, I never really related to that feeling cause I guess I bonded with DD while she was pregnant. I talked to her a lot and I guess the love Judy grew gradually over the course of the pregnancy do that it was maxed out by the time she came. She came early after a very quick delivery so the first I really saw her was in an incubator, and I welled up to see her so vulnerable with all these tubes here and there.

When I returned from maternity leave first time it was when Baby P happened and where I worked sky news was on 24/7.... I was a gibbering wreck and have the persona of an ice Maiden. I am def 110% more empathetic now I have children.

And the surge of love feelings, they are the best.... I didn't think I was very maternal but that rush of feeling like you're heart is going to explode is mind blowing.

This happens to us all as soon as we become mothers.I have a strong memory of a childhood hymn which included the words, ''Can a mother's tender care cease towards the child she bare?''.
@MyPanda, I understand what you feel about seeing drug addicts.One of my granddaughters was a substance abuser.She was once a tiny premature baby fighting for her life in an incubator. She brings teas to my eyes.