Did you feel a rush of love when your child was born?

[RedRobyn2021]

My mum always talked about this rush of love that she had when I was born

When I had my daughter, she was a bit late by 12 days and I had pressure put on me to have an induction which I refused, but the anxiety ruined the end of the pregnancy for me.

I gave birth to her at home and birthed her in water, I was really dehydrated I think and a bit spaced when she was born. I remember the first thing I thought was, "you don't look like how I thought you would". She was crying so I reassured her that it was me and everything was ok. But I did not have a rush of love.

I don't feel any guilt or shame about this, it must be normal or I wouldn't have felt that way.

Just interested to hear other women's experiences really. I'm pregnant again and intrigued to see if I get the rush this time

Yes I did thankfully with both my DC but I don't think it's that uncommon for it to be absent so you certainly aren't alone

not with DC1, I was quite traumatised by the experience. Yes with DC2 thanks to a lovely epidural. I do love them both equally now so I don't think DC1 has been harmed by any way.

Yes, unbelievably so, but I feel really lucky because I don't think it's super common!

DC1 - yes, I did. I think I was so anxious my entire pregnancy that something was going to go wrong that I was so relieved he was here.

DC2 - no. I think I was so spaced out and exhausted by her birth. She came early and selfishly I had various things planned for the start of my mat leave and I slightly resented that I didn’t get to do them. I love her so much, and both of them equally, but I didn’t get the same rush of emotion that I had with DC1.

No rush of love. It was like meeting a new person who I had to get to know, like anybody else. Here was this strange chubby little baby. He could have been anybody's. I got to know him gradually, and to love him gradually.

Not really. I just felt knackered to be honest, and surprised that he looked like a strangely shaped alien. It did come later though.

Yes absolutely.

No. But I would die for her now, so it all worked out!

Not really. I bonded with my son a lot while I was still pregnant with him. I already loved him, but I can’t remember suddenly loving him more when he was born and I could see him. My love for him has grown since he’s been born though through the months of caring for him all day every day.

1. No. Hard horrible labour. Had no idea what I was doing. I was very protective but didn't get the rush of love. But I was so relaxed and felt relaxed.
2. Yep. Excellent birth and just adored him straight away. However I had bad anxiety and was worried about everything. Took a while to get over that.

Yes, the hormones must do something wonderful to the female brain after giving birth. I felt overwhelmed with love for both children after the birth despite the pain from episiotomy/ tears.

My immediate overriding feeling was one of deep, deep, deep responsibility.

DD1 - not really. I had a pretty straightforward labour - it was a positive experience. I knew immediately that I loved her of course but no big rush that everyone told me I'd feel. It was a slow burn I guess.
DD2 - yes. Very similar experience to first delivery. No idea why I felt a rush, perhaps knowing how much I love my eldest influenced my feeling.

I have three children. It didn't happen the first time. I was completely shell-shocked and exhausted after 30hour labour ending in an EMCS. I just wanted it to be over. It all just felt really weird and I felt a bit detached. Second time (twins), it did happen. It was overwhelming, in a good way.

I think my first feeling with both was instant relief!
With DS1 my body went into shock (blood loss body shaking etc) and then he went to neonatal within 3 hours so I just had impending fear rather then love which remained until we got home I think.

DS2 I think I got that rush feeling but a few hours after birth once I was comfortable, eaten etc.

No rush of love - it developed over time. I think it happened faster with DC2 because I was more prepared / ready to love a baby, if that makes sense?!

Yes for both DC. In slightly different ways but I don't really know how/why they are different!

No, I didn’t see one of them for a week, we were both in intensive care. No 2 - I had PTSD.

Yes I did for all of mine.

When DD was born I just felt connected to her and that connection is there every breath I take. I only realised that feeling of connection when I was holding her cousin and felt nothing. I feel connected to my DH too as after we had been intimate for the first time I got hit by this feeling of 'arriving home' when he was holding me on his arms. With our DD that connection is different though as she is part of me.

I had a C-section so was shown a pic of DD, I heard her cry and thought ‘that’s good, all is well’.

Woke up an hour later to her screaming and I fed her as a practically. Once she had finished feeding I passed her back to DH as quickly as I could as I just wanted to go back to sleep. I think it was only once I got home I felt that rush of love. I think it’s because once I got home I was able to relax, not thinking ‘what’s going on/where’s my pain meds/do I have enough blankets’.

Nope and it made me feel like pile of poo. I had a friend who just kept going on and on about her baby as we had babies round the same time. I think it lifted around 10ish weeks for me.

No not initially I was absolutely battered from a long labour then EMC
But later on that day when my husband had left and I was settled in a private room I just had this moment with her , very special

With dd1 no not at all. I felt incredibly protective, I looked at her and all I wanted to do was keep her safe. The love grew over a few weeks. When dd2 came out and was passed up to me I felt this amazing hit of love for her, actually like my heart grew on seeing her. The different experiences at birth didn't change how attached to them I felt or how much I love them now.

Yes with DS1 but DS2 was premature and had to be whipped away. It was about three weeks later when I was able to hold him and spend time with him in hospital that I felt that overwhelming feeling of love.