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

Not at all. Dc1 - horrible birth and injury, I held them to my chest after birth and I just wanted them to stop crying because I couldn't hold and comfort them while in so much pain. It took many weeks until I had the 'rush of love'. Before then it was duty of care tbh.

Dc2 - homebirth, easy, very smooth as births can go, child latched like a dream - still weeks before I loved them.

I was once told ' That's why baby's smile at 6 weeks, because it's about the time you're willing to throw them out the window for giving nothing back' it's kinda true, I melted at their first smiles, and they were almost due window time 😅

I felt such a rush of love, like nothing I've ever known before or since. Within minutes of meeting him I knew I would give my life for his if that were ever needed. In the 11 months since I've just fallen more in love with him every day. Feel like the luckiest mummy in the whole world.

DC1. Nope. Was just this strange pink wriggling thing that was mine and I had to care for it for a few weeks. Other than her needing to come early due to pre-eclampsia, it was (within reason) a regular vaginal birth. Couldn't have hoped for much better either.

DC2. The moment I held him. It's weird. I was induced at the same gestation for the exact same reasons as my first. But first there were delays with the induction; then while labouring itself was ok, contrary to popular expectations, it was slower and more difficult. Then it all ended in a C-section anyway.

My wee boy was 6 weeks early and everything was so rushed, when I held him he was wrapped in a towel with tubes etc. I was given a minute to hold him and I felt nothing apart from exhaustion, then he was rushed away to be helped.

I think that maybe plays into my feelings of numbness, but I really didn't have a rush and haven't since. Like others have said I've gradually loved him increasingly more and more as I've gotten to know him. It's so hard to explain and these answers are so interesting to read!