When you tell someone you’re having a baby, the first thing they’ll probably do is offer congratulations. After that, they’ll likely talk about the wonderful milestones ahead. Without a doubt, it’s an exciting time. Having a baby means you’re bringing a life into the world. There will now be someone that is totally dependent upon you and the entire experience will be filled with joys and sorrows. What about love at first sight? Is that always a reality when you have a baby? Let’s explore this topic.
Postpartum Depression Can Be a Factor
If you’re pregnant, most people won’t talk to you about the challenges that might be presented after giving birth. This is primarily because they don’t want to rain on your parade. Who wants to talk about postpartum depression and other issues that can arise after giving birth. Whether it’s discussed or not, postpartum depression can be a factor in how you feel after giving birth. Most mothers want to have that magical feeling that sometimes occurs the first time a mother sees her child and postpartum depression can dampen one’s emotions.
Without a doubt, there is nothing quite like the love that a mother has for her child. It’s one of the most amazing feelings that you can have in your life. Given this fact, it’s important to understand that sometimes there are physiological issues that can prevent you from experiencing certain emotions. If this is the case, it certainly doesn’t mean you don’t love your baby. It could possibly mean that there is a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed. Not immediately feeling a bond happens more often than people realize. Unfortunately, societal pressures can prevent a woman from talking about how she truly feels.
Source: ShutterstockEveryone Is Different
The beautiful thing about humans is that no two are alike, unless you’re identical twins. Even then you’ll have some differences. The point being made is that every person is different in how they think and how they respond to certain situations in life. Sometimes there are social norms that will prompt people to act a certain way in order to avoid scrutiny from others. When it comes to loving your baby and feeling bonded immediately, every woman is different. To some degree, it will depend on what happened during the pregnancy and whether or not there were any complications while giving birth. In fact, there are a long list of factors that will contribute to how a mother bonds with her child.
In a world where social media is used to portray a perfect life, it can be difficult for new moms to except the fact that they don’t immediately feel a close bond with their baby. For some women, the idea of sharing this type of information is daunting because they fear being judged unfairly. It’s the reason why there are so many discussions on social media about mom-shaming. In a world with curated images of motherhood, a good number of women feel guilt when their personal experiences are not exactly what they feel is an expectation.
When you think about it, mom-shaming is a much greater issue than it ever was in the past, which has a lot to do with social media. What’s important to understand is that there is no one way to love your baby. This means your experience isn’t necessarily right or wrong, it’s just your experience.
Maternal Bonds Can Take Time
There are many ways to build a family. Some people give birth to a child, while others adopt a child. Either way, sometimes it takes time to establish a maternal bond. Regardless of how a child comes into your life, it can sometimes take time to “fall in love.” Just like many other aspects of life, motherhood isn’t always a fairytale experience. It’s important to be realistic and acknowledge that love sometimes grows as time passes.
Source: ShutterstockDon’t Worry
There is so much involved in having a baby and if your feelings don’t match your expectations, don’t worry. Give it some time because more than likely, you’ll find your way. If you feel alone, identify a trustworthy family member or friend that you can talk to about your concerns. It’s important to be honest about how you’re feeling, because holding it in can cause problems emotionally and physically.
During your pregnancy or after having a baby, it’s always important to communicate with your doctor regarding any problems you’re having. If it’s a physiological issue that needs to be addressed, you’ll want to make sure that happens sooner than later. Love is expressed in many ways and how you initially respond to your baby isn’t necessarily an indication of the deep love you have for your little one.
