Did you love your baby as soon as they were born or did your love grow over the days/weeks/months?

For my first son it did not happen right away. My pregnancy was stressful, my birth was traumatic and me and his dad were not in a good place so it was very hard in the beginning. For my second son it came a little more quickly but took some time (I had PPD with my two older kids) with our newest baby, i felt it right away. He's the first one I cried for right after he was born. We were then separated as he was rushed to the NICU which made it even stronger. I guess it really depends on the person and the situations around pregnancy and birth for some. That was the case for me

It's gotten stronger with each baby for me. My first I would have said I loved him immediately, and I did. But that's nothing compared to the way I immediately LOVED my #2 and #3 with my whole chest.

I can understand both. I loved her before she was born (!) but then as soon as she was born I felt it straight away on a different level. Since then it’s continued to grow as I’ve got to know her. I don’t just love her cos she’s mine, I love her because of who she is ♥️

First baby - it took time. Second baby - instant. For me it was because of my life situation. I was young, stressed and in a bad place romantically with my first. Second was opposite

I didn't want to look at her or touch her when she was first born. I wanted to give her up for adoption so badly. I cared for her out of duty rather then love. I'd say around 5 months I started to love my baby. I'm still a bit wobbly mentally which hasn't helped.

It took about 4-5 hours. Time for me to settle from labour. Those 4-5 hours I was like "what did just happened" Ahahah.

My first I was so concerned with making sure he was okay whilst I was checked over it was like being on autopilot and it took a few weeks for me to adore him (he's an absolute treasure now) - but I suspect my first birth was a lot more stressful and traumatic than I realised (it was also during COVID). My second I adored straight away but she was very straightforward once I was in active labour. I think it's easy to feel guilt if you don't love them immediately but be kind to yourself, your body has just gone through a big change and before you know it you will love them to pieces. Those afterbirth hormones are a bitch!

I had strong feelings towards my son through pregnancy, and I think I loved him the beginning but I had pnd and that has clouded a lot of my memories from then. My second pregnancy was much harder and I didn't have the same connection, I also questioned how I could love her as much as my son, but oh my, I felt it straight away, which really surprised me

I felt a lot of love for him whilst I was pregnant but the feeling I had when I got to hold him was overwhelming. I was separated from him soon after as had to go to theatre for stitches and I was struggling not to cry, I was gone for about two hours and it was so painful being apart from him I missed him so much already. The love I have for him has still got stronger as he has got older, as his personality has come out more my love for him has grown and I love him in different ways but the motherly love I have for him was definitely there immediately.

First wasn't instant but then I held him for 10 seconds and then he went to NICU. Pretty sure I had PND too. Bonding was more difficult! My second was very different and I got skin to skin straight away and time to just lay together. This helped massively and he is a velcro baby currently at 11 weeks. Don't worry if it doesn't happen straight away. Everyone is different and so is every baby!

as soon as i found out i was pregnant i was in love

I had a c section and a lot of complications afterwards. I resented my child because I was bed ridden for two weeks and I was very sick. I felt like she took everything from me.

With my first it was instant, but with my second it definitely took time. I think if I'm honest I struggled a little with gender dissapointment and the fact that my second was soo different than my first. I had a picture in my head, and honestly at one point if I hadn't of had a home birth I'd of questioned if he was mine, I couldn't get it out of my head how he didn't look like either of us, nothing like his brother; totally different colour hair, shape and size etc. But I was overwhelmed with emotions, hormones etc. You're body and mind has alot to process. Give yourself time

With my first, it didn't happen straight away like I expected it to. I had a traumatic birth & felt very disassociated from her 😢 By month three though, I started falling in love & my love for her is just as strong as it is for my other two. With my other daughter & my son, the births were fairly straight forward & I did feel love for them instantly. I do think the trauma of birth can take away those feelings you're supposed to get, but don't despair, they do come! Sending you lots of hugs x

It took months for me each time, with my oldest it was probably closer to a year because I was so severely depressed.

Aww thanks for sharing your stories ladies.. I'm glad I'm not alone with it taking some time & I love it for those who felt it straight away too 🥹🥰