Let's normalise dissociation after birth 💗

"I looked back on this video with sadness for a long time. Where was the instant joy & happy tears like I’d seen on the movies? The instant rush of love like I’d imagined it would be? Why do I look so sad? So dissociated? So dazed? It wasn’t until I saw Poppy’s video where I learnt that this can happen. I now see this video very differently & I don’t feel as sad as I once did when I watch it! It’s not about not loving your baby; the next video on my camera roll is me feeding her, staring at her with big love eyes, holding her close to my body. I just needed some time to breathe, realize what I’d just gone through & land." Thank you for sharing this Mumma ❤️

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This is absolutely amazing to come across topics that are not spoken about on a day to day basis an I know that it can even happen in pregnancy which is known as prenatal depression.

This was me too. FTM, I was so surprised how disassociated I was at that moment. Was imagining this to be so different:) happy tears and instant love , instead of it I was like what the f*** just happened?! It was bit traumatic birth, too quick , episiotomy and forceps on no meds, so was feeling overwhelmed with the emergency and pain. But with every minute coming back to myself , the love and happiness came and shortly after I couldn’t get enough of my baby.

I had a c-section and the only way i could get over the fact i was having something not very nice feeling done to my body was to dissociate and i was really sad that i dont really remember the experience, thankfully after the birth i was able to "land" as you say, and all the love came flooding but the birth still feels like it happened to someone else. Have my second c-section booked soon and this is a really helpful discussion, thank you.

This makes me feel so much better. I feel like I was just in shock