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Is it normal to not feel a bond with your newborn baby immediately?

I gave birth 3 weeks ago and I expected to feel an overwhelming rush of love immediately. Instead I feel exhausted, disconnected, and sometimes resentful. I feel like a terrible mother for admitting this. Is it normal to not bond instantly with your baby?
parenting newborn bonding postpartum
O olivia_chen 3 March 2026
3,556 views

2 answers
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Accepted Answer
22
Completely normal and far more common than people talk about. The instant overwhelming love you see in movies is not every parent's experience. Bonding often develops gradually over weeks and months. You are not a bad mother.
M marcus_real 5 March 2026
25
What you are describing could also be postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety which affects 1 in 5 new mothers. Please talk to your doctor. It is treatable and you deserve support.
N naomi_bennett 10 March 2026