Why do I think such things? – Understanding intrusive thoughts after birth

The birth of a child brings with it a wide range of emotions—especially a deep sense of responsibility. It is natural and desirable for parents to care about their child's well-being and want to protect them as best they can.

New parents often experience an increase in obsessive thoughts, which can be understood as part of the process of adjusting to their new responsibilities. Temporary, occasional obsessive thoughts after childbirth are widespread (Garthus-Niegel et al., 2023). One study showed that many mothers had intrusive thoughts about accidentally harming their infant four and twelve weeks after giving birth – almost half even reported unwanted thoughts of intentionally harming their baby (Fairbrother et al., 2008). Fathers also experience such thoughts to a comparable extent, but tend to find them less distressing (Walker et al., 2021).

For some mothers and fathers, these initially normal but frightening thoughts can trigger or exacerbate symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. These can take up a lot of time and energy and severely impair everyday life – at a stage in life when rest, relaxation, and building a secure bond with the child are particularly important (Young, 2019).

Mothers in particular feel intense shame when they experience aggressive obsessive thoughts. For fear of social condemnation or even possible child removal, many do not talk about it and avoid professional help (Challacombe et al., 2023). They often suffer in silence – with far-reaching consequences for themselves and their families.

This makes it all the more urgent to promote understanding of postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder through education, destigmatization, early detection, and appropriate support.