Most new parents have intrusive thoughts about their baby being harmed. It’s OK to talk about it

Detailed summary

Intrusive thoughts are sudden, unwanted and often negative. And they can be very distressing for new parents.

Telling your friends and family you’re pregnant will earn you an avalanche of advice. Yet few parents will ever be told about a common experience that can impact the parents’ long-term mental health: perinatal intrusive thoughts.

Intrusive thoughts are sudden, unwanted and often negative. They’re typically about things we fear or don’t want to happen, such as blurting out something inappropriate in a meeting.

In the first year of a child’s life, known as the perinatal period, intrusive thoughts are often about harm to the baby. They can be about accidental harm, such as the baby falling off the change table. They can also be about intentionally harming the baby.

Perinatal intrusive thoughts are highly distressing because they completely contrast with how parents feel about their baby, who they love and want to protect at all costs.

Our new research shows intrusive thoughts are very common, with a majority of birthing parents experiencing them.

The gravity and prevalence of domestic violence makes this hard to talk about – but we need to.

Intrusive thoughts are not associated with actual infant harm, and their prevalence suggests they serve an adaptive function. Scientists suggest they may help parents become more alert and aware of risks and dangers in the care-giving environment.

Here’s what you need to know about perinatal intrusive thoughts – including what’s typical and when to get help.

Our research asked 439 people who had given birth one to six months ago to complete an online survey, where they reported on their intrusive thoughts.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Conversation AU. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.