https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:06:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365548 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:55:23 +0000 Maysprout 365548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It continues to grow. When she was born I was really blown over by how she responded to us, but I didn't quite feel like a mom. </p> <p>Within a couple days I feel the 'I'm a mom now' had sunk in - I think coming home from the hospital and sleep helped with that. We also made time to sing and play with her though we weren't exactly sure what she was thinking.</p> <p>So when she started laughing and smiling it was like OK you like me more than just for food and warmth, it was another layer to have her responding more demonstratively and know what really made her laugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365539 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:34:16 +0000 skibobrown 365539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had very conflicting emotions at the beginning. I felt bonded to DD from birth, but at the same time I felt very resentful of that bond at the beginning (I had pretty severe postpartum depression). These days our bond is very solid, and much more healthy in nature. It does take until at least 3 months for babies to really start feeling interactive though. Those first 3 months are a lot of eat, poop, sleep, repeat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365530 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:17:37 +0000 doodlepoodle 365530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I obviously loved J from the moment he was born but I can tell you the exact moment I felt that connection. I had an awful day at work (went back at 6 weeks) and came home crying and he reached up and put his hand on my face and I lost it. It was probably an accidental reflex but honestly, it was everything I needed that day and everyday since then my love has grown/multiplied so much more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365526 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:13:27 +0000 pinkcupcake 365526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt pretty bonded instantly, but I think it really, truly, completely hit me how much I adored her around 6 weeks. That's when we were getting into a rhythm, she was interacting more, and the haze of the initial newborn days was finally starting to fade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365260 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:49:52 +0000 Andrea 365260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted from birth but the bond has grown a thousand times since then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365248 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:44:00 +0000 meredithNYC 365248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 3 months, but probably somewhere between 2 and 3? The newborn stage was a sad, trying time for me. But now, LO makes my heart swell with happiness. At 5 months, she is a giggly, smiling, alert little sweetheart. You'll get there! And for now, don't be too hard on yourself, as the bonding can take a little while for some moms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365168 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:17:30 +0000 MsMini 365168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I checked from birth, but I think it took about 3 days for me to fully realize and embrace that he was mine (I think because I work in NICU and care for so many newborns, I had my protective shields up a little in the beginning until we got him home). I was very clinical about him in the hospital TBH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365166 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:16:15 +0000 keiki_mama 365166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: I'm pretty sure I read this thread a hundred times when LO was a newborn: <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/44792/Im-pretty-sure-I-dont-love-my-baby" rel="nofollow">http://ask.metafilter.com/44792/Im-pretty-sure-I-dont-love-my-baby</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365161 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:12:40 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 365161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I could vote twice! The first time it was instant... The second time it evolved. I can't imagine loving M any more than I do now, but it was an evolution to be sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365151 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:08:34 +0000 keiki_mama 365151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not bond with my LO immediately and I felt awful for it. I had a case of PPD and did not enjoy caring for my LO for the first 5-7 weeks of his life. Looking back, I feel jipped on the magical experience many other moms experience. Honestly, I didn't feel bonded with him until he was about 4 months old. I love him now at 7 months but it took me a while to get to this stage. I look back at the first few weeks of his life with dread and it makes me so sad that I don't have fond memories. In the beginning my MIL kept asking me questions like,"Didn't you just fall in love at first glance?" "Don't you just want to have another one right away?"--it always made me feel so awful, what kind of terrible mother am I to not bond with my newborn child? I'm hoping for a better experience when I have my second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365150 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:05:11 +0000 MrsBeachyBaby 365150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love, love my LO. I feel like it was instantly. He had to stay in the hospital 2 extra nights without us and I could not believe how connected I was to him and how emotional I got. I love him so much. He is 2 weeks old. He was alert right from the get go. Came out staring at me and all around and stayed awake for a while during our skin to skin. He stays up in between feedings to check out what's going on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365134 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:47:42 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 365134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel ya....I'm insanely in love with our 2 week old..obsessed actually....but:<br /> We never bond... He eats then sleeps and I change his diaper. Repeat.<br /> He screams during baths :) when we go out he sleeps in his carseat the whole time and when he eats he eats with his eyes closed and then sleep directly as he finishes so, we have no playtime...no signing time...no bedtime stories... It's kinda hard.<br /> But I assume in the next few weeks he will get on somewhat of a schedule and start having more energy to stay up and be alert enough to play a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365086 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:52:28 +0000 yoursilverlining 365086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: it gets a LOT easier/better when they start smiling at you with purpose. :) </p> <p>I started feeling bonded to LO after a couple of months; and it has grown over time. I'm much more bonded to her now at 4.5 months than I was at 2 months, and about a million times more bonded than at birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365073 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:41:14 +0000 googly-eyes 365073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah, that's the stage I'm at now. I feel some moments where I totally want to cuddle her and when she smiles (even though I don't think they're real yet) I am totally happy. But then lots of times I think she has no idea who I am and this is just a mountain of work... Oh well, in time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365071 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:37:05 +0000 loveisstrange 365071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um... I want to say it was sometime around when she was 6-8 weeks old. I had a very traumatic delivery and pretty severe PPD right from the beginning. It took me some time to overcome all my emotional and medical issues </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-feel-bonded-to-lo#post-365067 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:32:44 +0000 googly-eyes 365067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you just love and adore your LO instantaneously?</p> <p>Or did it take awhile? How long?</p> <p>I think on some level I loved her instantaneously but I'm still waiting to really feel a solid connection to her. I still often don't enjoy being around my LO because it's all work, no fun so far. (Cries, check. Giggles, no.) I also think I'll be much more into all of this when my LO sleeps more at night and is more portable during the day. Wondering what others' experiences are. </p>