are you more sensitive since having a baby?

[red and lulu]

Sorry, this is a little dark i guess but I'm curious how normal this is: ever since i had dd, i get flooded with anxiety or sadness when I think about tragedy or catastrophe. Not to a level that interferes with our day or anything, just a heightened sensitivity I guess. For example, I don't read the paper anymore because it makes me sad. Or if I hear a reference to the apocalypse I get super freaked out. Not like, stop functioning freaked out, but preoccupied. Does this happen to anyone else? Someone told me it's normal for new moms to be sensitive to these things in the beginning. Does it go away?

(I'd like to note that I do not think this is ppd, as I'm the happiest I've ever been... I just hate to think of other people's babies suffering... and everyone is someone's baby.)

[StrongFeather]

just wanted to let you know you are not alone

yep, and yes...

I used to be an avid horror film watcher, now..
not.so.much..

[queen b]

me too! i've become super anxious since having kids. i am extremely happy and fine on the day to day, but certain things set me off. i never read the paper anymore because it makes me way too stressed out. i also hate to fly or go on long car rides now and i used to love doing both. it's so frustrating because i love to travel, but i can drive myself crazy with anxiety thinking about the dangers. i'm in therapy and it is kind of helpful!

[jammomma]

I haven't watched the news in ages, I can't tolerate hearing about bad things happening to kids, and I can't watch any movie where kids are being hurt, even District 9, which I had to turn off in the very beginning when the little alien boy was getting picked on.

I feel a lot more sensitive than I was before I birthed my son.

[starling&diesel]

I'm right there with you, mama!
I'm a paramedic, and I go back to work this week and I CANNOT imagine doing some of the calls I have done in the past, SIDS, children in car accidents, chronically ill children and infants, or any child in pain for any reason. I do not know how I will cope. Nevermind, the tragedy and sadness in the world at large. Everyone who is in pain or is hurting is someone's CHILD. My emotions are so much larger and more intense since having my daughter.
This is wonderful, when it comes to the love I feel for her, but it will be a challenge when I feel sympathy for others or fear for my child.

[Gimme Pineapple]

Oh yeah! For me, this is a love like nothing I have ever felt. In turn, it has softened my heart to experience other emotions as well.

[Alisse]

I've only become more sensitive when it comes to children. Not too long ago there was a tragic incident on the news about a 15month old that died and i couldn't stop crying the first time i had heard about it.

[prothyraia]

Yep.

I actually really resent the whole "emotional punch in the gut" style of reporting that passes for news these days.

[Norasmomma]

Oh for sure, I'm way more sensitive than I ever was. I used to watch all kinds of creepy CSI type stuff, now I can't hardly even read about anything bad. It changes you.

[kgreenemama]

What a great topic!

I have felt the same way since having a baby two years ago. Not that I was insensitive prior to becoming a mom, but other people's kids were just, well, other kinda cute young people. Now, my empathetic emotion, particularly toward other moms and children is profound. I think it has something to do with experiencing pregnancy, birth, and the connection between mommies and their children. Like all moms since the beginning of time, we understand the intensity of those experiences, and maybe it's an evolutionary mechanism that keeps us looking out for other babies in the tribe, ykwim.

Prior to my son's birth - some moms in my book club were discussing the book The Red Tent, and one of them said to me that I just couldn't understand it without being a mom. I was offended at the time, but I now know exactly what she meant.

[Peony]

I haven't been able to watch action movies or shows in 7 years now. I can not sit on the couch and attempt to relax while watching violence after having children. I do screen what I read in the news to some degree.

[mamacolleen]

Definitely!

I was just talking about this with DH last night actually. I find it extremely difficult since giving birth to hear about stories involving children in any kind of pain. I get this awful visceral reaction and find it hard to get them out of my head.

Like a PP, I'm an RN and work on a trauma unit and I'm not looking forward to going back to work in 3 months and managing my emotions around families in crisis.

[Punchy Kaby]

YES!!

I experienced it strongly with my first and I felt like it continued as long as I nursed and now I have this same feeling again. Not only can I not handle violence and tragedy, but I wear my emotions on my sleeve and my emotions bubble up all the time during inconvenient times and places.

[marinak1977]

me too... especially when it comes to babies. I'm much more protective of the little ones now.

[mrstanimal]

Yep, same here. So much so that my family knows not to bring up topics involving children being mistreated or harmed (or worse) around me. It really affects me, to the point where I'm distraught, crying, really quite sick to my stomach. I feel this intense urge to swoop in and protect. So now not only do I have to change the channel when animal abuse commericals come on (that one with Sarah McLachlan, ugh !), but any tv program involving children in distress, including medical shows. It's just too much !

[mambera]

Same here. I talked to DH and while he is a super caring dad he did not experience any kind of transformation in his empathy reactions. Seems like a mommy thing.

Interesting that it went away when you weaned, Punchy Kaby. I sort of assumed it was here to stay.

[Ldavis24]

Hmm more sensitive after DD was born...Well about a month after she was born DH dragged me to see the hangover in theaters and early on there was a scene in which the baby was crying (not being hurt or anything mind you, just crying) and I freaked out about it and practically burst into tears...That was soon after DD was born but now even just hearing about babies or small children being hurt or in pain is something I have to forcibly remove from my mind or else I get bogged down and stressed about it.

Unfortunately I have this feeling a lot when I see people with their babies out in public and they are doing something that I disagree with or the baby is crying etc...Like I am the only mother in the world who could care for a baby the right way This is when I tell myself to chill out and that those kids are just fine.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by mrstanimal

Yep, same here. So much so that my family knows not to bring up topics involving children being mistreated or harmed (or worse) around me. It really affects me, to the point where I'm distraught, crying, really quite sick to my stomach. I feel this intense urge to swoop in and protect. So now not only do I have to change the channel when animal abuse commericals come on (that one with Sarah McLachlan, ugh !), but any tv program involving children in distress, including medical shows. It's just too much !

THIS, OMG that commercial makes me start crying and get really angry, to where I have to leave the room when it comes on (my husband has figured out now to change the channel really fast). I've always been a bit sensitive to things like that, but now it's even worse.

[JayJay]

Oh yes! I used to be able to sit through movies like "Saw" and "Final Destination" yada yada yada - not that I enjoyed them - I've always not been one for gratuitous, ridiculous violence and a boring storyline (lol!) - thought the movies were pretty dumb anyway.

But nowadays I WILL NOT be in the same room as a movie like that lol! It all started just before I gave birth and my reaction is so strong that I simply leave the room. H was wanting to watch "Saw II" in the ad breaks between a show we were watching together and I simply wouldn't watch it. I took my dinner into the kitchen until he promised to turn it off! He did - I think he thought I was nuts but I also cannot bear to watch dumb violence like that any more. There's no reason for it, in my mind - bad things happen and God only knows I clean up blood and poop on a daily basis, but watching someone's head get ripped in half? No way. The images it conjures up are not at all my "cup of tea" as it were...

Oh and yesterday I watched a nature program about new male lions taking over a pride and killing the cubs of the old male... Ooooh my gawsh I sat there on the sofa and just cuddled Bella so tightly with tears in my eyes...it was so sad!

Then I'll be listening to my labor music, which I put on with Bella in the car, and there'll be tears running down my face because I'm transported right back to laboring with her, which was amazing...

Also I am totally NOT about to take any BS off anyone regarding the right way to raise a child, either! I'm TOTALLY protective over her and won't let her be babysat - honestly I can't imagine a time when I'll be happy leaving her in the care of anyone else :P XxX

[Masel]

My older daughter is adopted and when she was a baby I had to stop watching the local news. Every day their lead story had to do with a injured or dead child. My DH didn't believe me but we kept track for two weeks and within the first 5 minutes of the news there was such a story. It is only slightly worse this time with a biological child. All the post apocalyptic and world without people stuff that is popular these days is what gets to me.