Intrusive Thoughts in the Perinatal Period
Understanding Intrusive Thoughts During Pregnancy and Postpartum: What They Are and Why They Happen”
At Mums in Mind Psychology, I hear many mums describe these thoughts with fear or shame, worried it means something about them as a parent. The truth is, intrusive thoughts are extremely common when you are pregnant or caring for a new baby.
What Intrusive Thoughts Are
Intrusive thoughts are thoughts, images, or urges that pop into your mind without warning. They often feel sudden, unwanted, and completely out of character.
Some examples include:
“What if I drop the baby on the stairs?”
A sudden image of your baby slipping under the bath water.
“What if I cut my baby by accident while I’m cooking?”
These thoughts can be shocking and upsetting, but they don’t mean anything about your intentions or your ability to care for your baby.
Why Do They Happen?
Your brain is more alert during pregnancy and early parenthood. This is part of how humans have evolved to protect their young. You’re focused on your baby’s safety, so your mind scans for danger all the time. When you’re stressed, not sleeping well, or feeling anxious, intrusive thoughts tend to show up more often.
It also helps to remember that new parents think about their baby all the time, which means there’s more space for these thoughts to pop in. There is no evidence that parents act on unwanted intrusive thoughts, even when they’re scary or violent. The fear you feel is actually a sign of how much you care.
When Intrusive Thoughts Become Too Much
For most mums, these thoughts fade as they settle into their role. But sometimes intrusive thoughts become persistent, distressing, or take up too much mental space. You might find yourself:
Repeatedly checking your baby’s breathing
Avoiding everyday tasks, like bathing the baby, because of fear
Asking for reassurance over and over
Reliving certain thoughts and feeling unable to shake them
When this happens, intrusive thoughts can start to impact daily life and enjoyment of motherhood.
A Note on Perinatal OCD
Sometimes intrusive thoughts stick. You might find yourself checking repeatedly, avoiding certain situations, or asking for reassurance over and over. When unwanted thoughts take up more than an hour a day or start to affect your daily life, this can be a sign of perinatal OCD.
What Helps?
Talking to a psychologist about your intrusive thoughts can feel uncomfortable at first, but many mums say they feel relieved and more like themselves once they open up
If these thoughts are taking up too much space or making you feel overwhelmed, please reach out. Book an appointment with Mums in Mind Psychology. You can meet with us online from anywhere in Australia or in person at our Coburg practice.
