WHEN NEW MOTHERS DON’T WANT THEIR CHILDREN Lack of maternal attachment can arise

WHEN NEW MOTHERS DON’T WANT THEIR CHILDREN
Lack of maternal attachment can arise for several different reasons, each with its own terminology and diagnostic criteria. That said, we can group these scenarios under the umbrella of “impaired maternal–infant bonding” or “disrupted maternal attachment,” and we see it occur in a few distinct contexts:

Postpartum Mood Disorders
Postpartum Depression (PPD) can sometimes manifest as emotional numbness or disconnection from the baby. Instead of the classic sadness or despair, some mothers feel “nothing,” making it difficult to bond.
Postpartum Psychosis, though rare, can produce a detachment or even delusional thinking toward the child. While it’s more dramatic than simple disinterest, the outcome may still be a refusal to engage in caregiving.

Personality Disorders or Attachment Disorders
Mothers with certain personality defects (e.g., narcissistic or borderline traits) may struggle to establish the typical maternal bond. They might experience the baby as an intrusion or fail to see them as a distinct being to care about.
Severe attachment issues in the mother’s own upbringing—if she never had a healthy model of attachment—can lead to difficulties bonding with her own child.

Underlying Biological and Hormonal Factors
After childbirth, hormonal fluctuations (especially drops in estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin) can, in certain cases, dampen the normal “maternal instinct.” While hormones usually help a new mother bond with the infant, disruptions or individual differences can make bonding difficult or nonexistent.

Traumatic or Contextual Factors
Birth Trauma or Chronic Stress: A woman who has undergone extreme stress—whether due to a traumatic birth experience, overwhelming life circumstances, or a history of abuse—may dissociate from the baby and have difficulty attaching.
Lack of Social Support: Feeling isolated or without help can contribute to emotional shutdown, and in some cases, a sense that the baby is just another burden rather than a child to protect.