What are baby-related harm thoughts?

Harm thoughts can be common following the birth of a child. These thoughts can occur in the form of word thoughts (e.g. such as “my baby is not safe” or “my baby might die”), images (e.g. a mental picture of the baby falling down the stairs), or impulses or urges (e.g. the urge to smack, shake or throw the baby). These harm thoughts can pop into a mother’s mind unexpectedly and cause distress - even though she would never hurt her baby intentionally.

Unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or impulses or urges related to a baby (referred to from this point as “harm thoughts” (Infant-related harm thoughts) are not unique to new or recent mums. Research in the general population has identified that these are common, reported by nearly four fifths of people. Amongst new parents, harm thoughts have been described as a “normative aspect of parenting” (Fairbrother & Woody, 2008). Research has shown that nearly all new mothers experience some unwanted thoughts of harm coming to their new baby, and around 1 in 2 mums have reported thoughts of intentionally harming their baby – even though they knew they never would.

It is important to emphasise that having such thoughts, images or urges of harming your infant, and the fear that you might act upon them, does not indicate that you are a risk to your child (see more on this below).