Is it normal to feel regret after having a baby?
Yes—some parents feel regret, grief, or ambivalence after having a baby, especially during a draining adjustment. Those feelings don’t automatically mean you don’t love your child or that you’re a bad parent.
Having a baby can change your sleep, freedom, identity, relationships, and daily life all at once. It’s possible to love your child and still miss your old life or wish you’d made a different choice. Plenty of parents have feelings they’re afraid to say out loud, and they don’t make you a bad person.
If the regret feels intense or isn’t easing, tell someone you trust and consider talking with a doctor or therapist. Postpartum depression and anxiety can sometimes show up as despair, numbness, or feeling trapped, and you deserve support—not judgment.