# Most new parents have intrusive thoughts about their baby being harmed: It's OK to talk about it

Source: [Medical Xpress - latest medical and health news stories](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-parents-intrusive-thoughts-baby.html) · 2026-11-13 · Medicine
Page: https://themorning.science/story/most-new-parents-have-intrusive-thoughts-about-their-baby-being-harmed-it-s-ok-t-33f750bf48ce7c2e
Kind: research · Impact: medium

## In brief

- Most new parents report intrusive thoughts about their baby being harmed, according to the reported research.
- Perinatal intrusive thoughts are a common experience that can affect parents' long-term mental health.
- Few parents are told about these thoughts before or after birth, according to the article.

## Why it matters

Science readers covering maternal and perinatal health should know that intrusive thoughts are widespread, which can inform how clinicians and writers discuss postnatal mental health.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-13: Medical Xpress published its article on perinatal intrusive thoughts

## Coverage

- [Most new parents have intrusive thoughts about their baby being harmed: It's OK to talk about it](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-parents-intrusive-thoughts-baby.html) — Medical Xpress - latest medical and health news stories, 2026-11-13

Tags: perinatal mental health, intrusive thoughts, parenting, postnatal care

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science