Is it normal to resent your partner after having a baby?

Yes — it’s very normal to resent your partner after having a baby. The first months postpartum are exhausting, and resentment often shows up when sleep, recovery, chores, and the mental load feel uneven.

Common reasons:

• Sleep deprivation makes everything feel harder.
• Unequal labor can make one partner feel taken for granted.
• Mental load like feeds, appointments, and supplies often falls on one person.
• Loss of freedom/identity can build frustration fast.
• Hormonal changes can intensify mood swings and stress.

What helps:

• Say the specific need, not a global complaint: “I need you to handle bedtime tonight.”
• Split tasks so one person owns them fully.
• Protect sleep with shifts if possible.
• Treat it as you and your partner vs. the problem, not each other.

If the resentment is intense, constant, or comes with hopelessness or feeling disconnected, it’s worth talking to a doctor or therapist.