Examining Changes in Affection and “Feeling Touched Out” after the Birth of a Child

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research explored changes in affection, with a particular focus on feeling touched out, for parents after the birth of their child. An online questionnaire asked parents (N = 39 U.S. adults) open-ended questions to investigate changes in affection after the birth of their child. Thematic analysis indicated that approximately a little over half of the sample reported reduced affection after the birth of their child, including feeling “touched out” (i.e., feeling physical saturation and needing bodily autonomy). The remaining participants in the sample did not feel touched out and noticed that their nature of shared affection changed but did not reduce in frequency. Transparency about affection needs and coparenting expectations pre- and post-birth is strongly recommended in parents’ family planning conversations.