Pet Aversion During the Perinatal and Postpartum Periods

Welcome back! Today we're discussing a topic that many new and expecting parents experience but few people talk about: postpartum and perinatal pet aversion.

After hearing from listeners and collecting stories from social media, we dive into the wide range of experiences people have had with their pets during pregnancy and after bringing home a new baby. We explore why these feelings may happen, how common they really are, and the emotional challenges that can come with them.

Whether you're currently experiencing pet aversion, expecting a baby, or simply want to be prepared, this episode offers practical tips to help you set yourself up for success before and after your little one arrives. Most importantly, we hope to remind you that you're not alone, and that these feelings don't make you a bad pet owner or parent.

Sources:

• Brubaker, Lauren, et al. "Pet Ownership During Pregnancy and Mental Health." Social Science & Medicine 318 (2023): 115624. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622005226.
• Gidron, Yael, et al. "Disgust Sensitivity During Pregnancy and Postpartum." Scientific Reports 13 (2023). Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31060-6.
• Reddit. "Postpartum Pet Aversion." r/beyondthebump. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.reddit.com/r/beyondthebump/comments/1se1lj0/postpartum_pet_aversion/.
• PopSugar. "I Hated My Dog After Having a Baby—and I Never Saw It Coming." Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.popsugar.com/family/hate-dog-after-having-baby-49339540.
• Parents. "Why New Parents Sometimes Resent Their Pets." Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.parents.com/why-new-parents-sometimes-resent-their-pets-11760331.
• Applebaum, Judith W., et al. "The Relationship Between Pet Ownership During the Perinatal Period and Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 19 (2021): 10114. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/10114.