I can actually see how the undiagnosed medical problem could interfere with the mother infant bond because it interfered with nursing which plays a huge bio and neuro chemical role.
If this ill child had been 2nd born instead of first born, I’m guessing the mother would have been way more forceful with both her husband and doctors in seeking for a diagnosis because she would have known from the beginning that something was right based on previous experience with a healthy infant.
As it was I bet she had a lot of her gut feelings downplayed as “nervous, new mother” syndrome. The cognitive dissonance this created was displaced onto the relationship with the child.
I agree. Sad how many people here are judging her. But Freepers, I find, are nearly as perfect as Liberals.