Several years ago I've watched some Youtube video where the author mentioned that people in Middle Ages were indifferent to their offspring and the instinctual love for one's children is not as instinctual as we are led to believe.
I can't find the video and my Google fu is lacking to say the least.
Look at the answers I have previously collected by /u/sunagainstgold and /u/amandycat and /u/Iphikrates, among others, for What do we know about historical infant childcare?