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The average woman takes five months to emotionally bounce back from pregnancy,\u00a0according to new research<\/a>.<\/p>\n A survey of 2,000 women who have given birth explored how that experience has shifted their confidence and intimacy levels.<\/p>\n Confidence is also affected: While more respondents recall having a harder time bouncing back physically (42%), more than a third said mental recovery was more difficult (35%). Nearly a quarter said it was equally hard either way (23%).<\/p>\n The average woman surveyed needed six months to physically bounce back from pregnancy.<\/p>\n Conducted by Talker Research for\u00a0Intimina<\/a>, the survey found that 77% of women said their body has never gone back to how it was before having a child.<\/p>\n Of those respondents, 63% are not sure that it ever will, including moms who have given birth at least three years ago (67%).<\/p>\n Where intimacy is concerned, more women experienced worsened libido than not post-pregnancy.<\/p>\n Thirty-five percent report feeling in the mood less often than once a week, compared to 17% who said the same pre-pregnancy.<\/p>\n Beyond sex, women also reported feeling decreased energy levels (39%) and worsened ability to get work done (20%).<\/p>\n \u201cEven though many of us are aware of the postpartum changes women go through, there is still an intense and often silent pressure on them to quickly \u2018bounce back\u2019, both emotionally and physically,\u201d said Dunja Kokotovic, global brand manager for Intimina. \u201cWe need to shift the public narrative toward acceptance and self-care instead of chasing unattainable standards. We encourage women to find their own pace during this sensitive recovery period by addressing and understanding the changes and reclaiming their confidence and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n For many, this journey has felt lonely. On one hand, 39% of women who are still with their partner feel more connected to them after having a child than ever \u2014 but 22% experience just the opposite.<\/p>\n Nearly half who experienced changes to their body struggled with talking to a partner about that (46%), and dealt with changes in confidence (53%) and their sense of self (57%) alone, too.<\/p>\n Similar percentages expressed difficulty talking to their partner about changes in feeling connected to one another (60%) and their libido (52%).<\/p>\n While doctors often recommend the \u201csix-week postpartum checkup\u201d to be intimate once more, one in six felt pressured to be \u201cready\u201d by that deadline.<\/p>\n Some of the common negative experiences they\u2019ve had with intimacy postpartum include fatigue (26%), feeling pressured to be in the mood (21%), guilt about not wanting to be intimate (19%), dryness (18%) and emotional disconnect (17%).<\/p>\n It hasn\u2019t all been a negative journey, though. More women experienced improvements in confidence, mental health and feeling connected to themselves than not postpartum.<\/p>\n In their learnings about intimacy, \u201ca good sexual encounter\u201d has changed for postpartum women.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve learned that they now desire more emotional connection (25%), feeling desired as a person and not just as a mother (21%) and feeling appreciated overall (20%).<\/p>\n For others, it\u2019s all about their own experience, feeling more keen on more foreplay (19%) and focusing on their own pleasure (17%).<\/p>\n \u201cWomen\u2019s bodies go through a lot, so it\u2019s not surprising that 52% of women find it difficult to discuss changes in libido with their partners,\u201d said Kokotovic. \u201cWhile the shift in energy levels and desire can feel overwhelming, it\u2019s important to know that it doesn\u2019t last forever. Kegel exercises are the perfect solution to pregnancy recovery and taking control of pelvic health. It seems that more and more women are aware that strengthening the pelvic floor is necessary for healing, and it can be especially helpful in building back the confidence needed to reconnect with themselves and their partner.\u201d<\/p>\n Research methodology:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Talker Research surveyed 2,000 women who have given birth who have access to the internet;<\/strong>\u00a0the survey was commissioned by Intimina and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between\u00a0April 2 and April 9, 2026.<\/strong>\u00a0A link to the questionnaire can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR\u2019s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research\u00a0Process and Methodology page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDifficulty Communicating Intimate and Relational Shifts<\/b><\/h2>\n
New Desires for Appreciation and Connection<\/b><\/h2>\n