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Women's experiences of sex and intimacy after childbirth: Making the adjustment to
motherhood
Article in Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology · September 2012
DOI: 10.3109/0167482X.2012.720314 · Source: PubMed

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 Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2012; 33(4): 185–
190 © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd.
ISSN 0167-482X print/ISSN 1743-8942 online
DOI: 10.3109/0167482X.2012.720314
J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by La Trobe University on

Women’s experiences of sex and intimacy after childbirth: making the

adjustment to motherhood

Hannah Woolhouse, Ellie McDonald & Stephanie Brown

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Families, Level 5, Royal Children’s Hospital,
Parkville, 3052 Australia
The aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences of identified that there is often a
changes to their sexual relationship, sexuality and intimacy, as
a result of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. A sub-sample of sign i ficant decrease in
women was purposively selected from a larger prospective
both the “subjective
For personal use

pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women in Melbourne,

Australia. Eighteen women (including a mixture of parity, birth
importance of s e xuality”
methods and relationship status) were interviewed 2.5–3.5
only.

years after a first birth. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and “contentment with
and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. present sex life” over the
Women identified numerous factors affecting sexual and course of the perinatal period
intimate relationships including extreme tiredness, changing [2,3]. Discrepancy in libido
lifestyles and body image issues, leading to changes in libido between partners has been
and intimacy in relationships. Of particular note were feelings identified in several studies
of guilt and failure women experienced as a result of a lowered as a major issue for couples
libido. Finding ways to stay connected – whether through sex, in the postnatal period [4,5].
07/24/14

quality time together or working as a team – helped women Compounding the challenge
and their partners navigate the transition to parenthood. This of the adjustments women
study demonstrates that pregnancy, childbirth and parenting
make after childbirth are the
can bring about significant changes to women’s experiences of
socially constructed images
sex and intimacy. Women who experience significant
of being a mother who “has
reductions in their libido may be vulnerable to feelings of guilt
it all” – perfect body,
and failure, connected with high expectations that they should
passionate relationship with
be able to “do it all”.
partner, loving relationships
Keywords: Sexuality, intimacy, postnatal, qualitative, adjustment with children, an active
to motherhood social life and professional
success [6,7].
Given the subjective
Introduction nature of sexual experience,
While there is considerable research into the physical and it is surprising that women’s
mental challenges following childbirth, far less attention has voices remain relatively
been given to the social changes and adjustments women absent in the literature
navigate when they become a mother. Managing changes to around sex and sexuality. A
one’s relationship with an intimate partner, including role small number of
changes, sex, and intimacy, is perhaps one of the most international studies have
significant challenges women experience after childbirth. reported on what women
themselves have to say about
Sexual problems in the postpartum period are very common, sex and intimacy after
with around 80% of women reporting issues such as pain during childbirth [3,4,8].
intercourse, vaginal dryness and loss of libido in the first 3 months Explorations of the lived
postpartum [1]. Significant psychosocial changes can also have experience and the social
significant impacts on sexual relationships [2]. Studies have and cultural context of
 186 H. Woolhouse et al.
sexuality and intimacy are rare, despite their importance to changes to their sex life,
women’s well-being. sexuality and intimate
The current paper is based on in-depth interviews with women relationships after birth.
taking part in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Melbourne, While there was a
Australia. The aim of the study was to bring to life women’s own standard set of questions
voices around their experiences of changes to sex, sexuality and to guide the interview,
intimacy following childbirth. The paper reports on what women the interviewer was
had to say about changes to their sexual and intimate relationships encouraged to allow the
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after childbirth, and the factors that may have brought about these interviewee to guide the
changes. We conclude with comments from women about what direction of the
helped them make this transition more smoothly. interview, and follow
Methods their interests as they
arose. Topics listed in the
Design and recruitment interview schedule

Correspondence: Dr Hannah Woolhouse, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Families, Royal Children’s Hospital,
Parkville, Australia. E-mail: hannah.woolhouse@mcri.edu.au

185
The Maternal Health Study is a prospective longitudinal included: sex and
intimacy prior to
For personal use

pregnancy cohort study. Women registered to give birth, at six

metropolitan public hospitals in Melbourne Australia, were pregnancy, changes to
originally recruited to the study between 1 April 1 2003 and 31 sex and intimacy during
December 31 2005. Further details regarding the study and following pregnancy
only.

methods and procedures of the Maternal Health Study are and childbirth,
available in a published study protocol [9]. management of problems
Between May and October 2009, a sub-sample of women when they arose, seeking
from the Maternal Health Study was invited to take part in an help for relationship
in-depth face-to-face interview regarding their sexual health issues, and changing
and intimate relationships after birth. Selective sampling was sexuality.
used to obtain a variety of experiences related to physical and
07/24/14

emotional satisfaction with intimate relationship, method of Data analysis

birth and genital tract trauma. For practical reasons, the sample All interviews were
was also limited to women living within 20 km of central digitally recorded and
Melbourne. In all, 77 women were invited to take part in the transcribed verbatim.
face-to-face interviews. Invitation packages were sent to these Interview transcripts
women and included an invitation letter, study information were analyzed using
sheet, consent form and reply paid envelope. Eighteen women Interpretative
agreed to take part in the study. Given the highly personal Phenomenological
nature of the interview subject, this response rate was as Analysis (IPA) [10,11].
expected. Separate ethics approval for the in-depth interview The aim of IPA is to
study was obtained from the ethics committee of La Trobe conduct an in-depth
University. exploration of how
individuals make sense
Data collection procedure of their personal and
Interviews of approximately 60 min were conducted for all of social world [11]. At the
the 18 women who returned completed consent forms. The heart of the IPA
interviews took place when their first child was between 2.5 approach is an emphasis
and 3.5 years old. Seventeen interviews took place in women’s on the “lived experience”
homes, while one interview was conducted at a participant’s of study participants, and
workplace. Children were often present during the interviews. an attempt to understand
All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed their perception of the
verbatim shortly after the interview took place. Interviews world around them. It is
were conducted by two female members of the Maternal therefore a valuable
Health Study team (author 1 & 2), who had both undergone method for bringing
training in interviewing techniques. The interviews were women’s own voices to
designed to explore how women experienced and perceived light [12]. In fact,
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
 Women’s experiences of sex and intimacy after childbirth 187
Method of delivery
Table I. Characteristics of the sample.
Pseudonym Age at first birth Parity Country of birth Relationship status Education level (index birth)
“giving Abigail 34 2 Australia Married University degree Vaginal
voice” toBree 35 2 Chile De-facto University degree Vaginal
participants Carrie 29 2 Australia Married University degree Vaginal
has beenDianne 34 1 Australia Married University degree Vaginal
Nora 31 1 Australia Separated < Year 12 Vaginal
identified as
Greta 29 2 Australia Married University degree Vaginal
central to theHanh 35 2 India Married University degree Caesarean
Maria 33 1 Australia De-facto (same sex) University degree Vaginal
Nelly 26 2 Australia Married University degree Vaginal
Sarah 31 1 England Divorced University degree Caesarean
Pembe 33 2 Australia Married Certificate/Diploma Vaginal
Lucy 43 1 Australia De-facto University degree Caesarean
Rachel 29 2 Australia Married Year 12 Vaginal
Victoria 29 1 Australia De-facto University degree Vaginal
Yvette 32 2 Australia Married Certificate/Diploma Vaginal
Erica 29 2 Denmark Married University degree Vaginal
Ida 35 1 Australia De-facto University degree Vaginal
Jemima 44 1 South Africa Married University degree Caesarean
phenomenological core of IPA [12], and we therefore Psychosocial factors
considered it a valuable analysis method for the current affecting sex and intimacy
subject. Tiredness
Data were analyzed following the step-by-step procedures
Extreme tiredness and
recommended by Smith [11]. The initial stages of data analysis
exhaustion was reported by
involved looking at each interview transcript individually, making
all women, especially in the
comments in the left hand margin on emerging areas of interest
early months after the birth.
including: connections, preliminary interpretations, the use of
This was the most
language, a sense of the person being interviewed and
commonly reported reason
contradictions. During a second read-through of the transcript,
for a decreased frequency of
possible emergent themes were noted in the right-hand margin. As
sexual activity.
additional transcripts were analyzed, emergent themes were noted
down, and connections between them were sought. A detailed These days I’m just so tired I
table of themes was created, and ordered coherently, with related feel like I could go without sex
themes linked together and given a suitable title, and sub-ordinate forever. Nelly
themes listed below. Translation of the themes into a coherent
narrative was then completed. Themes and sub-themes were I just go to bed and go “I’ve got
five hours up my sleeve…
confirmed in discussions between the co-authors. What do I want to do? Spend
an hour having sex and then
sleep for four? No, I want five
Results hours to sleep.” Nelly
Characteristics of the sample are presented in Table I. The age
range of the sample was 29–47 years (M = 36). At the time of the Changing lifestyles and
interviews, 44% of women had one child and 56% of women had gender roles
given birth to a second baby. 78% of the subsample had a vaginal The lifestyle changes
birth for their index birth. 61% of the women were married, and following childbirth were
28% were in de-facto relationships. One woman was divorced, experienced as dramatic and
another separated and one woman was in a same-sex de-facto challenging by most women.
relationship. Many spoke of the losses
The current paper reports on what women considered the most following the birth of their
important changes to their sexual and intimate relationship. The first child – the loss of
factors identified have been loosely grouped into psychosocial freedom, the loss of
factors, changes and factors that helped. Themes and sub-themes spontaneity, the loss of time
identified in interviews are presented in Table II. together as a couple and the
loss of time to oneself.

Table II. Themes and sub-themes

identified in interviews.
 188 H. Woolhouse et al.
Theme
Psychosocial factors
Changes
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Sub-theme “Oh. Can you turn the light out
Tiredness if we’re going to have sex?”….
Changing lifestyles and gender roles I am actually horrified by the
Emotional connections with children thought of having sex in broad
Body image issues daylight. Carrie
Loss of libido
Changing intimacy In contrast, several women
Changing view of sexuality spoke of an increased sense

Factors that helped Teamwork of empowerment and respect

Time together as a couple for their bodies following
Agreeing on priorities childbirth.
I feel like there’s not so many elements of our relationship that are sexy
anymore….What we don’t have at the moment is ‘us time’, and I don’t I feel like if anything, I had
feel like that time is prioritised. Greta more respect for myself and for
the female form. I mean, it’s
I feel as though there’s not enough of me to go around. Let alone my quite a miraculous thing, and I
own sense of giving to myself. Abigail found that empowering, rather
than sort of negative…You
The way domestic responsibilities were shared between know, it can be very
women and their partners changed after childbirth. Even for pleasurable, but it can also
create life. Victoria
couples who had previously shared household tasks equitably,
the arrival of children often resulted in couples assuming more
stereotypical gender roles. Women expressed some resentment Changes to sexual and
For personal use

over their increased domestic responsibilities. intimate relationships

Loss of libido
There becomes these assumed roles, and that pisses me off…. I feel
Many women experienced a
only.

like I carry around this chip on my shoulder…. And then it affects your
view of yourself, in terms of thinking “God, is this all I’ve become?” dramatic drop in their libido,
Greta either during pregnancy or
after the birth. The reasons
Emotional connections with children women gave for their drop in
The intense emotional connection women felt with their child libido show how they
sometimes resulted in sex and intimacy taking a back seat, attempted to understand this
with potentially negative implications for adult intimate and included a mixture of
physical explanations
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relationships.
(tiredness, breastfeeding,
I think another part of it is that, sometimes I feel as though I’m more in hormonal changes) and
love with my children... Isn’t that madness? But that kind of love psychosocial explanations
(adjusting to becoming a
© 2012 Informa UK, Ltd. parent, resentment over role
changes, emotional
that….being madly in love the way I was with Michael, it’s become more connection to the baby).
of a stable kind of love, and my children have almost replaced that breath-
taking, head-over-heels kind of in love. Abigail I guess I went from having
a very healthy sex-drive
I think I’ve changed from being a lusty woman with my husband… wanting and a very healthy libido
that intimate contact with my husband has changed, because now I think and interest in sex, to being
I’m getting – it’s not intimate contact from my kids – but that, physical completely disinterested,
contact is so consumed with my children, that that need is fulfilled that completely….And doing it
way. Pembe out of obligation, because I
felt that Michael really
Every ounce of my energy, my affection, my love, it was all focused on enjoys it - as most men do
him [the baby]. And I think that there wasn’t room for anything or anybody (chuckles). So I felt as
else. Jemima though I was kind of letting
him down, so I pressured
myself into it. Abigail
Body image issues
Physical changes to a woman’s body as a result of pregnancy and
The language women
childbirth left some women feeling unattractive and selfconscious
used when talking about
about their bodies.

There’s the whole weight loss thing, and you’ve got a flabby tummy and
your boobs are a different shape and you don’t see yourself in the mirror
the way you did before you had kids and go “Oh, not too bad”, now its like
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
 their loss of libido was striking, with words such as I suppose I’ve lost confidence
“obligation”, “duty” and “guilt” used frequently. just knowing that I’m a mum…
I don’t see myself as sexy
Once I fell pregnant, I had no interest in sex. None whatsoever…. And anymore because I know that
it never came back…. It was more the effect on my marriage that I was I’m a mum….Those things
worried about. And I still feel guilt. HUGE guilt. It’s the only thing in don’t go together. Nelly
my relationship that I’m not perfectly happy with. Carrie
I think it’s because it’s harder
to see myself as a sexual being,
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Women appeared to have high expectations of themselves in to tell you the truth…. This is
regards to sexual activity, and experienced a sense of failure me. This is what I do every
when their sexual drive was not at the same level as before day, I look after children, I
pregnancy. Most women saw these expectations as self- clean up, I just feel really
mundane, and like, how could
imposed, but some also experienced pressure from their
you find this attractive? It
partners. doesn’t feel sexy. Greta

I almost felt like it was - for want of a better word - my duty. That I
could live without it, but I felt that, it had been such a big part, a Generally, women reported
significant part of our relationship, (laughs)… It sort of surprised me, that they did not think their
which is why I think I really remember it, because I’m not a partners saw them any
subservient kind of woman who thinks “This is my role, and my duty” differently, but rather the
but I really felt like I had failed. And maybe it was because I put a lot
of expectations on myself and I didn’t live up to that, so, you know,
way they viewed themselves
that was a failure. Greta had changed.
For personal use

It’s kind of like a bit of a

Changing intimacy conflicting role to be a mother
and a nurturer on one side, and
Women commented on the bi-directional relationship between
only.

a whore in the bedroom on the

emotional intimacy and sex. Some women felt that physical other side [laughs]. And I don’t
intimacy and emotional intimacy were inextricably connected, actually think my husband sees
and that intimacy had decreased in their relationship as a result me differently...Whereas I’m a
of sexual problems. completely different person, I
no longer have my own
financial independence, I don’t
Because we don’t have sex very often now at all, a lot of the intimacy
work and interact with other
has gone as well. And I think that if we had more intimacy, we’d have
adults on a daily basis. I’m a
more sex, and Marcus thinks that if we had more sex we’d have more
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completely different person

intimacy. Jemima
now to what I was. Carrie

Other couples found sex was a way of remaining closely

Factors that helped
connected with their partner in the midst of significant lifestyle
changes, while some couples found new ways to express their Teamwork
intimacy as a couple. Women identified a range of
factors that helped them and
I think we kind of clung to our sex-life, you know? It was like “As long their partners in making the
as we can keep having sex, we’ll be OK.” Yvette transition to parenthood
more smoothly. Teamwork
I don’t feel that we’ve grown apart because we’re not having sex. We between partners helped
still have a date where we go out, like every two or three weeks, just
the two of us. We still kiss and cuddle and sit on the couch together.
maintain a satisfying
And as I said, we may not have intercourse, but we do other things. intimate relationship after
Rachel birth. Taking on challenges
together, with shared
responsibilities allowed
couples to maintain a
Changing view of sexuality stronger relationship both
During the interviews, women were asked directly about changes physically and emotionally.
to their sexuality – defined as “The way you think or feel about The impact on my life has been
yourself as a sexual being”. Consistently, women responded that about the same as the impact on
the role of mothering was “not sexy”, and that becoming a mother Dean’s life… It’s been a real
had negatively affected their sex life. joint venture…And I think the
 190 H. Woolhouse et al.
fact that it’s been halved, has really helped, and the fact that it’s been Notably, it was
mutual has really helped. Victoria common for women to
experience this drop in
Time together as a couple libido as a kind of
Time together as a couple, away from children, was also reported “failure”, or something to
as helpful. However, practical difficulties with childcare made this feel “huge guilt” about.
challenging for some couples. This is despite the fact
that it is a common
We had this really nice romantic dinner for two, just to reconnect as a phenomenon,
couple, that was really nice, and we felt that was important….Having
Rainer looked after and having some of our time has been really
experienced by many
important…Reconnecting as a couple rather than it always being about women after birth. It
Rainer. Dianne would appear that women
have internalized the
Agreeing on priorities ever-present socially
It was helpful when couples agreed on what was currently a constructed messages
priority, whether it be sex, or sleep, or caring for their new child. that mothers can “have it
For some couples, this meant that sex was not currently a priority. all” or “be it all” [14].
Contemporary images of
Look, it’s not where our sex life was, but, I kind of think that suits us at the motherhood include
moment. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on…It works for us…It’s definitely women who are devoted
not a priority at the moment. Rachel and loving primary care-
givers, successful career
For other women, prioritizing sex was important. Women women, and attractive
spoke of sometimes having sex when they were tired and did and loving sexual
not necessarily feel like it, either for their own benefit, for partners [15]. It has been
their partner’s benefit, or for the benefit of the relationship. argued that these socially
This was generally reported positively, as something that had constructed images of
ongoing benefits to the relationship, both sexually and motherhood are
emotionally. incongruent with the
realities of motherhood
I sort of took the view that, once we started having sex, I always enjoy that most women
it… You might not necessarily feel like it right that instant, but if you
always say no you kind of regret not having a sex life… If I’d honestly
experience – fatigue,
been answering the question would I prefer to read a good book or ….. overwork, stress and
[laughs], the answer probably would have been reading a book identity struggles [6].
[laughs]. But once I’d start, it was fine…. I think, maybe the thing is to When faced with these
prioritise it more. Erica inconsistencies between
their expectations, and
the realities of their life,
Discussion
feelings of guilt and
The many adjustments women face following pregnancy and inadequacy are somewhat
childbirth can place considerable strain on sexual and intimate inevitable. In addition to
relationships. In the current study, women indentified a range the many role changes
of issues that impacted on sex and intimacy, including extreme and practical demands
tiredness, dramatic changes to lifestyles and roles, and body women experience
image issues. Loss of libido following pregnancy and following the birth of a
childbirth was a commonly reported challenge in the current first child, they are
study. An imbalance in sexual desire between men and women navigating tricky and
has been identified in previous studies as a key cause of conflicting cultural
relationship dissatisfaction [13]. Contributing factors to a messages about sexuality
decrease in sexual desire centred around the significant and intimacy within the
changes to lifestyle experienced after childbirth, such as no context of motherhood.
longer being in the workforce, decreased economic Extreme tiredness was
independence, reduced social contact with adults and an a universal experience
increase in menial responsibilities such as housework. These among the interviewed
changes left many women questioning their own identity, with women, and a strong
flow-on consequences to their experiences of sexuality and inhibitor of sexual
sexual desire. intimacy, indicating that
increased practical
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
 support for women would be helpful. Increasing mother’s Conclusions
opportunities for quality sleep
Pregnancy, childbirth and
© 2012 Informa UK, Ltd. parenting can bring about
significant changes to
Women’s experiences of sex and intimacy after childbirth 189 intimate relationships and
would also be helpful for women in the early period after birth. women’s feelings about sex
Recent interventions aimed at improving infant sleep behaviours and sexuality. Women who
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have shown positive impacts on maternal mental health at 2 years experience significant
postpartum follow-up [16]. Such interventions may also show reductions in their libido
benefits to sexual and intimate relationships. may be vulnerable to
In the face of challenges faced by women and their partners as feelings of guilt and failure,
they make the adjustment to parenthood, there are strategies that connected with high
can help couples make this transition more smoothly. Staying expectations that they should
connected was a theme that ran through the comments from be able to “do it all”. Open
women with regard to what helped. For some couples, sex dialogues about the physical,
remained a way of staying connected, and acted as a means of emotional and social
increasing intimacy. Other couples found new and different ways challenges women face in
of remaining connected, such as spending quality time together their adjustment to
away from their children, or feeling a sense of teamwork in their motherhood are likely to be
approach to parenting responsibilities. Communication was helpful. Finding ways to stay
another essential aspect of staying connected and navigating the connected, whether through
For personal use

transition to parenthood successfully. Increasing communication sex, quality time together as

regarding expectations and concerns, before, during and after a couple, or working as a
pregnancy is likely to be of benefit to most couples. team, can help couples
only.

The findings of the current study should be viewed with some navigate the adjustment to
caution due to some important limitations of the study. We are parenthood more smoothly.
mindful that the views expressed are not necessarily generalizable,
or representative of the experiences of women from diverse social
and cultural backgrounds. The current sample was not Acknowledgements
representative of the wider population, i.e. almost all women who We are extremely
participated had tertiary level qualifications. As such, the findings grateful to all of the
07/24/14

are likely to be somewhat biased. Another important limitation of women who generously
the study is the exclusive focus on the perspective of mothers. The agreed to take part in the
views and experiences of partners are clearly an essential interviews, contributing
component of sex and intimacy after childbirth. While the follow- their time and energy,
up of partners was beyond the scope of the study, we recommend and to members of the
future studies in this area include the perspectives of partners, to Healthy Mothers Healthy
create a more comprehensive understanding of sex and intimacy Families research group
after childbirth. at Murdoch Childrens
Strengths of this study include the fact that participants were Research Institute who
drawn from a large longitudinal study of first-time mothers, rather assisted with follow-up
than a self-selecting or clinical sample. By using a theoretical of the main cohort and
approach to inform purposive sampling, we were able to ensure with data management.
diversity across a range of characteristics, including method of
birth and maternal age. The interviews were conducted around 3
years after a first birth, allowing some distance for reflecting on Contribution to
changes to sexuality and intimacy after a first birth, but not so authorship
much distance that memory had faded. It is clear from women’s All authors have
reflections on their experiences that the issues discussed in the significantly contributed
interviews remained salient for the women who chose to take part. to this article and
The use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as a data approved the final
analysis method was an additional strength of the study, as this version of the
method is particularly well suited to exploring changes to manuscript. HW was
phenomena. involved in data
collection, conducted
literature searches,
completed data analyses
 192 H. Woolhouse et al.
and interpretation, and wrote the paper. EM was responsible 9. Brown SJ, Lumley JM,
McDonald EA, Krastev AH;
for the sub-study concept and design, purposive recruitment Maternal Health Study
strategies, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and collaborative group. Maternal
manuscript revision. SB was responsible for the study concept health study: a prospective
cohort study of nulliparous
and design, data analysis and interpretation, and co-wrote the women recruited in early
paper. pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy
Childbirth 2006;6:12.
10. Smith JA. Beyond the divide
Declaration of Interest: The authors report no declarations of
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between cognition and

interest. This work was supported by grants from The National discourse: using interpretative
Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the phenomenological analysis in
health psychology. Psychol
William Buckland Foundation, and the Victorian Health 1996;11:261–271.
Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. 11. Smith JA, Osborn M.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Interpretative
phenomenological analysis.
funded the establishment of the cohort with a 5 year Doing social psychology
epidemiology grant (2002–2006). SB held an NHMRC Career research. Oxford, UK: The
British Psychological Society
Development Award (2008–2011) and currently holds an ARC and Blackwell Publishing Ltd;
Future Fellowship (2012–2015). The funding organizations 2008. pp 229–254.
had no involvement in the conduct of the study, and the 12. Larkin M, Watts S, Clifton E.
Giving voice and making sense
authors are independent of the funding sources. All authors in interpretative
had full access to the study data and were responsible for the phenomenological analysis.
decision to submit the paper for publication. The Sexual Qual Res Psychol 2006;3:102–
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120.
Health sub-study was approved by the La Trobe University 13. Ahlborg T, Dahlöf LG,
Human Research Ethics Committee.(HEC 07-125). Written Hallberg LR. Quality of
informed consent was obtained from all participants. intimate and sexual relationship
in first-time parents six months
only.

after delivery. J Sex Res

2005;42:167–174.
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Current knowledge on the subject
• Limited attention has been given to the social challenges women face following pregnancy and childbirth
• Navigating changes to intimate relationships after pregnancy and childbirth is a significant challenge faced by women
• Women’s voices remain relatively absent in the literature around sex and sexuality after childbirth

What this study adds

• Extreme tiredness and dramatic lifestyle changes appear to be the most significant challenges posed to sexual and
intimate relationships after birth
• Women who experience a loss of libido after childbirth may be vulnerable to feelings of “guilt” or “failure” linked with
high expectations
• Finding ways to stay connected, either through sex, teamwork or quality time together can help couples make the
transition to parenthood more smoothly

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Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology