Emotional rebound after childbirth takes 5 months on average

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

NEW MOMS MAY BE EXPECTED TO ‘BOUNCE BACK’ QUICKLY, BUT FOR MANY, THE REALITY IS FAR MORE COMPLEX.

A NEW SURVEY FROM INTIMINA OF 2,000 WOMEN WHO’VE GIVEN BIRTH FINDS THE AVERAGE MOM TAKES ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO EMOTIONALLY RECOVER AFTER PREGNANCY, AND EVEN LONGER PHYSICALLY.

MANY WOMEN SAY THEIR BODY, CONFIDENCE AND INTIMACY CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER CHILDBIRTH, WITH MOST REPORTING THEIR BODY NEVER FULLY RETURNED TO HOW IT WAS BEFORE.

THE RESEARCH ALSO HIGHLIGHTS HOW MANY WOMEN STRUGGLE TO OPENLY DISCUSS THESE CHANGES, OFTEN HANDLING CONFIDENCE OR RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES ALONE.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, UNDERSCORES THE OFTEN UNSEEN EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL RECOVERY JOURNEY OF POSTPARTUM LIFE.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO WE PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON MOMS TO ‘BOUNCE BACK’? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 women who have given birth who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Intimina and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 2 and April 9, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.