Having a baby is an overwhelming experience. You will experience changes in your body as well as your emotional state. You will be caring for your baby 24 hours a day, with interrupted sleep for at least the first few months. If you are breastfeeding, you will also have low estrogen levels which can leave your vagina more sensitive than normal. Your breasts, which can be an important part of a woman's femininity and sexuality, will now be used to feed your baby. Your vagina will be recovering from the changes associated with childbirth. All of these things can contribute to a decreased sex drive after childbirth.

This all sounds like bad news, but the good news is that you can experience deep closeness with your partner as you bond in your love for your child. As you recover from your delivery, begin to get more sleep, and adapt to the new addition to your life, your interest in sex will slowly return. Every woman is different, and some women experience minimal effects on the sex life while others may take many months to return to their baseline. Remember not to judge your experience by the experiences of your friends; you may have a different reaction to your delivery than they do.

And remember to keep connected with your partner during this time of transition. It will ease the return to a healthy sexual relationship.