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Postpartum sex study: Are you surprised by what new moms are saying?

Print | Comments () Posted by Kristi Palma July 5, 2012 09:04 AM

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(c)iStockphoto.com/courtneyk

A new study about postpartum sex conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and reported in Live Science finds 26 percent of new moms are having intercourse before their six-week checkup (doctors usually recommend waiting four to six weeks after giving birth).

Here are some of the other findings in the study:

By 12 weeks, 85 percent of new moms are having intercourse.

What makes new moms want to have sex most? A desire for feelings of intimacy and closeness to their partners, followed by their partner's interest in sex. A woman's social support system and her physical and psychological experiences during childbirth also had an affect.

Things like stress, body image, and breastfeeding were not associated with how quickly women started having sex again.

What is the biggest sex buzz-kill? Fatigue, followed by baby's sleeping habits and lack of time.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a turn-off for a man to see his partner giving birth. Women whose partners were in the delivery room actually reported a stronger sexual desire after baby was born.

Are you surprised by the findings of this study?

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Kristi Palma, Boston.com Moms producer, is the mom of a kindergartner and a preschooler. She is a writer who enjoys cooking her grandmother's Italian recipes (when her son isn't launching paper airplanes into them). Follow her on Twitter @kristipalma.

Jennifer Clark Estes is a teacher, writer, blogger, and the mother of four young children. In her free time, she blogs at A Mom's World, plays with the kids (or chauffeurs them around), and is desperately seeking a quiet spot so she can read a book. Follow her on Twitter @JenniferCEstes.