Worried You're The Only Horny New Mom? You're Not

It's one of those subjects you only bring up in certain company: are women horny postpartum, or is it just you? If you've been experiencing an increased libido since delivering your baby, all it takes it a quick stroll around the internet to learn you're not alone. Many mothers claim they are more hot and bothered than ever in the postpartum phase, having very honest conversations about their intense sexual desires on message boards aimed at connecting mothers. In these spaces, mamas chat about how real the struggle is to wait the entire suggested six week period before getting it on with their partner again. But while these women seem to have all the tingles in all the right places, many other women are not feeling the love.

After having a baby, some women discover that a lower libido is their new normal. As Women's Day magazine pointed out, each person's sex drive returns at a different point, postpartum. For some — like the ladies on the community boards — that could mean soon after delivery, although it may be months before some mamas feel like having sex again. Aside from being in recovery from childbirth, there are other factors than affect your lust level. Fluctuating hormones, breastfeeding, and stitches from an episiotomy are the most common variables that play into how much or little you desire sex after giving birth, according to What To Expect's website.

In addition to the usual suspects, many new mothers struggle to get their sexy back due to more nuanced factors. As Parents magazine explained, postpartum body image issues, lack of sleep, and postpartum depression can all result in a lower sex drive for moms. Taking all this evidence into consideration, it's easy to see why many mamas would pass on a romp.

But what about all the women who are counting down the days until they're cleared for sex? Perhaps it has something to do with the hormones. The same thing that may cause one mama to feel anything but in the mood, could cause another to be crazy frisky. According to the website for Our Bodies Ourselves, the most influential hormone for a woman's sex drive is testosterone. So depending on how much testosterone you're making after delivery, you could find yourself insanely turned on or incredibly disinterested, which will relate to how horny (or not) you are postpartum.