According to the Daily Mail on January 12, it does take an average of 18 months for a new mother to "feel like a woman again", suggests a poll of thousands of British women。
During that one and a half year period, however, sleepless nights, loss of independence and weight worries all contribute to a crisis of confidence. More than two thirds of those questioned admitted to feeling "saggy", "fat" and "unattractive" in the months after giving birth。
Six out of ten claimed their confidence took a real knock when they realized their old clothes did not fit. And a quarter of the 3,000 women said they felt they were competing with other mothers - including celebrities - to lose weight quickly after birth。
Around a third blamed breastfeeding for limiting what they could wear and 39 percent felt unattractive in every outfit they put on。
Others struggled to adjust to the loss of "me time", with 63 percent saying they let themselves go by failing to take care of their hair, make-up or clothes。
Siobhan Freegard, of the Netmums parenting advice website, said that while 18 months might be the average figure, many women will take longer。
The change in priorities also meant that nine in ten new mothers polled said work no longer seemed as important after they gave birth, and 79 percent did not want to leave their baby to go back. Many also feared they would no longer excel in their job。调查显示：新妈妈平均需1年半才能恢复自我
据英国《每日邮报》1月12日报道，一项访问数以千计英国妇女的民调显示，新手妈妈要回到“觉得自己又像个女人”的状态，平均得需要18个月的时间。
然而在这一年半的时间内，夜无好眠、丧失自我及担心体重等因素，会造成信心危机。超过2/3的受访者坦承，在生完小孩后的几个月内，她们感觉“身材松弛”、“肥胖”且“没有魅力”。
6成妇女声称，当发现旧衣服不合身时，自己的信心会大大受挫。3000名受访妇女当中，1/4觉得自己正与其它妈妈比赛产后快速减肥，竞争对象包括名人。
约有1/3妇女抱怨喂母乳限制了她们的穿着，39%受访者觉得不管穿什么衣服都缺乏魅力。其他妇女表示，她们很努力去适应没有“为自己而活”的时间。63%的人说，她们常在没整理头发、化妆或讲究服装的情况下过日子。
育儿咨询网站“网上妈妈”网的赛欧博汉姆•弗里加德说，18个月可能只是平均数，许多妇女需要更长的恢复时间。
此外，9成的新妈妈认为，生小孩后，工作似乎不再那么重要。79%的人表示不想离开宝宝回去工作。许多人也担心，无法在工作上表现杰出。