We’ve all heard the jokes from new parents about how their sex lives have faded fast since the arrival of their little one.
But new research by British relationship charity OnePlusOne has found there is some truth in this jest.
According to the charity’s latest Sleep, Sex and Sacrifice report, 40 percent of new moms and 11 percent of dads feel they are no longer sexually attractive to their partner.
More than a quarter of new dads were worried their partner had stopped wanting to have sex, and some 10 percent of new parents worried their partner would have an affair as a result.
“There was definitely less intimacy between us than there had been before we’d had children,” said one participant.
Another said, “Your sex life can feel nonexistent for a while and the confidence a woman feels about her body can suffer from all the changes.”
The study involved more than 1,400 U.K. parents who were surveyed on their experiences as parents and how having a baby affected their couple relationship.
“Ten percent of new parents worried their
partner would have an affair as a result.”
Sex wasn’t the only issue.
When asked about what they longed for most after the birth of their baby, the report found two-thirds (62 percent) of new parents just wanted a good night’s sleep.
More than a third (38 percent) of new parents said they now suffered from a lack of sleep. As a result, one in five (20 percent) were arguing more with their partner.
“Lack of sleep, sex and time together as a couple disrupt new parents’ relationships. If a relationship is strong and the couple are committed to working together, their new roles can be fun, exciting and very rewarding,” said Penny Mansfield, director of OnePlusOne.
“Renegotiating your partnership with the new roles and responsibilities can be testing, but if you stay close and know how to manage your differences, then the path can be much smoother,” she added.
Source: TheCoupleConnection.net.
