This is how long it takes for a new mum to feel “like themselves” again

The long nights, the smiles, the new saggy bits, the new baby smell, the complete surrender of your body to this little infant - everything about motherhood is one big blur of joy and exhaustion.

And as much as I loved it - part of me wondered who this new version of myself was? Where was the carefree, stretchmark-less person that I used to be?  It was a slow realisation that motherhood changes you in ways you can never get back - but once the haze of newness drifts past, you do begin to see exciting glimpses of the parts of you that you remember fondly. The timeline is obviously very different for everyone, but a survey of over three thousand women has discovered that it takes an average of about 18 months before new mums are able to feel like "a woman again." That is 547 days just to be clear. I didn't expect this identity conflict to last for over a year, but if you think about it - you are a new person and there is no going back. It is a matter of acceptance of your new role/new body/new responsibilities. The Daily Mail reports that more than two-thirds of those surveyed admitted feeling "saggy" and "unattractive" in the months after giving birth. Worryingly, a quarter of the women said they felt they were competing with other mothers - including celebrities to shape up fast after having a baby. Which is also funny considering it's the Daily Mail who reported on this survey. The research carried out by website A Beautiful Mummy found that a lack of routine made it harder as well as the loss of "me time" And although 18 months may sound like quite a long time - you can rest assured that the days are fast and you have the best distraction ever - your cute little mini-me to kiss and cuddle. And you begin to realise, for the first time, that it's not all about you for a while - and that's ok.