Most New Moms Exhausted: Study

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Not surprisingly, about two out of three women reported feeling fatigued. Sixty percent said they had breast discomfort, and 52 percent said they had a decreased interest in sex. Fifty percent of the women said they had sore or irritated nipples, and almost as many women said they were experiencing headaches. Forty-three percent said they had back or neck pain.

Women who delivered by Caesarean section and women who were breast-feeding reported more postpartum symptoms.

McGovern said it wasn't surprising that women who'd had C-sections had more postpartum difficulties, but she was somewhat surprised that women who were breast-feeding had more symptoms, even when the researchers factored out problems specifically associated with breast-feeding, such as sore nipples.

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"Breast-feeding babies digest food more rapidly and need to feed more frequently. That's tiring for mom," said McGovern.

McGovern said there's no one "ideal" time for women to head back to work, though she said most women who can afford to take 12 weeks will do so.

"It's really individual to each woman because it's a constellation of so many factors, such as what's the health of the baby and the mother? How much help does she have at home? Is she married or single? What's the nature of her work? Does she like it or hate it? And, is the job flexible?" she said.

McGovern said there needs to be more education for expectant mothers so they know what to expect in the postpartum period, and that workplaces should be more flexible.

"The postpartum period for the woman and for her family can be rough. The woman needs all the help and support she can get," said Klein.

More information

For more on what to expect after delivery, head to the Nemours Foundation. (www.kidshealth.org )

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