When Body Image Affects Connection: Rebuilding Intimacy After Motherhood

Postpartum can make your body feel purely functional and intimacy complicated. Counsellor Ashleigh Chapman (mum of two, 3 months postpartum) shares how body image, safety and the mental load shape desire, what partners often misread as rejection, and practical ways to reconnect: the “sex-off-the-table” reset, a gentle touch ladder, real-life scripts, and tiny steps to rediscover desire for yourself first. Warm, honest, zero shame and very doable.

“Our bodies aren’t here to show up for a partner, they’re here to show up for us.”

If you'd like to connect with Ashleigh you can find her on Insta @Evolve.MH or get in touch through her website www.evolvementalhealth.com.au.