WATCH: Matalan asks shoppers to share their ‘Mummy-milestones’

The average mum will start exercising 13 weeks after having a baby, but won’t get to enjoy their first post-pregnancy night out with friends for almost seven months, a study has found.

A poll of 1,500 mothers of children aged 10 and under has revealed how long it is after giving birth before they enjoy some of the perks of their pre-baby life again.

And while mums will sip their first alcoholic drink within five months of their baby being born, new parents face a seven month wait before they will have a child-free date night.

Busy mothers will also see almost five weeks pass before they will get to sit down and finish a hot cup of tea or coffee without it going cold.

The study by Matalan also found more than nine in 10 mums say their life changed in ways they hadn’t even considered after having a baby.

A spokesman said: “Having a baby is one of the most life-changing things that will happen to you.

“No matter how much you read about it or talk to other parents, you never really know what to expect.

“Many of the things we used to do without giving them a second thought before having children suddenly become more difficult, leaving many mums having a mini celebration when they do it for the first time again after having a baby.

“Although many are such small little milestones, it can go a long way to helping mums feel like they are ‘getting back to normal’.”

The study also found it takes just over a week until mums get the hang of putting the car seat in the car and collapsing the pram without any issues.

And just over five weeks will pass before they get to sit down to watch a TV show or film uninterrupted.

It will also be six weeks before nervous mothers feel they can nip to the toilet quickly without taking their baby in with them.

Worryingly for those sleep-deprived new parents, the average mum also admitted it was more than six months before they enjoyed their first lie in after giving birth, and eight-and-a-half months before they had eight hours of sleep.

But 15 per cent of mums polled are still waiting for that allusive full night of sleep.

It also emerged new mums will go more than four months before they enjoy a relaxing shower or bath without just washing in a rush.

And it’s just under five months before new mums and dads are happy to let a friend or relative look after their baby.

When it comes to fitting into those pre-pregnancy jeans, the average mum reckons they are wearing their old wardrobe just under five months after giving birth.

But it’s more than seven months before mums would describe themselves as feeling ‘back to normal’ after becoming a parent.

Researchers from OnePoll also found that after hitting certain ‘Mummy Milestones’ 32 per cent of mums admit they compared the timings with other mothers while 55 per cent immediately shared the landmark event with their partner.

More than one in five 22 per cent put it on social media.

But while 58 per cent feel happy at reaching a parenting milestone, 25 per cent feel relieved while almost one in twenty admit to feeling sad.

Mummy milestones:

Got the hang of collapsing the pram – 7 days
Got the hang of putting the car seat in the car – 8 days
Have a conversation with partner not about the baby – 3 weeks
Have a hot cup of tea or coffee in peace – 4 weeks
First watched favourite TV show or film without being interrupted – 5 weeks
Going to the toilet without taking their baby with them – 6 weeks
Started exercising – 13 weeks
Had a relaxing bath or shower – 4 months and 21 days
First let someone other than partner look after baby – 4 and 28 days
First alcoholic drink – 4 months and 28 days
Fit into pre-pregnancy jeans – 4 months and 28 days
Left the house alone – 5 months and six days
First lie in – 6 months and 10 days
First felt back to normal – 6 months and 23 days
First night out with friends – 6 months and 29 days
First date night with your partner – 7 months and 2 days
First full night sleep – 8 months and 16 days
First felt back to normal – 6 months and 23 days