Sex after Pregnancy
Sex after you have welcomed the little one in the family can often be a sympathetic issue. And with so much on your to-do list as far as the baby is concerned, you may have stopped thinking about it altogether. But before you do so, you must know a few things about sex after childbirth.
Being a mother for the first time brings with it a complete range of problems. A mother's role in nurturing the baby is much more than compared to the father. Since looking after a new born is a full-time activity, having sex with your husband may be the last thing on your mind. True that once you get to bed, all you want to do is sleep.
How Soon?
You have to give your body plenty of time to heal whether you have a vaginal delivery or C- section. Most gynecologists recommend waiting from 4 to 6 weeks to give the cervix time to heal completely. Resuming your sex-life may take time, every woman is different, so do not feel pressurized or worry that you are not normal.
Pain
Pain is definitely a concern for a woman when deciding whether it's time to have sex yet. Sex can be painful if not enough time has passed for the vagina to heal completely, but it can also hurt because of dryness. You should start it slowly and use lubricating oils or creams, if necessary, to increase comfort. Some positions might be more painful than others, so it is beneficial to try different positions to find one that is most comfortable for you.
Feeling
Sex might not feel the same after having a baby as it did before. The vagina needs time to heal, and giving birth reduces muscle tone. This can have an effect on the level of pleasure you or your partner feel during intercourse.
Will it feel different?
After a vaginal delivery, decreased muscle tone in the vagina might reduce pleasurable friction during sex which can influence arousal but this is usually temporary.
To tone your pelvic floor muscles, try Kegel exercises. Simply tighten your pelvic muscles as if you are stopping your stream of urine. Try it for five seconds at a time, 4 or 5 times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions. Once you have got the hang of it, do at least three sets of 10 Kegel exercises a day.
Birth Control
You need to use birth control after having a baby, even if you're breastfeeding. You can use barrier methods such as condoms or a hormonal option such as the pill. Consult your doctor if you're breastfeeding and want to use hormonal methods, because the hormones can affect your milk supply.
Boost your sex drive
Most sexual concerns associated with pregnancy or childbirth resolve within a year. In the meantime, concentrate on ways to promote your physical and mental health. For example:
Being a mother for the first time brings with it a complete range of problems. A mother's role in nurturing the baby is much more than compared to the father. Since looking after a new born is a full-time activity, having sex with your husband may be the last thing on your mind. True that once you get to bed, all you want to do is sleep.
How Soon?
You have to give your body plenty of time to heal whether you have a vaginal delivery or C- section. Most gynecologists recommend waiting from 4 to 6 weeks to give the cervix time to heal completely. Resuming your sex-life may take time, every woman is different, so do not feel pressurized or worry that you are not normal.
Pain
Pain is definitely a concern for a woman when deciding whether it's time to have sex yet. Sex can be painful if not enough time has passed for the vagina to heal completely, but it can also hurt because of dryness. You should start it slowly and use lubricating oils or creams, if necessary, to increase comfort. Some positions might be more painful than others, so it is beneficial to try different positions to find one that is most comfortable for you.
Feeling
Sex might not feel the same after having a baby as it did before. The vagina needs time to heal, and giving birth reduces muscle tone. This can have an effect on the level of pleasure you or your partner feel during intercourse.
Will it feel different?
After a vaginal delivery, decreased muscle tone in the vagina might reduce pleasurable friction during sex which can influence arousal but this is usually temporary.
To tone your pelvic floor muscles, try Kegel exercises. Simply tighten your pelvic muscles as if you are stopping your stream of urine. Try it for five seconds at a time, 4 or 5 times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions. Once you have got the hang of it, do at least three sets of 10 Kegel exercises a day.
Birth Control
You need to use birth control after having a baby, even if you're breastfeeding. You can use barrier methods such as condoms or a hormonal option such as the pill. Consult your doctor if you're breastfeeding and want to use hormonal methods, because the hormones can affect your milk supply.
Boost your sex drive
Most sexual concerns associated with pregnancy or childbirth resolve within a year. In the meantime, concentrate on ways to promote your physical and mental health. For example:
- Set reasonable expectations as you adjust to parenthood.
- Appreciate the changes in your body.
- Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fluids.
- Include physical activity in your daily routine.
- Rest as much as you can.
- Ask your partner, loved ones and friends for help.
