Post-Partum Sex
The lingering pain, vaginal soreness, baby blues, hormones and body changes, sex after pregnancy can be difficult and exhausting for new mothers. Postpartum sex and intimacy might be the last thing on your mind. For every new mother, it's important that their body gets the much-deserved time off after delivery. Although there is no definitive timeline on when you have sex after childbirth, it's advisable to wait for at least four to six weeks if you have had a vaginal delivery. Once you have given your body enough time to recover, sexual activities can resume slowly. There will be a lot of anticipation and awkwardness at first, but with time and as your body recovers it will only get better.
Hormonal Changes
With breastfeeding and hormonal changes, chances are that your vagina might be dry and tender. If there are tears, sex will still be a painful experience even after six weeks. Taking a warm bath before sex or using a lubricant to avoid vaginal dryness or even experimenting with sexual activities are all ways to get around the painful sexual experience. We are going to talk about the real truth about postpartum sex. Some you may already know about and some that may be insightful to you.
The first time after childbirth
There's no denying that sex after baby might not be as pleasurable as it once was, but don't worry eventually, intercourse will become comfortable again. Whether you have given vaginal birth or undergone a C-section, it's imperative to give your body time to heal to understand the changes in your body after such a major event. Also, with breastfeeding, women tend to experience a decrease in estrogen, along with high prolactin and oxytocin levels. These are leading causes of vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and pain.
Changing dynamic
Not every woman gains their body confidence back immediately after delivery. Lack of sleep, baby blues, not being able to accept your body and the physical pain leads to changing dynamics within a couple. It's normal to have mixed and confused feelings. All of these will affect your relationship, both physically and emotionally. It is important to recognise the change,to accept it and figure out together where your journey takes you next.
Rebuilding intimacy requires effort
As new parents, there's a lot of responsibility and sex might be the last thing on your mind. that doesn't give you the leeway to let your relationship be affected. Find time to have an open and honest conversation. Although spending time together might be challenging with the responsibility of managing a newborn, it is still important. It could be something as simple as going for a walk together or having a meal together. To enjoy sex or sexual activities together, you must be able to rebuild intimacy. Start with minimal physical affection and work towards gaining confidence over sex.
Consider contraception
If you don't already know, here's us stating a fact - you can get pregnant soon after giving birth. Even if you are breastfeeding, there are higher chances of conceiving when you are least expecting it. Think about contraception and discuss it with health experts before you engage in postpartum sex.
Fluctuating libido levels
During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone are considered to be high, and it is vital for your baby's growth. You'll also notice that your sex drive during pregnancy is also directly proportional to these hormones. Post-delivery, these hormones seem to decline drastically which leads to a lower level of libido. It impacts your sexual drive, but as your body starts healing, these hormones will get back to its pre-pregnancy levels. It's just a matter of waiting and giving your body time to adjust to the new normal.
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