Women are often afraid of the fact that sex after pregnancy can be quite painful. It is mainly due to this reason that most women avoid post pregnancy sex. Looking it from another angle, this is a blessing in disguise. Ask any doctor and they will advice that it is best not to have postpartum sex for 5 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Let us be honest and understand the fact that 9 months of carrying a child in her womb takes its toll on the mother and leaves her both physically and mentally exhausted. Though they might have sex on their minds during this phase, it is best to avoid it.

However, if they cannot control their urge, here are some pointers they should keep an eye out for. It will guide them about the inherent risks of having sex after a baby and how to slowly ease back into their sexual life. Regardless of the type of delivery, C-section or vaginally, the body of the mother requires time to heal. The 5 to 6 weeks of rest recommended by the doctors provide ample opportunity for the postpartum bleeding to stop, the cervix to get closed, and also for tears in the vagina to heal.

Different women have different healing capabilities and some might be ready for having sex after the baby faster than others. The changes in their body and the postpartum blues play an important part in determining when a woman is ready for lovemaking after pregnancy. There also might be some other complications like tenderness and dryness of the vagina, especially if the mother is breastfeeding her baby. To overcome this problem, stimulation by her partner by kissing or by massaging her private parts helps. If this does not work as expected, they might apply lubricating gels and creams on their vagina.

It is strongly recommended that women avoid sexual positions that put pressure on their tummies while going in for sex after giving birth. There are illustrated books available that show the best sex position suitable for post pregnancy sex. Check out these guides to select the best sex position for you. New mothers often think of other things like the newborn’s diapers and laundry while enjoying sex after childbirth. This is not correct. They should focus their mind on sex making rather than on other things.

If they still feel pain and discomfort despite taking all the precautions mentioned above, they should not hesitate to consult their doctor. At times there might be minor post operation problems that require additional treatment. At times simple prescriptions by the doctor, like applying estrogen cream in low doses to the vagina might help. Post delivery, the vaginal muscles of a woman might get loose and this decrease in the tightness of the muscles reduces the pleasurable friction… decreasing the pleasurable friction one experiences during intercourse. This problem can be resolved by performing exercises that tighten the pelvic muscles.

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Sometimes during sex after pregnancy you may find that you will have bleeding and even notice a foul odor. A foul odor isn’t a good sign and strongly suggest that you seek medical attention because you may have an infection.

But even if you don’t have an infection, sex after pregnancy can be painful, especially if you had stitches to repair tears or an episiotomy. Even if your perineum is intact, intercourse could hurt. You may just need more time to heal.

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, low hormone levels can leave you less lubricated, and that can cause pain. Allow plenty of time for foreplay and use a lubricating jelly or cream (available without a prescription at most pharmacies) until your normal secretions resume. Go slowly and try different positions: Woman-on-top and spoon (side-by-side) positions will allow you to control the amount of vaginal penetration. If it hurts too much, stop and try again another time.

Make love during your baby’s naptime, when both of you are less likely to be too exhausted or distracted to enjoy it. And don’t suffer in silence. Tell your partner what feels good and what hurts. As with everything else in life, honesty fosters intimacy.

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In most cases, it is safe to resume having sex pregnancy miscarriage when the miscarriage bleeding has stopped (this usually happens within two weeks).

The reason for the wait is that your cervix usually dilates as a part of the physical process of miscarriage, and this can mean increased susceptibility to infection in the uterus. By the time the bleeding stops, the cervix should be closed again.

In addition to avoiding sexual intercourse immediately after a miscarriage, doctors generally advise avoiding tampons and douche (in short, don’t insert anything into the vagina) for at least one to two weeks for the same reason.

Be aware, however, that unless you want to get pregnant again right away, you should use some form of contraception when resuming sexual intercourse. It is possible to get pregnant again as soon as two weeks after a miscarriage, so be sure to take precautions if you have been advised to wait before getting pregnant again or if you aren’t feeling emotionally ready yet.

Source: A.C.O.G., “Early Pregnancy Loss: Miscarriage and Molar Pregnancy.” ACOG Education Pamphlet AP090 May 2002.

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Robin Elise Weiss is a childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, doula trainer, and lactation counselor. Since 1989, Robin has attended hundreds of births and taught couples about pregnancy and birth.

She has written a number of articles relating to sex after pregnancy including this clip from one of her articles on About.com.

“If you’ve recently given birth by cesarean section, also known as a c-section, you might have questions about how and when to resume your sex life. You may assume that since you did not have a vaginal birth that you can have sex right away, this is not true.

After having a cesarean you will still need to wait about six weeks, until you’ve seen your midwife or doctor postpartum. They want to ensure that your incision is healing well and that your postpartum bleeding has stopped.

This bleeding comes from inside the uterus, at the site where the placenta was located. This bleeding happens to all mothers, regardless of how they gave birth.

When you are given the go ahead for sex, you need to consider some other factors. For example, if your incision is still tender, you may wish to use a position where you have the woman on top or a side or rear entry position to avoid direct contact with your incision. You may also want to check into vaginal lubricants to assist you in making this experience as pleasant as possible. Most moms have some issues in the lubrication department, particularly if they are breastfeeding.

Remember that time and patience are great cures for sexual ailments post-cesarean and post-baby.”

You can read this article and other articles relating to sex after pregnancy here

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I recently came across an article about resuming having sex after pregnancy. The article pointed out that labour is a physically exhausting and highly emotional process and also points out that it’s only natural that your body will need some time to recover!

So taking this into consideration and the fact that your hormone levels significantly change after child birth it is only fair to say that sex after pregnancy is the last thing on your mind.

It descibes some basic points on why you may not feel like having sex:

• Tiredness and feelings of general discomfort
• Pain due to an episiotomy - this can sometimes take months to subside
• Feeling unattractive because of a flabby stomach - exercise will help
• Anxiety about your new baby and the new world of motherhood
• Distractons, such as a crying or unsettled baby
• Fear of getting pregnant - conception can still occur while you’re breastfeeding

Sometimes sex can start straight away for some people but unfortunatly we are not all alike so if your having trouble with sex after pregnancy then the best thing to do is seek advice from your doctor or obstetrician.

Resuming sex has its advantages. The hormones released during sex cause contractions that will help the uterus to return to it’s normal state, and of course, returning to a physical relationship can be good to renew the physical closeness between you and your partner.

Tips for sex after pregnancy:

• Talk to each other about how you feel
• Be gentle with each other and build up to things gradually
• Avoid penetration and concentrate on caressing and oral sex the first few times
• Spend more time on kissing, caressing and foreplay to aid arousal
• Until your hormone levels are back to normal your vagina won’t lubricate itself very well, so try using a water-soluble lubricant
• If you have had an episiotomy, let your partner know if you experience pain
• You may also find a warm bath and lubricant will help
• Try different positions if you feel discomfort. Need advice? Do you have questions about sex during pregnancy?

This article is very informative and is a good read if your looking for information on sex after pregnancy.

You can view the full article written by Nigeria Films at http://www.modernghana.com/movie/4774/3/resuming-sex-after-pregnancy.html

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After giving birth should woman wait before having sex after pregnancy?

Because of the pregnancy most women are sore and tired so most of them are happy to wait before having sex after pregnancy.

In general, a woman should wait until her bleeding has stopped before having sex. Usually this is somewhere around four to six weeks after delivery. Cessation of bleeding usually means the cervix has closed and the chance of introducing infection during sex is less. If a woman has had an episiotomy, those stitches need to heal before sex; this only takes a few weeks.

Most of the time, she may be sore the first time or so. She may be drier than usual, requiring the use of lubricants (this is especially true for a breastfeeding mom). Also, before having sex, she and her partner should make contraceptive plans — a woman may ovulate before she even has her first period after having the baby!

Also be aware that some women take longer and it could take up to 10 weeks or so before you have sex after pregnancy but the best advice I can give is go and see your local doctor and they will give you the all clear.

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Technorati Tags: Sex After Pregnancy