Sex after birth: what to do when it doesn’t feel the same
How soon can I have sex after a baby?
Well, that depends on a couple of things.
For one, you just delivered a life into the world with your body. Pregnancy and childbirth change your body and you’ve got to give yourself time to heal before diving back into your sex life. Common problems arising from childbirth can include:
- Vaginal tears
- Vaginal dryness
- Discharge from the vagina
- Nipple soreness
- Backaches and joint pain
These issues will probably go away on their own. But doctors recommend that you wait at least four to six weeks before having sex again.
Some of these issues may go away faster than others. Other issues may take longer. You gotta wait for the “green light” from your body just to be safe.
You may experience a lower libido
And we have to consider all the emotions that come with the changes. There are hormone changes, fatigue, lack of sleep— all the little details of life will be out of whack as you adjust.
The important thing is to take it a step at a time and go at a pace that doesn’t hurt you.
Look out if you’re experiencing these symptoms:
- Alternating highs and lows
- Frequent crying, irritability, and fatigue
- Feelings of guilt
- High levels of anxiety
- An inability to care for yourself or your baby
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, then it’s time to meet with a medical professional.
What to do if it doesn’t feel right?
In “Sex After Baby: Balancing a Healthy Sex Life and Your Own Physical Space” [insert link here] I talked about some things you can do to keep your sex life going while letting yourself heal from childbirth.
But if you’re doing those things and sex still just doesn’t feel right, I want you to remember this—it’s okay that it doesn’t feel right, right now. You can do all the tips and tricks and still not feel 100%. That’s normal.
Your pace is that pace that’s best for you.
The good news is that sexual issues after childbirth aren’t long-term. They won’t affect you in the long run, so you should be able to get back to that sexy you.
If you feel that you need a safe space to talk about these complex feelings, then I got y’all.
I’d love to chat and help out where I can.
Gabriela 🙂