Some women are still hesitant to have sex after giving birth. Apart from being afraid that the wounds from childbirth will reopen, the fatigue you feel when caring for a newborn also often affects sexual arousal. So, how to get around this?
Changes in body shape and unstable emotions also affect a woman's sexual arousal after childbirth. This can make women reluctant and worried about having sex, so that it has an impact on the harmony between you and your partner.
Various Questions About Intimate Relations After Childbirth
After undergoing the process of giving birth, various questions will arise in your head about intercourse after giving birth, such as when it is okay to have sex again or what impact childbirth has on sexual arousal.
The following are some frequently asked questions about intercourse after childbirth and their answers:
When can my husband and I have sex again?
Doctors will generally advise you to delay sex for at least 1–1.5 months after giving birth. This is because the body generally takes time to completely recover.
In addition, make sure the postpartum blood has stopped flowing and the stitches have healed before starting to have sex again.
However, if there are stitches from an episiotomy or a C-section, it will take longer to heal and you will have to wait longer to have sex again.
This is important to note because having sex too soon after giving birth can lead to complications, such as uterine bleeding and infection.
Will sex after childbirth feel any different?
Hormonal changes after giving birth can cause the vagina to become drier, so women are prone to experiencing pain during sex. This condition will be more pronounced, especially if there are stitches in the perineum or the part between the anus and the vagina.
In addition, the vagina as the baby's birth canal, can become looser after delivery. Decreased vaginal muscle mass can also lead to reduced pleasure during sexual intercourse.
What if I'm not interested in having sex?
Intimate relationships should be based on a sense of comfort and a desire for mutual happiness and mutual satisfaction. Therefore, it's okay if you feel you are not yet interested in having sex.
The most important thing is how you communicate your conditions and feelings to your partner. In addition to having sex, intimacy can be built by hugging, massaging, or just talking more often than usual.
Will my vagina return to normal?
Vaginal muscles that are loose after giving birth will generally close again a few days after the baby is born. However, the condition is not necessarily the same as before giving birth.
This depends on several things, such as childbirth history, genetic factors, and regular exercise habits, especially Kegel exercises.
Tips for having sex after childbirth
There are several tips that you and your partner can do if you want to have sex after giving birth, including:
1. Restart intimacy
Find the right time when the baby is sleeping and neither of you are tired. Do it slowly and start by hugging, massaging, and kissing each other.
You can also do other ways besides penile penetration, such as oral sex or hand stimulation (fingering).
2. Coping with pain
Communicate with your partner about the body part that hurts and what position makes you comfortable.
If you gave birth by caesarean section, have sex with the position spooning can be the right choice so as not to cause pressure on the incision wound.
3. Communicating with your partner
When you and your partner decide to have sex again after giving birth, both of you may feel nervous. Talk to your partner about what you feel, want, need, and worry about.
By sharing honesty and complaining, you can understand each other better and feel more comfortable.
4. Boost foreplay and use lubricating gel
Do foreplay before penetrating so that your vagina produces a natural lubricant. However, if your vagina feels drier and bothers you a lot, you can try using a water-based lubricating gel.
Avoid oil-based lubricants because they can irritate the sensitive tissues of the vagina.
5. Doing Kegel exercises
After childbirth, there are various changes in body shape, such as weight gain and loose vaginal muscles. Kegel exercises can be done to tighten loose vaginal muscles. For maximum results, at least do this exercise 3 times a day on a regular basis.
If you still feel disinterested in having sex a few months after giving birth, it's accompanied by changes mood extremes, and loss of appetite, be aware that these symptoms can be a sign of postpartum depression.
This condition requires further treatment so as not to interfere with your relationship with your partner and your little one.
If you are still in doubt or have other questions about having sex after giving birth, you can consult a doctor. The doctor can provide advice or treatment according to your needs and conditions.