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7 ways to get your sex life back after babies – a detailed expert’s guide

tired-parents-on-sofa-with-baby-sex-after-childbirth-by-healthista.

Feel like you’ll never have sex again after having kids? Sex expert Samantha Evans has a complete guide to getting back into bed again after babies – and loving it

The baby making part was fun and you may even have had more sex and better sex than you ever had before as your hormones played havoc with your body, turning you into a sex kitten. But few couples consider what their sex life will be like once their newest family member has arrived.

Some women experience better sex after having children, others find their sex life is lacking due to exhaustion, physical changes to their body and hormonal changes

Many women notice that their sexual health changes after childbirth. Some are temporary, but other symptoms can leave lasting long term effects. As the female body goes through many changes during pregnancy, the recovery to pre-pregnancy sexual health after childbirth can vary between each women.

Some women experience better sex after having children, others find their sex life is lacking due to exhaustion, physical changes to their body and hormonal changes.

However, by changing the way in which you have sex to encompass these changes, most couples can continue to enjoy satisfying sex.

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With time, you will be able to get back in to the swing of things

With time, patience, experimentation and using your imagination, you will soon be enjoying nights of passion (or whatever time of day you have sex) and probably making more babies too.

After giving birth, you’d think that no woman would want to have another baby – but the memory of the labour soon fades if it has been an uncomplicated delivery.

The general time frame that you wait before attempting to have sex recommended by midwives and doctors is 6 weeks, to ensure that everything has healed properly and to avoid putting yourself at risk of infection.

Some couples try earlier than six weeks, others wait for a longer period of time. It is understandable that some couples may be apprehensive about having sex after childbirth, but waiting too long can make getting back to having a normal sex life even harder.

How the type of delivery will affect you

If you were fortunate enough to have a vaginal delivery without tearing or requiring an episiotomy (surgical cut to perineum to allow baby’s head to be born), you may feel everything is getting back to normal and want to have sex.

Recovery can take longer if:

  • you had a tear or have an episiotomy to allow any stitches to heal naturally
  • an assisted birth using forceps or ventouse to allow bruising and swelling to subside
  • breech birth
  • long birth resulting in excessive bruising and perineal pain

Many women who have had a caesarean delivery believe that they can have sex earlier but should be considered to be in a similar position to women who have delivered vaginally. Even though their vagina has not gone through the birthing process, they still bleed post delivery following the delivery of the placenta.

Women who have a caesarian section need to consider their caesarean scar

Women who have a caesarian section need to consider their caesarean scar. Pressure on the wound can cause pain and some loss of sensation around the wound can occur, making it sensitive to touch. They should avoid sexual positions that exert pressure on their abdomens and over the wound site.

Caesarean sections can actually make vaginal intercourse more painful. There is a greater risk of surgical scarring around your uterus, and you are much more vulnerable to infection.

During and following a vaginal delivery, certain hormones that have built up throughout the pregnancy are released. Having a caesarian section means that these hormones are not released which can cause anorgasmia, a condition whereby you are unable to orgasm, regardless of what has happened in your vagina, which can impact upon your sexual function.

Changes to your body to expect

Incontinence is often a problem that can occur after childbirth but though training your pelvic floor muscles you can alleviate this problem

Changes to your body such as a larger vagina, lack of vaginal tone, reduced vaginal lubrication and decreased sensation especially around the clitoris, perineal pain or pain during sex can occur following childbirth. Incontinence is often a problem that can occur after childbirth but though training your pelvic floor muscles you can alleviate this problem.

Those pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises should be done by every woman on a daily basis, not just after having a baby. Ensuring that your pelvic floor muscles are toned will help prevent urinary incontinence caused by the stretching of the pelvic floor during labour as well as making your orgasms feel more intense.

woman doing pelvic exercises on her bed, sex after childbirth, by healthista.j
Pelvic floor exercises should be done by every woman on a daily basis

Pelvic floor exercises can be done anywhere, standing up, lying or sitting down. If you are unsure how to do pelvic floor exercises, seek advice from a women’s health physiotherapist. The MUMMY MOT training course for physiotherapists trains physios to help new mothers get back to normal pelvic health after childbirth, including posture, pelvic floor, pelvic pain and sexual advice.

Products like Pericoach, a pelvic floor exerciser connected to an app on you phone can help you plot your progress in conjunction with advice from a clinican, such as a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist. You can find a registered clinician at Pericoach who can advise you about this product.

How to do pelvic floor exercises

Squeeze and draw in your anus at the same time and close and draw your vagina upwards too.

Do it quickly, tightening and releasing immediately. Then repeat slowly, holding as long as you feel comfortable but no longer than 10 seconds. Repeat each exercise 10 times, 4-6 times a day.

To make your life easier you could also use Lelo Luna Beads – pelvic floor exercisers containing weighted balls which move around as you go about your day and train the muscles to contract and relax.

When time is short, and it will be after having a baby, try the Lelo Luna Smart Bead which offers a daily 5 minute plevic floor exerciser routine. Just pop the Smart Bead in and start contracting your PC muscles in repsonse to the vibration programme.

If you want both a vibrator and a pelvic floor exerciser, the MyStim range of vibrators are just for you. Combining vibratory power and electrical stimulation, these sex toys offer both sexual pleasure and pelvic floor exercises in one product.

If you are unsure if you are exercising your pelvic floor correctly, please contact a women’s health physiotherapist.

Don’t beat yourself up about vaginal dryness

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Vaginal dryness can cause small tears and cuts in the vagina

During pregnancy and after childbirth, the vagina can feel drier and less lubricated due to the hormonal changes within the body which can make make sex feel painful or uncomfortable. Vaginal dryness can cause small tears and cuts within the vagina, increasing your risk to infection.

Vaginal dryness can cause small tears and cuts within the vagina, increasing your risk to infection.

Often considered as being a failure if you need lubricant, vaginal lubrication is important for sex to feel pleasurable and comfortable whatever age or sex you are. We sell YES organic lubricant which contains only plant extracts nourishes and moisturises the delicate tissues of the vagina, making them more elastic and lubricated, in addition to Pjur and UberLube.

Avoid using lubricants containing chemicals which may cause an allergic reaction, such as itching or burning. If using latex condoms, only use water based lubricants as oil based products can degrade the latex, making them less effective.

Silicone lubricants cannot be used with silicone sex toys as it will degrade the silicone of the sex toy.

Soreness and stitches

If you required stitches to repair a tear or episiotomy after childbirth, you may experience pain in your perineum. The stitches will heal over time, but need to be kept clean to prevent infection.

Take over the counter pain relief to ease any discomfort. Formation of scar tissue develops as the tissues heal which can feel uncomfortable or painful during sex. If this happens, speak to your GP. Depending on the extent of scarring, you may require revision of the scar tissue after childbirth, especially if it is affecting your sex life.

woman holding vagina in pain, sex after childbirth, by healthista.
Stitches will heal overtime, but need to be kept clean to prevent infection

It is recommended by some gynaecologists that using a slim vibrato to massage the scar tissue can help to stretch any tight skin and make the tissues more flexible. Using a vibrator such as PicoBong Zizo, LELO Liv v2, OhMiBod Discover or OhMiBod Dream with lubricant daily can help the scar tissues heal more quickly, avoiding the need for further surgical intervention.

Following the repair of an episiotomy or vaginal tears some women experience decreased sexual sensation in the scar tissues where the nerve endings have been cut and the use of a vibrator can increase sensation to the perineum by stimulating the nerves and promoting good blood flow to the tissues.

Don’t ignore pain during sex

Sex should never feel painful, whether you have given birth or not. Most women abstain from having sex for 6 weeks as this is the general advice given by healthcare professional but there is no right time to commence having sex again.

Sex should never feel painful, whether you have given birth or not.

An Australian study using information from The Maternal Health Study (2013) found that 41% of women attempted vaginal sex by 6 weeks post-partum, 65% by week 8 and 78% by 12 weeks, with 94% resuming sex by 6 months. The study found that 53% resumed sexual activity not involving penetrative sex, such as foreplay and manual masturbation by 6 weeks.

The study found that women who either underwent a caesarean delivery or an assisted birth using forceps of ventouse, and those who had an episiotomy or sutured tear were less likely to have resumed sex after 6 weeks.

Of those women who did resume sex after 6 weeks, 43% had had a caesarean section, 32% had had a forceps assisted birth, 32% had had an episiotomy and 35% had required sutures for a vaginal tear, compared to 60% of women who had had a spontaneous vaginal birth with intact perineum.

In general, only 10% of all women who give birth for the first time will achieve a vaginal birth with an intact perineum. However this does not prevent them from enjoying good sex.

How to ease your way back into bed again

1. Talk to your partner

It is generally presumed that as being a new mother, any issues about resuming sexual intercourse after giving birth will revolve around the way in which you feel, but you need to be aware that your partner may have their own feelings of anxiety about sex too.

 couple talking, sex after childbirth, by healthista.j

For many men, the thought of causing you physical pain can be off putting and may affect their ability to want to have sex with you. They also worry that they won’t fit as well as they did before, due to the changing shape of your vagina. The effect of watching their partner in labour can impact upon some men who may have performance problems when they have sex. Those couples who have a traumatic birth may find this puts strain upon their relationship but seeking counselling can help.

Fear of getting pregnant again can prevent sex from happening but by ensuring that you use reliable contraception and not keep your fingers crossed, you should be fine. Contrary to belief, breast feeding does not offer contraceptive protection!

By sharing your concerns with each other allows you to express exactly how you feel and enables you disclose your fears and worries. Exploring how and what you both want from your physical relationship will make your sex life more pleasurable.

2. Take your time

Sex isn’t just sexual intercourse, it involves any form of pleasurable sexual activity, therefore don’t feel you have to have full penetrative sex the first time you attempt to have sex.

Just spending time getting comfortable with the idea by cuddling and touching each other will allow you both time to get used to the way your new body feels to your partner’s touch and, hopefully will make you feel more relaxed.

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Just cuddling and touching can allow you both to get used to your new body

If you feel self-conscious about your altered body shape – such as weight gain, stretch marks, caesarean scars and engorged breasts, try getting naked under the bed covers to build up your confidence again.

Most men enjoy the fact their partner has bigger breasts, even if only temporary, and recognise that the changes to your body are due to you both becoming parents.

Cuddling and touching offers the benefit of feeling nurtured and supported and allows you to connect with your partner.

Cuddling and touching offers the benefit of feeling nurtured and supported and allows you to connect with your partner.

3. Don’t rush

You do not have to wait for the 6 week check up before you resume sexual activity if you feel ready and your vagina feels comfortable. However, if you think sex will be painful before it has even happened, then it probably will be, as you tense your vagina. Feeling like this will not make having sex a pleasurable experience so it is a good idea to allow time to ensure everything is healed properly.

4. Experiment with sex

Becoming new parents is exhausting and all you want to do is sleep. So avoid trying to have sex when you go to bed as you’ll probably just fall asleep. By the time the evening arrives, you often feel tired, definitely not in the mood for sex and just want to collapse into bed.

Try having sex during the day when your baby is sleeping and you have more energy if you can. Babies do tend to sleep a lot but not always during the night!

Try having sex during the day when your baby is sleeping and you have more energy i

If you cannot have sex during the day due to having other children, try going to bed when your children go to bed – but not to sleep!

5. Be imaginative

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Experimenting can help you curb pain and discomfort

After giving birth, sex will probably feel very different to how it felt previously.

When attempting to have sex the first time, it may feel painful or uncomfortable. If this happens, try experimenting with a clitoral vibrator or manual masturbation to help you become relaxed about having penetrative sex. This will enable you to reach orgasm and boost your libido, often decreased after childbirth due to hormonal changes and exhaustion.

Allowing your partner to use a sex toy on you or letting them watch, even if you are unable to have penetrative sex, will enable you both to still enjoy great sexual pleasure.

Consider treating your partner to their own sex toy, such as a male masturbator so they can enjoy the fun too, even if you are unable to have full penetrative sex. Once you are back into the swing of having sex you can incorporate using sex toys into your sexual relationship to spice things up!

If you want to have penetrative sex but find it uncomfortable, try using a slim vibrator or dildo to help you relax your vaginal muscles. Anticipating that sex will be painful, your vaginal muscles will tighten, making penetration difficult or impossible.

A vibrator can help both you and the muscles of your vagina to relax and stimulate vaginal lubrication too. It can also help increase sensation in the genital area and perineum, often reduced after childbirth due to perineal tearing or episiotomy scars.

Always choose well-made sex toys constructed from skin safe materials such as silicone, glass and metal from reputable manufacturers. Some sex toys are made from rubber, latex and jelly which are porous, absorb bacteria, making them difficult to clean and may also trigger an allergic reaction in some people.

6. Lubricate, lubricate, lubricate

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Using lubrication is vital for both men and women, before and after childbirth

Some women and men consider using a sexual lubricant as a sign that something is wrong, yet this view could not be further from the truth.

Using a sexual lubricant is important during sex at any time for both sexes, not just for women and not just after childbirth.

Decreased oestrogen levels during pregnancy continue to drop especially if you breastfeed, affecting vaginal lubrication. Incorporating the use of a good vaginal lubricant such as YES organic lubricant will make sex feel more comfortable, pleasurable and last longer.

Decreased oestrogen levels during pregnancy continue to drop especially if you breastfeed, affecting vaginal lubrication

Oil based products should not be used with condoms as they can degrade the latex, making them less effective, so always use a water based product if you are using condoms.

Lubricants are an excellent addition during foreplay on the penis, clitoris and vagina, especially if you are unable to have penetrative sex. Great when used with a sex toy, especially a silicone toy, lubricants will make it feel incredibly smooth against the delicate tissues of the genital area.

Choose lubricants which contain only natural substances as some lubricants contain chemicals which may be harmful to health or may cause allergic reactions, such as itching and swelling.

7. Make sure you use contraception

Having a birth control plan in place before you have your baby is important if you do not want any surprises in nine months’ time.

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Use protection if you’re not looking to have another baby

Breastfeeding does not offers contraceptive protection.

Even though you may not have had your first period since giving birth, you can still get pregnant, so ensure you or your partner stocks up on condoms or see your GP about taking the contraceptive pill or other forms of contraception.

Be honest with your partner about when you are feeling ready to have sex again. Most partners will be patient but don’t put it off for too long, as the longer you wait, the harder it may be to resume normal sexual activity.

Some women experience feelings of depression following childbirth which can affect their sex life. NHS data suggests up to 15% of women suffer antenatal depression but this figure could be higher. If you think this may be a problem, seek medical advice.

If the lack of sex becomes an issue between you, make time to talk about the way you feel and why. Don’t let it become a problem within your relationship.

If you have tried having sex and it is still painful or uncomfortable, seek advice from your GP. You may require surgery to revise the scar tissue left after having vaginal tearing or your episiotomy sutured.

If the issue is anxiety about having sex, counselling may be offered to enable you to overcome this problem and enjoy pleasurable sexual intercourse again.

Whatever you do, don’t let sex become an issue after childbirth – there are many ways in which you can ensure that it continues to be pleasurable and fun!

Whatever you do, don’t let sex become an issue after childbirth – there are many ways in which you can ensure that it continues to be pleasurable and fun

 

At Jo Divine we believe that sexual health and sexual pleasure go hand in hand and have created a health brochure with suitable products to help people with sexual issues. Working with medical professionals, we hope to encourage patients and HCPs alike in talking more freely about sexual problems. A health issue doesn’t mean your sex life will have to stop!

Jo Divine are working with Hypnobambinos to help new parents enjoy sexual intimacy and pleasure after childbirth, especially those who have experienced tears and traumatic births. We offer a Sex Life Recovery Toolkit containing a Picobong Zizo, YES organic lubricants and our health brochure, in addition to information about enjoying good sexual intimacy and pleasure.

 

 

Sam Evans, reader question orgasm, by Healthista.com

Samantha Evans is co-founder and a features writer of Jo Divine, an online sex toy company. Having an extensive knowledge about sex toys, Samantha is a sexpert and enjoys creating informative articles about sexual health and pleasure. Sam is a former nurse and also writes regular features for several leading websites including So Feminine, The Independent online,Female First and Net Doctor. Samantha is always looking at ways in which both genders can increase their sexual pleasure as well as benefiting their sexual health and well being. Whatever your age, sex, medical condition or disability, she believes that it is always possible to find ways in which to continue enjoying sex, it just requires being more imaginative and adventurous.

Follow Samantha on twitter@SamTalksSex

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