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Painful Sex after Childbirth - Reasons and Remedies
The baby is out, and a new chapter in your life has begun where you are responsible for the care of your child. Everyone is happy and wants to take selfies with the baby while you and your partner feel proud that you are parents. Things go great for a while, but then you notice that your sex drive isn’t how it used to be. Your partner drops in some subtle hints indicating that he is interested in making love to you. You haven’t had sex yet, but something inside you is screaming out and saying that this isn’t going to go well. Does sex hurt after the baby is born? Are you full of anxiety and not sure whether it'll hurt or not?These are questions that are probably running through your mind, and we’re here to tell you that this is normal!
Sex is one of those topics that is steered clear off in most situations. This may be one reason why most people are caught off guard about sex after the baby is in the picture. While some women are aware of this, men are clueless and begin to misinterpret things. This article will help explain why you feel pain, and what you and your partner can do to remedy the situation.
Is Sex after Childbirth Painful?
Painful sex, which is medically known as dyspareunia is something that is very common after childbirth. Your body has endured punishment and expecting things to be business as usual, where you pop back up after delivery just isn’t happening. A study has shown that 9 out of every 10 women have experienced painful sex after delivery.
How Long should you Wait to have Sex after Delivery?
If you were to ask an obstetrician this question, she would say roughly 4-6 weeks would be an acceptable amount of time. The body is still healing and having sex during this time can lead to issues such as rupturing of any stitches, infections and excruciating pain to name just a few. However, if after 6 weeks you still experience pain then worry not as this too is normal. A study conducted in Australia showed that only forty-one per cent of women had attempted vaginal sex by the sixth week. This number inched its way to sixty-five per cent by the eighth week and even by the twelfth week, only seventy-five per cent. Even after six months of waiting, there was six per cent of women who were hesitant to try out vaginal intercourse due to pain.
Why does Sex Hurt after Pregnancy?
Are you having painful intercourse after birth? These could some of the reasons that could help explain the pain.
1. Increase in Vaginal Size
After a vaginal birth, the vagina will be larger than before and will take some time to return back to its normal size. There may be swelling as well as bruising which would result in painful intercourse.
2. Dry Vagina
While breastfeeding, the body produces lower levels of oestrogen which may lead to issues such as a dry vagina. As a result, during penetration, you may experience pain because of too much friction on the vaginal walls.
3. Episiotomy
When you face issues during childbirth, such as the baby is too large or is in breech position, an episiotomy is performed. This is when the doctor makes an incision between the vagina and the anus, to help in delivery. This will take some time to heal and sex during this time may lead to not just pain but rupturing of the stitches.
4. Lochia
After the baby is born, you are likely to experience heavy bleeding during the initial few days, which is also known as lochia. This is part of the cleansing process as the uterus is shedding its inner lining.
5. Caesarean Birth
While it may seem puzzling that vaginal bleeding takes place after a caesarean, it does happen. While bleeding is significantly lower as most of the blood is taken out during surgery, the cervix will still need to be closed for safe sex. Painful sex after c section is a reality and is a common occurrence.
6. Vaginismus
After childbirth, in addition to vaginal dryness and scarring, women sometimes experience involuntary muscular spasms. These are painful and can lead to poor sexual stimulation.
Tips to Make Intercourse Less Painful after having a Baby
Kegel Exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor which can lead to faster recovery after childbirth. These can be done by simply tightening the pelvic floor muscles for about ten seconds. Relax and then repeat the process again. For best results, perform these kegel exercises while you are pregnant.
If vaginal dryness is the cause of pain, you could try using lubrication to reduce friction while performing sex.
If the pain is too intense, rest it out for a couple of days as delivering a baby takes a toll on the body. Once you feel that your body has healed, you can resume having intercourse.
You and your partner can indulge in gentle love-making where you can experiment and find an area where there is no pain and keep the focus there. The woman on top is one position where you can control the penetration, so the pain regions can be avoided.
If the pain refuses to go down, then know that there are different way to get sexually aroused apart from penetration. Try asking your partner to go down on you (oral sex) or you could even try mutual masturbation.
The bitter truth here is that sexual intercourse may not be something that can be immediately done right after delivery. A study in 2000 showed that most women don’t begin to enjoy sex until after eight months, although this is not a rule. Keeping your partner informed is important as they may feel that you aren’t giving them the attention they need. An open dialogue is needed for communication as resentment can build from both sides. Let him know that you still love him, but you need to stay away from sex until you fully heal. At the same time, let him read this blog and see the scientific studies that show that this is absolutely normal.
Also Read:
When Can You Have Sex after C-Section Delivery
How Long after A Miscarriage Should You Have Sex Read more
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What Care Should Be Taken for Low Placenta during Pregnancy
A low placenta is very common during pregnancy. It's not a problem. You will find many articles on this. I am sharing briefly about it and how to take care during this phase.All pregnancies are different. You can not compare yourself with others. A low Placenta means the placenta which develops during pregnancy in the womb comes lower to the cervix. This needs special care as there could be risk associated with it. Just be careful. So just to avoid risk, be careful. Don't sit on the ground and don't use Indian toilets for a few months until it goes up. Sometimes, you need to take bed rest as prescribed by your doctor. This can go from 10 days to 2 months, depending on the situation. Generally, it gets resolved with time. If it's low till the due date, then delivery is generally C-section.Things to remember- no lifting weights, don't sit on the ground, don't use Indian toilets. If you are consuming heat producing eatables try to limit the consumption, excess consumption of walnuts may lead to bleeding which is not good ( walnut is good for baby's brain development. Try to soak it and then have it). Don't do exercise, and maintain your weight. Nothing to worry. Just be careful. When you are on bed rest, try to sleep in a position in which your legs are the level of your upper body. You may use pillows under your legs, or sometimes people put something under the bed on your leg side such that your sleeping position is low on the upper part and legs are up. This position increases the chance that placenta goes up.I hope this article answered at least a few questions that you may have had. You can write your queries if required. I will try to answer. All the best to all the mommies-to-be :
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Vandana Sharma has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
13 hours ago
Q. I'm currently 37 weeks 4 days my baby weight is 2.4kg whether it is normal?
Vandana Sharma
Nutritionist
13 hours ago
A. Hello mam that is fine , and this varies as it depends o various factors as well too , so avoid stress, take rest and and also healthy diet as well
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
13 hours ago
Q. what could be the baby weight when we are in 37 week 4 days? what could be average weight before labour?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
13 hours ago
A. there is lot of individual variation it can be around 3 kgs ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. hlo plzz tell me gripe water de sakte hai baby ko Mera baby 15 months ka hogya hai ???
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
12 hours ago
A. nahi.
its not nessesary to feed it.
ur baby is 15 month okd, give all family food in roughly mashed form, include seasonal fruits n veggies.
t..c
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
Am 25 weeks pregnant with Twins, and cervix of 25mm. got cerclage done at 21 weeks. please suggest precautions so that I can smoothly continue ue my pregnancy and avoid premises.
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
12 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and please have coconut water on daily basis and also have more green leaves vegetables fruits and dairy products in diet and also home made food. Also go on regular check ups. Also be happy and stress free .
Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. what does this mean
"There is a funneling of internal os with effective cervical length (measures ~2.8 cm on TVS) "
in 29 weeks 5 days pregnancy?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. small cervical length ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. my baby approximately weighs only 2.4 kgs in my womb what are all the foods that can increase baby weight?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. normal traditional foods if you are having deficiency of hemoglobin can take iron supplements calcium etc. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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