- Can too rapid resumption of intimate life adversely affect the health of the mother?
- There is an opinion that if there were injuries during childbirth, then it is necessary to return to sexual life no earlier than six months later.
- It is believed that excessively intense sex life after childbirth can adversely affect lactation.
- Do I need to protect myself and what is better to choose? After all, during breastfeeding you can not take oral contraceptives.
- If a woman had a caesarean section, how soon can you return to intimate relationships after childbirth?
First of all, you need to understand that one way or another, all your interests and plans in the first months of a child’s life will be centered around him. And here, the young dad, first of all, needs to get involved as much as possible in the cares associated with the child in order to give mom the opportunity to relax a little and recuperate. After all, there are many happy moments ahead, so it is very important that the relationship in a couple be harmonious.
The question – when is it possible to return to sexual life after childbirth – in each individual case, a woman should decide only after consulting with her doctor. It depends on many factors – the method of delivery, how traumatic the birth was, and others. However, the main recommendation in most cases is to start sexual activity no earlier than 4-6 weeks after birth, provided that the birth took place through the natural birth canal.
Consider a few popular myths and doubts that often arise among young mothers who decide this issue for themselves.
Can too rapid resumption of intimate life adversely affect the health of the mother?
If the birth went without complications and there were no perineal ruptures, then it is recommended to start having sex after 1.5 months. On average, this time is enough for a woman to fully restore the body. Also, do not forget about lochia – the constant “companions” of the postpartum period. Lochia is bloody discharge from a woman’s genital tract that lasts up to 6 weeks on average. At this time, the cervix is somewhat open, as during menstruation, and there is a risk of infection. But if there is absolute trust between partners and both are healthy, then it is quite possible to start an intimate relationship earlier, because each case is unique and individual. In any case, it is important for a young father to show maximum patience and care during this period in order to help a woman cope with inevitable fatigue – this will ultimately “work” in a plus relationship and a quick return to a harmonious sex life.
There is an opinion that if there were injuries during childbirth, then it is necessary to return to sexual life no earlier than six months later.
If your childbirth was traumatic and there were tears or cuts, in medical terminology also called an episiotomy, of soft tissues, then it is recommended to start having sex 2-3 months after visiting a gynecologist. During the appointment, the gynecologist will examine you on the chair, make sure that the tissues are completely healed and there is no inflammation. However, even if everything looks good on the outside, you may experience discomfort and feel the stitches – this can be a serious obstacle to the resumption of sexual activity. If this happens, do not delay with a second visit to the doctor. In this case, intimate plastic surgery will help to solve such problems.
It is believed that excessively intense sex life after childbirth can adversely affect lactation.
From the second half of pregnancy, colostrum appears in the woman’s breast. From the same time, there is a readiness to breastfeed, but since the pregnancy is still ongoing, the body produces a large amount of progesterone (pregnancy hormone). It, in turn, prevents the production of milk. 10-12 hours after birth, milk appears instead of colostrum.
The production of breast milk occurs under the influence of the hormone prolactin. Its level increases after each feeding, thereby stimulating the appearance of a new portion for subsequent feeding. Thus, the longer the milk is in the mammary gland, the slower the formation of new milk. This mechanism protects the mammary glands of the mother from overfilling. This is the only factor that affects the production of breast milk. Stressful situations in the life of a young mother during this period can also negatively affect milk production, therefore, at this time, just as during pregnancy, a positive emotional background in the family is important.
That is, as we see, sexual life and its intensity is in no way connected with the amount of milk. The only thing that determines its amount is your genetics and how much your child needs.
Do I need to protect myself and what is better to choose? After all, during breastfeeding you can not take oral contraceptives.
The issue of protection from unwanted pregnancy is no less relevant for young mothers. In the first months after the birth of a child, the life of a young family changes a lot and is often similar to Groundhog Day. In such a difficult situation, a new pregnancy will be a joyful event, but it will be difficult and add a lot of worries to an already tired mother.
There are several methods of contraception after childbirth. The first and not always, alas, effective way is lactational amenorrhea. This method is based on the absence of ovulation, subject to strictly regular breastfeeding. While your baby is breastfeeding, you do not use complementary foods, feed every 3 hours during the day and no more than 6 hours pass between night feedings, if there has not yet been the first menstruation, then the chance of getting pregnant is 2%.
However, this method can be used strictly in the first 6 months after childbirth. It should be noted that this method is not 100% reliable, and a young mother has a high risk of becoming pregnant in the first year after the birth of her first baby.
The second is hormonal contraception. Many, for sure, are familiar with such a “strange” name as “mini-drank”. This is a variant of oral contraception, however, unlike combined oral contraceptives, the “mini-pill” contains only progestin (a synthetic analogue of progesterone). The mechanism of action is based on a change in the cervical mucus and uterine mucosa, which prevents the penetration of spermatozoa into the cavity, and if they enter, the implantation of a fertilized egg. If you have introduced complementary foods into the baby’s diet or the time interval between feedings has increased, or more than 6 months have passed after childbirth, then you can safely expect ovulation and the first menstruation that follows. At this point, it is advisable to start taking the mini-pill. New mothers can use mini pills during the entire period of breastfeeding. After its completion, it is recommended to switch to combined oral contraceptives, as they have a higher contraceptive effect.
The third contraceptive that does not lose “relevance” to this day is a condom.
If a woman had a caesarean section, how soon can you return to intimate relationships after childbirth?
The resumption of intimate relationships after delivery by caesarean section is recommended to start no earlier than 6-8 weeks later. This amount of time, on average, is necessary for a woman’s body to recover. First you need to wait until the lochia runs out, visit your gynecologist, do an ultrasound to check the condition of the sutures on the uterus. After all these actions, if nothing bothers you, you feel good, and the doctor did not find any problems, then you can start having sex. For the first time, you may feel some discomfort, but this is natural, you should not be scared and worried. Ask your husband to be even more gentle and attentive to you, avoid positions with deep penetration and trust your feelings.
Photo: Vostock Photo
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