Having a baby is such a big moment in your life. Getting pregnant whether it was a challenge or not, carrying a baby, giving birth, whaterever the challenges you did or did not face is a huge part of your life, that will undoubtedly change you on many levels. However you have probably not given too much thought to what your relatioship and in particular your sex life will be life postpartum.
Well the short answer is that it will be very different for so many phyisical and phsycholiogical reasons. Ask women around you, some may have awful stories wrapped in brutal truth to tell you about postpartum sex. While others may make it sound like a breeze. The experiences differ from women to women. But several researches has indicated that the first postpartum sex can be a painful and uncomfortable experience. Hence, it's always advisable to go slow. There are several ways to indulge in sexual activities without causing much discomfort. For instance, you could increase foreplay, try intimate activities to warm up the physical contact, mutual masturbation, less penetrative sex. Most women go through this transitional phase, and they'll tell you how counselling, use of lubricants and non-penetrative sex have saved their relationship.
Kegel exercises, for those of you who are new to the term, involves around contracting and releasing the vagina. It not only helps strengthen your muscles around your pelvis region but also tones your vagina to make sex after giving birth a pleasurable experience. When you start with the exercise, make sure your bladder is empty. Then, tighten your pelvic floor muscles for few seconds before releasing it. Repeat this regularly for a few times and you'll notice the positive changes.
There's no doubt that pregnancy can lead to several physical and mental changes to your body. Through the healing period of six weeks, your uterus will shrink, and hormone levels would start getting back to normal. At first, you may cringe with pain and discomfort. This is mostly caused because of vaginal tears and abrasions, also the soreness left behind. Postpartum OCD, exhaustion and physical pains are all to be expected. Your body will take time to adjust and heal, it's normal. With a supportive partner, everything becomes a little easier to deal with. This is why communication becomes imperative. Navigating through this phase can be tiring and messy for both, but with open communication and a supportive partner, you'll be soon on your way to stress-free postpartum intimacy. If the pain still persists, always consult your doctor for advice. Although rare, it could be connected with other health conditions that may not even be related to pregnancy.
