Having sex after pregnancy is a problem many women face. Due to the lingering pain from delivery, postpartum depression, raging hormones, weird body changes and pure exhaustion from having a newborn, getting a woman's sex life back after being pregnant is not easy.
According to a study, 94 percent of respondents claimed to be satisfied with their after pregnancy sex lives. In fact, more than half of the respondents said that having a baby improved their sex lives with a little time and effort.
A mom's body needs to recover from the pain and exhaustion from delivering a baby, according to Parents. Typically, doctors recommend getting back in the sack after six weeks or longer depending on the situation.
Similarly, taking things slow and building up to the event can make sex after pregnancy a lot better. "Even if you only have the energy to make out with your partner, do that," Vanessa Marin said, a sex therapist from California.
Starting slow may mean cuddling naked, taking a shower together or some oral stimulation. These simple acts that new moms can do with their partners can help get them in the mood for the real deal.
In many cases, new moms feel body-conscious due to stretch marks, scars and even bigger feet. It takes nearly two months for a woman's uterus to go back to its pre-pregnancy size so many women still look pregnant even after giving birth.
Marveling at what your body has accomplished can be a huge ego boost considering women bring little humans into the world. Babies are born from of women's blood, sweat and tears and there is no shame in that.
Many moms are reluctant to have sex because of vaginal dryness. "Breastfeeding can reduce estrogen, thus leading to vaginal dryness," said Rachel Needle Psy.D, a licensed psychologist and executive director at the Whole Health Psychological Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The solution is to use lots of lubricants to help with intercourse. Water-based lube cannot only help with vaginal dryness but it can also help when intercourse is painful due to post-pregnancy hormonal changes.
After pushing a baby out of a vagina, it is normal for vaginal muscles to be temporarily stretched out, according to What To Expect. Pelvic floor exercises such as kegel exercises can help with sex after pregnancy by getting a woman's vagina back in shape faster.
