Sex after childbirth
How long should you wait to have sex after having a baby?
Sexual contact is usually not advisable in the first weeks after the delivery. However, everything depends on the progress of your recovery and whether both partners feel ready for sex.
Decreased sexual appetite
Some women have a decreased appetite for sex after giving birth. This may be due to several factors:
- fear of pain at the episiotomy
- memory of the pain of labour
- a drier vagina, especially when breastfeeding
- time-intensive care for newborns
- feeling exhausted
- feeling less physically attractive
- fear of a new pregnancy
Contraception
Your fertility will recover during the first weeks after childbirth. This means that it is possible to get pregnant again as early as this post-partum period.
If you are breastfeeding, your menstrual cycle will generally resume later. Breastfeeding, however, does not prevent you from becoming pregnant again.
It is a good idea to discuss changes to your contraception method during your discharge interview.
Request help
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing relational issues before or after childbirth. Your doctor can help identify any problems, resolve them and, if necessary, refer you for further appropriate treatment.