Sex After Pregnancy

Most women must wait a minimum of six weeks to start having sex again after the baby is born. Depending on your individual situation, your healthcare provider may recommend that you wait a little longer. After pregnancy, sex may involve new issues for you and your partner as you resume your sex life (such as leaking breasts or lack of time for intimacy). If you have any concerns, don't be afraid to communicate and experiment, just as you did during pregnancy, to see what works for you and your partner.

Having Sex While Pregnant

An Overview of Sex After Pregnancy

You have finally made it through your pregnancy.

Congratulations on your new baby! You and your partner may feel like it is now the time to be intimate again. The next obvious question is: "When can we have sex again?"

Generally, your healthcare provider will tell you to wait until at least your six-week follow-up exam before having sex. At that time, he or she will either give you the go-ahead (which, for some, feels like way too soon), or tell you to hold off until a later date.

After pregnancy, sex can be expected to be a new experience. Many women find the lack of belly (or baby in their abdomen) to be a very nice change! You can also experiment with all kinds of positions that were not possible while you were pregnant.

Some other things that you may also experience or think about include:

Leaking breasts
The time factor
Baby sleeping (or not)
Will the first time after baby be painful?
Contraception
Will my partner still find me attractive?
Lubrication.

Leaking Breasts

For quite some time after your baby is born, you may find that you have leaking breasts. It is helpful to wear a maternity bra with nursing pads -- the pads will absorb any extra milk. As for sex with leaking breasts, you may choose to continue to wear your maternity bra for sex. This will give your breasts extra support (and also protect your partner from getting a milk bath!).

(Sex After Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)