Prior to becoming a father, I used to have sex with my wife on a regular basis. When our son arrived, though, intimacy rapidly went to the bottom of our priority list. We were putting our son’s needs first, changing diapers around the clock, putting together baby stuff, and shooting nonstop photos of him in a seemingly infinite selection of adorable onesies.

I didn’t have the time or energy to consider having sex at first. But. I’m only human, so the desire returned with a vengeance soon after.

One major concern I had was whether or not my wife was prepared. She was completely focused on our child, fatigued from motherhood, and adjusting to all of the changes in her body.

“Let’s take advantage of the baby’s nap time by focusing on some us time,” I never knew when (or if) it was proper to say. I didn’t want to come across as pushy or insensitive to her greater needs, but I was simply honest with myself: I wanted to resume having sex.

And for new parents who haven’t had sex in weeks, there’s good news: it will happen. However, resuming intimacy after the birth of a child will take time and patience. You’ll almost certainly make some errors along the road, and that’s fine.

I’m providing five recommendations that helped my wife and me transition back to the bedroom in the hopes of avoiding at least a couple of those blunders (or the sofa if your baby is sleeping in your room).

1.Do not mark the calendar with a countdown

The normal advice from medical professionals is to wait 4 to 6 weeks before having sex again. However, those are merely suggestions based on your partner’s physical condition.

Even if her doctor has given her permission, your companion must be emotionally prepared. If mom isn’t feeling it for whatever reason, don’t force it; imposing a time limit on your first time after the baby will simply add to the tension of an already stressful situation.

2.Mix things up a little

Yes, you can have fun in bed, but you won’t be able to do everything you used to do right away. Begin slowly and return to the fundamentals. Before you have full-on vaginal intercourse, consider alternative forms of stimulation.

It’s possible that you’ll have to try out several positions to see what’s most comfortable and delightful for your spouse. Now is a terrific time to have open and honest discussions about what’s best for you both.

3.. Communicate with partner

This isn’t only a suggestion for resuming sex. This is considered to be a good rule of thumb to follow up in all aspects of parenting. When it comes to reintroducing the concept of having sex after becoming a parent, the most important thing to remember is to communicate with your spouse as much as possible.

Make sure she understands that the ball is in her court and that you’ll wait until she’s ready. Make an additional effort to make her feel as lovely as she always has. Slow down. Also, don’t be scared to alter your pre-baby sex habits. You and your companion will be back in your rhythm before you realize it.

What will postpartum sex feel like?

Because every woman is different, there can be a wide range of postpartum sex experiences, from mild tenderness to excruciating pain. It’s also usual for women to skip sex during the last few months of pregnancy, so postpartum intercourse could happen five to six months after your last sex. If that’s the case, you can expect sex to be a little uncomfortable.

Your vaginal muscles are certainly stretched out if you delivered vaginally, although this is only temporary. Furthermore, you may notice that your lower abdomen is dryer than usual. (This is especially true if you’re breastfeeding, as breastfeeding inhibits estrogen, making the vagina dry and restricted.) Also, not assisting? Low estrogen levels can cause vaginal tissue to shrink, adding to the discomfort.

While sex after pregnancy may present some obstacles at first, there are many things you and your partner can do to make it more enjoyable.

How long after can you have sex?

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were stated that there is no specific time for a woman to begin having sex after giving birth; there are a few things to consider. It’s a good idea to have permission from your doctor beforehand, as you’ll most likely be seeing him or her for a postpartum appointment within six weeks of giving birth.

Your vagina is still healing after being stretched out, and maybe an episiotomy or tear if you had a vaginal delivery. Sex before four weeks postpartum could leave you vulnerable to a vaginal infection if you had tears or surgical wounds.

If you’re itching to get back into bed with your spouse sooner than the customary four to six weeks, give your practitioner a call and ask for their advice. Before you resume intercourse, he or she will want to make sure all postpartum bleeding has ceased.

The same postpartum sex recommendations apply if you had a C-section. Because it takes time for your incision to heal, make an appointment with your practitioner four to six weeks after giving birth to gain his or her clearance.