Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Sex after birth, how long did you wait?

104 replies

Anonymoususer456 · 29/07/2023 15:45

I’m just curious as to how long people waited to have sex again after birth, obviously different experiences will lead to different time frames.

im 10 days PP and all I want to do is jump on my other half 😂 currently waiting for a tear with stitches to heal so resisting but the urge is unreal! I don’t remember being like this with my first it was 5 weeks.

OP posts:
Summer2424 · 29/07/2023 15:51

Hi @Anonymoususer456 totally hear you lol! Me and DH started having sex about 4 weeks after my c section x

lavenderdilly · 29/07/2023 16:15

8 weeks, after my check up. I had a 3a tear with stitches. It was totally fine!

Original poster
Anonymoususer456 · 29/07/2023 21:18

I’ve seen a range of answers some saying just a couple of days to those who due to ongoing issues haven’t still.

OP posts:
lavenderdilly · 29/07/2023 21:20

It's pretty individual, the only real answer is - when you feel able to.

Saucepot1985 · 29/07/2023 21:22

I couldn’t face it for around 9 months…tried after about 8 weeks and found it to painful
which I think made me frightened. I’m

Saucepot1985 · 29/07/2023 21:23

sent before I finished! I’m interested to see if anyone else waited that long. I still get the odd pang around my stitch area now!

headcheffer · 29/07/2023 21:24

God it was months and I didn't even tear badly. I just couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for that at all.

Pleasemrstweedie · 29/07/2023 21:24

Ages the first time because I had an episiotomy that was slow to heal. Two weeks second time.

Saucepot1985 · 29/07/2023 21:24

headcheffer · 29/07/2023 21:24

God it was months and I didn't even tear badly. I just couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for that at all.

Snap!

Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 29/07/2023 21:25

No stitches, but less than two weeks. I went off it completely when pregnant, but the hormones really kicked in post partum!

PurplePotatoMash · 29/07/2023 21:25

At least 6 months!

Throwawy · 29/07/2023 21:26

Lol it took us 6months! I had a 2nd degree labial tear, but I recently found out after gynae surgery that they screwed up my stitches 🙄. The hospital have offered to fix it for me now.

philautia · 29/07/2023 21:26

A couple of weeks both times...aware it isn't advised!!

Namechanger099181919 · 29/07/2023 21:27

3 weeks with our first, so I could take the pill….bleeding had stopped… I had deep stitches (front to back) and they’d healed. It was uncomfortable for the first few months but we kept going, knew it would get better and it did! 2nd time around - had surgery after birth, but he’d had the snip ,we waited 2 weeks ish I reckon .. bleeding again minimal.
my advice is get back into it asap, so it doesn’t become an issue like it does with many,

RandomMess · 29/07/2023 21:27

Very soon days not weeks!

No stitches or grazes though.

EL8888 · 29/07/2023 21:27

3 weeks. But l had a c section so no stitches or tears to contend with. It was after a twin pregnancy so l was just glad to be able to breathe freely!

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/07/2023 21:28

3 weeks. That's when my bleeding stopped.

Moveoverdarlin · 29/07/2023 21:29

4 months. Had a third degree tear and it was pure agony. Probably waited another 4 months after that to try again.

Smittenkitchen · 29/07/2023 21:29

You really shouldn't until after your 6 week check-up. The cervix is still closing until then so not a good idea. For me it was 4 months after DC1 and a 3rd degree tear and 3 months after DC2 and a 2nd degree tear.

Runkle · 29/07/2023 21:29

Around 5/6weeks - after I stopped bleeding.

unclestripe · 29/07/2023 21:31

First time round I had a 3rd degree tear so was around 12 weeks but even then I didn't feel like it. Second time post section was 8 weeks. It baffles me how people can want it days after but then everyone is different I suppose!

AlligatorPsychopath · 29/07/2023 21:31

You really shouldn't until after your 6 week check-up. The cervix is still closing until then so not a good idea

Why would you need to wait for the cervix to be closed? Your cervix is open for part of your cycle every month.

The NHS is clear that, unless you're specifically told otherwise, you're fine to have sex as soon after birth as you feel ready and there is no need to wait for your 6 week check.

Original poster
Anonymoususer456 · 29/07/2023 21:33

I honestly think that’s one thing (other than stitches) putting me off! People saying you should wait until 6 weeks due to risk of infection etc.

as for wondering how people can want it that soon, I think after labour I said I would if I could 😂😂 I feel it’s brought me and my partner a lot closer together emotionally which we want to express

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 29/07/2023 21:34

Smittenkitchen · 29/07/2023 21:29

You really shouldn't until after your 6 week check-up. The cervix is still closing until then so not a good idea. For me it was 4 months after DC1 and a 3rd degree tear and 3 months after DC2 and a 2nd degree tear.

NHS advice is that you can have sex when you feel ready. They outright say that there are no rules about when to have sex after giving birth.

Oliotya · 29/07/2023 21:34

1st, 6 weeks. Took that long for episiotomy to heal.
2nd and 3rd, 4 weeks. As soon as bleeding stopped.