When will sex be painfree?

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

Yahoo! Finally managed to get it on last night! I was determined, even though it still really really hurts. (DS was born 9 months ago and I had 3rd degree tears.)
Has anyone been through this? DOes it eventually stop hurting?

Maybe. It;s not everywhere that hurts. Just where the stitches were. But it's been checked out and all is ok.

I had a third degree tear with DS1 and it took a good while but it did stop hurting eventually - consultant told me it could take a year but in my case it was about 9 months and after a good few attempts. Being relaxed does help - a glass of wine beforehand perhaps?

don't say this girls, I had a bad tear/cut and loads of stitches and yet to try sex, mainly due to tirdness and also it hurting!

I might try the wine. Like I need an excuse to have a glass!

Did you use lubricant? If not then that might be worth a try even if you don't think that you need it iyswim.

Oh yes, we were well lubed.
I'm still sore today. It was worth it though cause it made hubby happy (he's still smiling today!).

It has taken 16 months for me to stop hurting, both internally due to tear and externally due to unstitched episiotomy which healed very badly.

My GP prescribed me Lidocraine Ointment 5% which is an anaesthetic cream. You just put a small amount on 5 mins before and it numbs the painful area. It only costs a few pounds. Amazingly I have also healed since using this cream.

with ds1 2nd degree tear (sitched by doctor)and i think it took me a year. with ds2(4month) tore as well (stiched by midwife) have managed once and not to sore.

Got better eventually for me (a year on) - even though docs told me that after 6 months that was all I could expect. Used to keep paracetomol in bedside table and take almost immediately after (great romantic me at times!). Would also stay in bed as long as poss afterwards and then, if poss, take a long hot bath. Would avoid walking around as much as poss too.
Dh was also very gentle and understanding - but I felt I couldn't sacrifice that part of our relationship at that time. We kind of needed to re-establish that bond with a squawking baby demanding all our attention.