Sex after pregnancy- yikes

[Elwynne]

I'm 7 weeks pp and everything seems to have healed great and my sex drive has returned. However, when I had sex with my partner it was the least enjoyable, most painful sex I've ever had . Did you experience something similar and if so when did it get better?

It didn't improve for me until I stopped breastfeeding at 10 months. It was ridiculously painful and we basically didn't have sex.

Thanks for replying @plixy it is good to know someone else has gone through this too.

Are you breastfeeding? Apparently if you are hormones can cause the pain, and the dr can give you something to help. I didn't know that until after I had stopped so didn't help me.

I'm bfing, and actually had a c-section, but it's still a little uncomfortable 18 months down the line!

Breastfeeding can cause vaginally dryness - I recommend trying generous amounts of a good lube.

Took DH and I about 4 months to have sex after DC1. Being bone tired and touched out from constant breastfeeding really didn't put me in a romantic mood.

Well it is good to know this is normal. I have an appointment with the Dr next week so I'll ask them about the stuff they can give you and stock up on lube.

Why don't they tell you about this stuff thabk god for mums net

The first time fucking hurt (4 weeks later) and the inside of my vagina felt like it had an extra layer of tissue that was moving independently of the rest, the time after that was slightly better, the third time much much better

As in it hurt 4 weeks after giving birth, not 4 weeks after I had sex

@Iheartbed you're incredible for going back for more... I sort of feel that's me done for life now

Did you have a big gap between times?

I've had really different experiences with sex post birth after each of my three kids (all vaginally births, all breastfed).

First birth I had an episiotomy and sex hurt for 6 months after, even with lube.

Second (second degree tear) sex was great from 6 weeks pp and again we used lube.

Third (Second degree tear, slightly traumatic as baby got stuck descending and had shoulder dystocia), sex was uncomfortable the first few times basically until about 2 months pp, it didn't hurt, just felt uncomfortable. But after that it improved massively and didn't even need to use lube anymore.

So yes, entirely normal for this to happen, and with all of mine it did resolve by itself in the end.

I stopped breastfeeding and went back to work after 12 weeks but it still took a few weeks after that before I could relax and enjoy a good seeing-to.

I had an emcs and I was shocked at how painful it was. It was like it was my first time ever. To be honest it didn't get any better for a long time. Probably because we weren't having enough regular sex for me to get used to it and then I'd put it off because of the pain.

It was only until we were trying for number 2 about 20 months after our first that it finally got better. I'd say I was pretty much back to normal.

I've had second baby and it was the same after 😫 shes 17 months and we hardly do it. I could count on one hand how many times since she's been born I think it's actually worse this time and it was another section. It's so so painful and I'm just so tiered. It won't get any better again until we are doing it more regularly but I'm just so tiered, so until I start getting a bit more sleep it will probably be once in a blue moon!

I also didn't breastfeed well only the first week.