Sex and Contraception Post Pregnancy
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 345, Word Count: 604,
For women sex is often far from the mind post delivery as you will be recovering from delivery and busy looking after the new born baby. Nevertheless, after the delivery your doctor or midwife will ask you about your plans on contraception.
It is important to bear in mind that it is possible to become pregnant again right after delivery. Your body starts ovulating right before you begin your periods. Hence it is important for you to plan some methods of contraception as soon as possible.
If you are nursing your baby then your ovulation may get delayed. But a woman shouldn’t rely on breastfeeding as a means of contraception. Moreover, you must resume to sex only when you feel physically and emotionally fit to do it.
Post delivery, a woman feels exhausted and will require some time to recover completely. Depending on the type of delivery you’re recovery time will also differ. A woman who had a caesarean section will need more time to recover. You will need to wait for 6-8 weeks before resuming to sex. A woman who had a normal delivery will recover more quickly. Sometimes even in a normal delivery, some women may have needed some stitches hence you will take more time to recover.
Moreover, once the baby is out, your entire focus will be to take care of the new born baby. You may have sleepless nights and spend most of the day and night nursing your baby. All this will leave you exhausted. Most of the women gain weight after delivery and want to become fit again. They feel ugly about their body and want to shed weight fast. Apart from that, the whole delivery process would have left you all tired. Hence you may find yourself less interested in sex.
Also during the first couple of weeks after the delivery, you will have bleeding. Your breasts will also seem full with milk. All these factors will only affect your desire to have sex.
But all this is only a matter of time. The minute you are physically and emotionally ready, it is safe to resume sexual intercourse with your partner. But before you do so, it is ad delivertvisable to consult with your gynecologist. Sometimes, you may find yourself not wanting to have sex, but your partner may want to. In such a situation you must speak with your partner openly, otherwise your relationship with your partner may suffer.
Before you resume sexual relationship with your partner, you must plan on what method of contraception you would use.
Probable methods of contraception:
- Condoms can be used anytime.
- The cap or diaphragm is another way of contraception and can be used six weeks after delivery.
- The mini pill can be started 21 days after delivery and must be taken at the same time every day. There is no evidence that pills are unsafe for the baby while you are breastfeeding.
- The combined pill can also be taken 21 days after delivery and it can be taken anytime of the day. You need not take it the same time each day. Breastfeeding mothers should not be take this pill as it isn’t safe for the baby.
- IUD (intra-uterine device) is a contraceptive device which is fitted in the uterus. Your doctor can fit this at your post natal check-up only if your uterus has returned to its normal size.
Sex and contraception post pregnancy is a sensitive issue for females and needs good advice and guidance.
About the Author
Dr Tsou Jinyeu is a well known gynecologist and has been in this field since 1995. His special interests are – genetic and birth defects, high risk obstetrics, lupus in pregnancy, premature labour, premature delivery, triplets and ultrasound diagnosis. He is graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Nowdays he is working as a medical doctor at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health.
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