Life
There should be a course on understanding the changes that happen to your body after giving birth. Depending on how everything went down in the delivery room (or for some of us, the operating room), some unexpected things can occur as your body heals. But one of the biggest areas postpartum women are focused on learning about are the things that happen to your vagina during postpartum sex. The exact day is different for everyone, but at some point after having your baby, your sex drive is going to raise it's hand and say, "let's get it on."
As those urges roll in, you and your partner are excited to connect sexually again. Your body is healing for months after delivery, however, and you could soon learn that things aren't always what they used to be. Stretched muscles and hormonal changes can cause sex to feel different than before you had a tiny human come out of you. Sometimes this means sex could be painful or it could just mean you need a little assistance, like a bottle of lube or extra foreplay.
Just because things are different after giving birth doesn't mean sex still can't be fun and pleasurable. This list will help you understand more about the what happens to your vagina when having postpartum sex, so you can enjoy a romp when the feeling moves you.
1It's Happy
Let's start this off with a positive. Even after pushing out a baby, your vagina can still be a happy camper during postpartum sex. As the website for CBS News reported, after healing from delivery, your body is capable of sexual pleasure as much as it was pre-baby.
2It Needs Time
Getting warmed up for sex after childbirth may take longer than it used to, according to What To Expect's website. Ask your partner for some extra foreplay to get back into the groove and have a little bonus fun before the main event.
3It Can Be Dry
As you're easing back into sex after baby, get used to lube as part of your pre-game. As you're recovering from childbirth, hormonal changes can lead to vaginal dryness, as Women's Day magazine reported. Things may get back to normal after you're fulling healed, but in the meantime, your new BFF is KY.
4It Hurts
OK, I know I said your vag would be happy having sex, and it's true. But it's also possible the first few times may hurt. As Today's Parent pointed out, sex after childbirth can be painful, especially if you've had stitches or tearing from the delivery. The good news is, the pain should go away around five months at the latest.
5It Gets A Workout
Through the process of delivering a baby, your vaginal muscles stretch out, and take some time to get back to normal. You can give those loose muscles a workout during sex by doing kegels, as Parents magazine suggested. These squeezes will strengthen your pelvis floor and get your lady parts back in shape fast.
6It May Want Less Penetration
Sex after baby may look different that pre-pregnancy romps. As Mayo Clinic pointed out, vaginal soreness may mean less penetration for the first few months. Take it slow and ease into things to avoid any pain.
7It Craves Some Different Os
If your vagina isn't feeling full on intercourse for a while, but you still want an orgasm, it's time to get creative. As the website for Pregnancy and Baby reported, postpartum sex doesn't need to be all about penetration, try having orgasms in different ways while enjoying the intimacy of your partner.
