We Have An Infant! When Will We Have Time for Sex Again?

It’s all too normal for couples to struggle to adjust to certain relationship roles or goals after starting a family. In the beginning, the focus is solely on nurturing your newborn, even the thought of sex seems foreign. This is in large part due to the hormonal changes post-pregnancy. After having a child, for at least 6-8 weeks women are "flooded" with increased levels of estrogen. This biologically helps by allowing women to care for their newborn, but can place barriers to wanting to engage in sexual intercourse.

However, in order for your relationship to stand the test of time, this period of intimacy will look different. First, at the 6-week check-up doctors will discuss whether your vagina may be ready for sex (and at 6 weeks, penetrative sex is usually too soon for most women). But that doesn't mean there's not other ways to connect...

Let’s take a look at how you can rekindle your intimacy life after having a baby:

Love Your Body: One of the things that might be holding new moms back from getting it on is the changes that happened to their body. Respect and thank your body for being able to nurture your little one, but don’t forget about seeing yourself as sexy. You are more than allowed to buy sexy lingerie and get to know your new, wonderful body.

Redefine Sex: You might have to adjust to the new ways in which you can have sex. Maybe there isn’t time for an evening of love-making, but you can enjoy the spur of the moment affection that could lead to oral sex. Also, find other ways in which you can be intimate and show affection. This will be a good platform for your sex life to develop from.

Set Up Your Bedroom: A bedroom filled with diapers, pacifiers, and wipes doesn’t scream intimacy. If possible, try to keep your bedroom in a state where that inspires intimacy. Light a few candles, make sure to keep your linen clean and burn incense or essential oils to put you in the mood.

If none of these tips work for you, and you feel like you need a little extra help in discussing the sex topic with your partner, I’d recommend a professional couples therapy session. Get in touch for a free consultation today.