Study: Women Want Sex After Childbirth Sooner than Thought

 

As new parents, starting up sex again after the birth of your child can be a big wellness issue; you want to reconnect with your partner, but your body has just been through a bit of an ordeal. However, according to a new study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, much of what drives women’s desire in the postpartum period are not physical factors, but psychological ones.

 

Sexual health expert Stephanie Pappas explains, ‘In many cases, social factors such as spousal support and the baby’s sleeping habits play a larger role in new moms’ interest in sex than physical factors like birth trauma, the research found. Women also begin feeling desire and engaging in sex sooner than the six-week waiting period that most doctors recommend… The new baby period is a time of little sleep and healing from childbirth, two factors not conducive to a rambunctious sex life. But studies have shown that new parenthood doesn’t cool the sex drive for long. Research suggests that desire returns to pre-pregnancy levels within about three to four weeks, though most couples don’t resume vaginal intercourse until week seven or eight.’

 

Study researcher Sari van Anders, a behavioural endocrinologist at the University of Michigan, notes, ‘One interesting thing is that women performed oral sex on their partners and engaged in masturbation earlier than they received oral sex or engaged in intercourse. People have frequently assumed that women just aren’t interested in sexuality early in the postpartum period and that the sexual activity they do engage in is for the sake of their partners, but the rates of masturbation suggests that many women are feeling sexual.’

 

Pappas points out, ‘Previous studies have mostly focused on the physical trauma of labor and delivery as well as post-baby hormonal factors to explain the postpartum sex drive. But there’s more to sex than biology…The researchers recruited 304 women who had given birth in the last seven years to reflect on their postpartum experiences in a series of online questionnaires. All of the women had a romantic partner during the first three months of their baby’s life. They answered questions about their sexual desires, their sexual activities, their partner’s supportiveness, their birth experience and other factors, like breast-feeding.’ So what were the results?

 

‘By the end of the first three months, 85% of the women had started having intercourse again,’ says Pappas. ‘65% had engaged in oral sex and 61% had masturbated. In general…women start performing oral sex and masturbating first, with receptive oral sex and penile-vaginal intercourse coming later…In terms of timing, the most important factors for a woman were her perceptions of her partner’s sexual needs and desires, suggesting that some women start sexual activity again more for their partner’s benefit than their own. A woman’s level of social support and her experiences in childbirth (both physical and psychological) also influenced how soon she started engaging in sexual activities again. Fatigue, stress, body image, breast-feeding and vaginal trauma were not associated with how quickly women started having sex again, however.’

 

So why don’t doctors recommend sex earlier than six weeks? ‘Health-care providers often don’t discuss too much about sexuality before that six-week period except to express that women shouldn’t be doing anything penetrative until after that timeframe,’ van Anders comments. ‘But our data suggest that women are engaging in a host of behaviours and that they have desire… I think we need to make room for thinking broadly about women’s sexuality in the postpartum period, as a part of positive lifelong sexuality but also as a positive part of the postpartum experience.’

Categories: childbirth, Research, Sex Drive

The Facts Surrounding Sex After a Baby is Born

After going through childbirth many women find that they don’t feel the need or urge to have sex for a little while. Perhaps this is not surprising, after all the act of giving birth and indeed the nine months of pregnancy have meant drastic changes in the body and a new mother may still be getting used to her body. Of course once there is an awkwardness surrounding sex for a couple after the birth of the baby this can only serve to make the matter more complex. But a new study shedding more light on the issue has revealed some of the facts behind sex after childbirth.

 

Some women go for a long time without wanting to have sex while for others the process is a fairly quick and simple one. There is no right answer; it is just whatever feels right for you. But this new research has shown that much of the desire to have sex for women after childbirth comes not from physical factors, but from psychological ones. Indeed it seems that factors such as spousal support and the new baby’s sleeping habits play a far more integral role in the sex life of new parents than physical issues such as birth trauma. Doctors tend to recommend a sex-week waiting period before having sex after childbirth due to the damaging nature of giving birth, but many women find that feelings of sexual desire return long before then.

 

“One interesting thing is that women performed oral sex on their partners and engaged in masturbation earlier than they received oral sex or engaged in intercourse,” said Sari van Anders, who is a behavioural endocrinologist at the University of Michigan and one of the key figures in the study. “People have frequently assumed that women just aren’t interested in sexuality early in the postpartum period and that the sexual activity they do engage in is for the sake of their partners, but the rates of masturbation suggest that many women are feeling sexual”. This definitely suggests that it is not so much an issue of women not wanting to have sex, but rather than they do want to, but are following the advice of their doctor.

 

We all know that the period straight after having a baby can be very stressful and difficult for parents. This specifically includes periods of very little sleep which can have a very series knock-on effect on the lifestyle of the parents and can cause other problems. Lack of sleep is known to lead to irritability and a number of other problems. This is thought to be one of the key factor in why couples don’t have sex rather than being anything to do with the women not wanting to have sex – with the baby waking so often and needing constant attention it can be very difficult to find the time to be intimate. But many people instead blame this lack of intimacy on the actual effects of childbirth itself, but this is generally not the case.

 

Interestingly there was still some suggestion in the study that many women feel the need to resume sexual activity early to benefit their partners’ needs and desires. But the women’s level of social support and physical and psychological experiences during childbirth were other major factors in determining how long they took to resume sexual activity. Previously it had been thought that physical problems such as fatigue and trauma might be the major factors in determining when women want to have sex again, but it appears that this is not actually the case.

Categories: Baby, childbirth, giving birth, major factors, oral sex, resume sexual, Sex, sexual activity, surrounding sex, Women

Are You Anxious About Your Vagina During Childbirth?

When women are pregnant and approaching the time of childbirth, one of the main concerns that they may have for their wellness and wellbeing is that they do damage to their sexual organs. The idea of something as large as a baby exiting via the small opening of a vagina can seem very daunting. Women worry a lot about either tearing or having to have an episiotomy (a cut made between the vagina and anus). Thus a term called ‘vagina anxiety’ was coined.

 

Vagina anxiety is the fear of the effects that childbirth could have on the birth canal and the delicate tissue and skin around the area. Women having preoccupying thoughts about this area of childbirth are thought to have this particular form of anxiety.

 

Health experts are not totally sure how many women do tear during childbirth, because many small tears are not ever recorded, but a UK study discovered that around seven out of ten women require stitches after childbirth, to sew up a cut or tear that has occurred during the birth. Bad tears are known as third of fourth degree tears, and tend to go from the vagina all the way to the anal opening, and these are far less common. A Canadian study found that only 7 in 100 women had a third or fourth degree tear during birth.

 

Episiotomy occurs when the healthcare provider makes the decision to make a small cut to the vagina, to ease the baby’s exit into the world. This can happen for various reasons, such as the baby being in distress, the baby being in an awkward position for birth, or the risk of tearing is very high. If an instrumental delivery is going to occur (such as when a doctor is going to use forceps) an episiotomy is often used to enable this to take place.

Categories: Baby, birth, childbirth, episiotomy, fourth degree, vagina, vagina anxiety, Women

How to Deal with Post-Childbirth Changes to Your Vagina

After giving birth, it’s natural for your vagina to change (after all, you have squeezed a human being out of there). Still, these changes can be a real dampener to your sense of sexual health, which is certainly unhelpful considering all the other things affecting your wellbeing, such as coping with the challenges of motherhood. The best way to prepare and deal with these changes is to find out what to expect and the ways you can help speed recovery.

 

1. Wider vagina: According to Dr Suzy Elneil, consultant in urogynaecology at University College Hospital, London, ‘The vagina can feel looser, softer and more “open,” as well as looking and feeling bruised or swollen. This is nothing to worry about, as the swelling and openness should start to reduce a few days after your baby is born. The chances are that your vagina won’t completely return to its pre-birth shape, but Dr Elneil says, ‘We always recommend pelvic floor exercises.’ Also known as kegels, pelvic floor exercises help to tone your vaginal and pelvic floor muscles, and this prevents incontinence, firms your vagina and improves sexual satisfaction.

 

2. Vaginal dryness: When you were pregnant, you had higher levels of oestrogen in your body but now that they’re gone your vagina feels dryer than usual. However, this vaginal dryness should improve with time. Dr Elneil explains, ‘Once you stop breastfeeding and your periods have returned, the levels of oestrogen revert to pre-pregnancy levels.’ If this dryness is causing problems in your sex life, it’s important to talk to your partner about it so you don’t have to worry alone. You may need to start using a water-based lubricant (oil-based ones can tear or rip latex condoms) to make sex more comfortable until the dryness subsides.

 

3. Soreness and stitches in the perineum: Dr Elneil notes, ‘The vaginal area can feel painful or sore in the immediate period after childbirth. This usually improves within 6–12 weeks after the birth. We always recommend pelvic floor exercises to help make the situation better in this case, too.’ It’s common for the perineum to feel sore after giving birth, especially if your skin tore or you needed stitches to repair a tear or episiotomy. Although over-the-counter painkillers can help, you should consult your midwife, GP or pharmacist first if you’re breastfeeding. Keeping the perineal area clean is important, which means you need to change your sanitary pads as soon as you need to, wash your hands before and after you change them and have a bath or shower every day to keep your perineum clean. If you have a lot of pain or discomfort or you notice a smell in your perineal area, talk to your health visitor or GP.

 

4. Pain during sex: Having sex again after you’ve had a baby is a decision that’s different for everyone, as there’s no right or wrong time to start. However, you should refrain from rushing into it, no matter how much you won’t to, as painful sex won’t be pleasurable – and where’s the fun in that? Again, lubricants may be able to help if your vagina feels dry, but if the pain during sex is caused by discomfort around your perineum, it might be worth visiting your health visitor or GP, as these medical professionals can look and check that it’s healing in the right way. Giving birth, looking after a baby and feeling tired from those experiences can make you feel less like having sex these days, which it totally normal. However, instead of avoiding sex, talk to your partner so you both know what the situation is, and you can deal with it together. If you do start having sex again, don’t neglect contraception as you may end up getting pregnant three weeks after giving birth, and surely you want a bit more of a break than that!

Categories: childbirth, dr elneil, floor exercises, giving birth, Pain During Sex, pelvic floor, vagina feels, Vaginal Changes

Could you Achieve A Natural Childbirth Using Acupuncture?

For pregnant women who are nearing their due date, the issue of how they are going to give birth can be an all-consuming subject. Of course, the most important outcome is one where the wellness of mother and child are preserved, and most women have the wellbeing of the baby as their top priority, but there are also certain things that many women hope to achieve from childbirth. For some, this is the success of a natural labour and delivery.

 

When women are overdue, they are generally offered an induction, as it is known to be in the best interests of family wellness (of both the mother and child) for the baby to be born before the 42^nd week, when the placenta may start to deteriorate, placing the health of the baby at risk.

 

There are many official forms of induction, but one of the more successful natural methods is acupuncture.

 

Acupuncture is completely safe for mother and child and can help the body to prepare for childbirth, with the effacement and dilation of the cervix. The key to acupuncture is that it promotes blood flow through the body and also helps to decrease anxieties. The increased blood flow can help the body to prepare, and it is also well known that stress and anxiety can help to prevent labour, so releasing these tensions can help the baby to move down into the pelvis and trigger labour.

 

Mothers who have a session or two of acupuncture prior to the establishment of labour have been shown to have a much higher chance of having a natural delivery, as the body is more relaxed and prepared, and this leads to smooth dilation of the cervix and effective pain control, as labour can be halted or hampered by the presence of stress hormones.

Categories: acupuncture, childbirth, labour

Give Yourself 2 Years Before Having Another Baby

In an interview in Abujah, gynaecologist Dr. Fred Achem informed women of child-bearing age to give themselves a two-year pause before having another child.

This is due to the low blood levels that occur during childbirth, which are irregular and unstable, leading to effects such as anaemia, heart failure, fatigue, leg swelling and more. Following a heavy loss of blood, women need a long period of time to recover – more than you may think. Further still, another pregnancy so soon encourages the risk of miscarriage.

According to Codewit, during the interview, Dr. Achem said, “Our women must not continue to get pregnant every year. They have to recover from one pregnancy, rebuild their blood system up and that takes a minimum of two years. Once the blood level starts coming down, it manifests in her strength to carry the baby, it manifests in the size of the baby. And if the anaemia is very deficient, the baby may even succumb in her womb as a result of anaemia.”

One of the methods of avoiding anaemia is for expecting mothers (and those of child-bearing age in general) to take doses of iron and folic acid tablets, which then builds up the blood system. Nutrition is also a giant leap into healthy pregnancy by moderating weight and calorie intake.

“It is very important that women consider their own nutrition and stay on top of good nutrition all through pregnancies, moderate weight gain is very important.”

“It is not so much of what they eat but the quality of what they eat, and to address such things, it is better to avoid all those fried fruits which bring more calories to the system.”

Gynaecologists suggest a heavy mixture of good protein and vegetables to stave off anaemia and the awkward jostle of bowel movements.

Give Yourself 2 Years Before Having Another Baby

Categories: anaemia, childbirth, Fatigue, gynaecology, heart failure, pregnancy, Pregnant, swollen legs

New Discovery into Asthma Causes

A new understanding has been brought to light concerning the common cause of respiratory tract infections in babies and young children.

According to the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, they have found that respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) are infections that are passed from the mother to her unborn baby.

The research was conducted on rats, which showed that RSV was able to pass freely through the placenta from the mother’s respiratory tract; it meant that the infant was at risk of having lung problems that were previously encountered by the mother.

The rats were given RSV during midterm pregnancy. As a result, 30% of foetuses also gained RSV, whilst 40% had RSV present in their lungs. In adulthood, RSV was present in 25%.

“Epidemiologic evidence suggests that early-life RSV infection predisposes children to recurrent wheezing and asthma,” said Giovanni Piedimonte, M.D., the study’s lead author and Chairman of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and the Pediatric Institute. “This study challenges the current paradigm that RSV infection is acquired only after birth and shifts attention to prenatal effects of the virus, which may result in more severe and lasting consequences by interfering with an unborn baby’s critical developmental processes.”

The research offers an extra perspective on the causes of asthma and respiratory problems.

It was originally thought that children developed breathing issues as they grew older, but the new speculation suggests that the child is already born with the disorder.

With new understandings about the cause of asthma, the issues may be observed far more closely in terms of noticing RSVs.

Every expecting parent wants their child to be as healthy as can be. The new study shows how delicate the deciding factor is between a healthy baby and a poorly one. The research is just one more step to ensure that the latter is less likely to occur.

New Discovery into Asthma Causes

Categories: Animal Testing, Asthma, asthma causes, childbirth, Children, cleveland clinic, clinic children, pregnancy, Respiratory, respiratory disorders, respiratory tract, rsv infection

How Long Do Women Wait to Have Sex After Childbirth?

A new study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, has found that most first-time mothers wait until six weeks after childbirth before having vaginal sex. Further, if you’ve had an operative vaginal birth, caesarean section, perineal tear or episiotomy, you’re more likely to wait even longer before getting back in the saddle, according to researchers at the Murdoch Children’s’ Research Institute, Australia.

Using data from the Maternal Health Study – a large prospective pregnancy cohort involving self-administered questionnaires in early pregnancy and at three, six and 12 months postpartum – the researchers investigated how long it took mothers to resume vaginal sex, and whether any obstetric wellness or social factors were associated with that decision. 41% of the 1507 first-time mothers sampled attempted vaginal sex by six weeks postpartum, 65% by eight weeks, and 78% by 12 weeks. At six months postpartum, this figure had reached 94%.

When it came to non-vaginal sex, the researchers found that sexual activity was higher by the six-week mark, at 53%. Also, 45% of women who had a caesarean section, 32% who had a forceps-assisted birth, 32% who had an episiotomy and 35% who had a sutured tear had resumed vaginal sex by six weeks, compared with 60% who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with intact perineum, possibly due to fears for their sexual health and wellbeing.

According to Associate Professor Stephanie Brown, lead author of the study, ‘The most important finding from the study is the wide time interval over which couples resume sex after childbirth. Most couples do not resume sex until after six to eight weeks postpartum, and many delay much longer than this. This is useful information for couples to know before their baby is born, and may help reduce feelings of anxiety and guilt about not resuming sexual activity sooner.’

Co-author of the research, Ellie McDonald, added, ‘The study findings provide evidence that both method of birth and degree of perineal trauma play a role in the resumption of sex after childbirth. It is possible that some couples delay resumption of sex until after the six-week check-up on the grounds of waiting to check that everything is back to normal. This may explain the relatively large number of women that resume vaginal sex at seven to eight weeks postpartum.’

John Thorp, BJOG Deputy-Editor-in-Chief, commented, ‘Having reliable information to guide clinical practice can dispel common myths about what is normal during the postnatal period as well as enabling clinicians to tailor information to a woman’s individual circumstances. This study provides important new evidence to guide information given to women and their partners about what to expect after childbirth. However, it is important to remember that these decisions are down to the individual couple and when it feels right for them.’

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How Long Do Women Wait to Have Sex After Childbirth?

Categories: childbirth, Research, Sex

You need to find out how to lose weight post-pregnancy. After childbirth, weight gain could make your physique really unattractive. If you are still pregnant, this knowledge is also important to help you take the right step towards proper and healthy weight loss after childbirth. There are some women that still look young and fit after having up to three babies. These have either consciously or unconsciously taken certain actions that are beneficial towards weight loss. If you are worried about your present excessive weight gain and want to get back to your pre-pregnancy shape or probably look even better, then you need to use this tip below; Avoid Junk Foods By now, you are aware of the dangers inherent in the consumption of high-calorie junk foods. You are expected to make a complete change in your diet to include healthier foods. This is especially important as you are a nursing mother and your body needs all the energy, nutrients and vitality that it can get. You do not need to stay away from food completely. This is not the way to lose excess weight, fast after childbirth. Though it is not a fact of losing weight after childbirth, some have been made to believe it. In fact, starving yourself is dangerous to your health and you should never starve yourself. Instead, have a meal plan that consists of the right kinds of foods to help you lose weight safely. Weight loss is actually not as hard as you may think. The problem or failure is because most people have failed to be consistent towards achieving their weight loss goal. You should be aware of the dangerous implications of excess weight to your health, as it exposes one to diseases like; diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and so many more. This alone is actually enough to spur you into making that necessary decision to reduce your weight at the moment. Losing weight after childbirth actually requires determination as with any other goal that is being set. You can achieve quick and easy weight loss after childbirth. All you may need is to actually decide that you need to shed that excess weight. The quickest way to lose excess fat after childbirth is by reducing intake of empty calories that you consume. This can be done by avoiding junk foods and all sugary beverages and replacing these with fresh fruits, non-fat dairy products, nuts, lots of water and fresh vegetables etc. Are ready and willing to lose weight fast after childbirth? If yes, you need to decide to set weight loss as a priority? How can you lose weight after childbirth?

You need to find out how to lose weight post-pregnancy.  After childbirth, weight gain could make your physique really unattractive.  If you are still pregnant, this knowledge is also important to help you take the right step towards proper and healthy weight loss after childbirth. There are some women that still look young and fit after having up to three babies. These have either consciously or unconsciously taken certain actions that are beneficial towards weight loss.

If you are worried about your present excessive weight gain and want to get back to your pre-pregnancy shape or probably look even better, then you need to use this tip below;

Avoid Junk Foods

 

• By now, you are aware of the dangers inherent in the consumption of high-calorie junk foods. You are expected to make a complete change in your diet to include healthier foods. This is especially important as you are a nursing mother and your body needs all the energy, nutrients and vitality that it can get.

 

You do not need to stay away from food completely.  This is not the way to lose excess weight, fast after childbirth.  Though it is not a fact of losing weight after childbirth, some have been made to believe it. In fact, starving yourself is dangerous to your health and you should never starve yourself.  Instead, have a meal plan that consists of the right kinds of foods to help you lose weight safely.

Weight loss is actually not as hard as you may think. The problem or failure is because most people have failed to be consistent towards achieving their weight loss goal. You should be aware of the dangerous implications of excess weight to your health, as it exposes one to diseases like; diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and so many more. This alone is actually enough to spur you into making that necessary decision to reduce your weight at the moment.

Losing weight after childbirth actually requires determination as with any other goal that is being set. You can achieve quick and easy weight loss after childbirth. All you may need is to actually decide that you need to shed that excess weight.

The quickest way to lose excess fat after childbirth is by reducing intake of empty calories that you consume. This can be done by avoiding junk foods and all sugary beverages and replacing these with fresh fruits, non-fat dairy products, nuts, lots of water and fresh vegetables etc.

Are ready and willing to lose weight fast after childbirth?  If yes, you need to decide to set weight loss as a priority?

How can you lose weight after childbirth?

Categories: childbirth, Lose, weight